The Cucumis melo, melon commonly called, is a herbaceous whose fruit is popular worldwide for its sweet taste and juicy texture. However, there is a large number of varieties or types of melons. For example, most melons can be classified among themselves if they are winter or summer. While the latter is very aromatic and spoils quickly, the former is smoother and less perishable.
Best types of melons
Cantaloup
They are of American origin and the most produced worldwide, even in private gardens. For example, it is very typical for desserts and main courses, as well as for making smoothies or smoothies. Its skin is thickly latticed and its flesh is orange, like a salmon, very aromatic and sweet.
Toad skin melon
The toad skin melon is one of the most popular summer melons. This is one of the types of melons of little aroma, but of great sweet and intense flavor when it is well matured. It is grown, above all, in Castilla La Mancha.
Yellow melon
It is very similar to the toad skin melon, with a crunchy texture and very sweet pulp. It is also known as winter melon and is divided, in turn, into two types of melons: the golden-yellow melon and the Canary yellow melon.
Gaul
The Galia melon is of Israeli origin, although it is currently consumed throughout the world. It is quite spherical, with a crust that ranges from green to yellow, especially when the fruit is more mature. The pulp of this type of melon can be white, yellow or orange and has a somewhat buttery texture.
Branco or white melon
It is named for its pale color since its name means “white” in Portuguese. It is the predominant summer melon in the Ribatejo area, in Portugal, and is also very consumed and cultivated in Turkey. They are large melons.
Hami or Chinese melon
These melons, of intense yellow color, are the most common in the area of Asia that goes from Korea to India, with China being its main consumer and producer. It is the predominant melon in this area and, therefore, this yellow and sweet fruit is also known as Chinese melon.
Arus or Japanese melon
This variety, the predominant one in Japan, is gray-skinned with a marked deed on the surface, reminiscent of the drawing of the toad skin melon or the cantaloup, but more marked. This is known as Japanese melon and is very sweet because it is very rich in sugars.
Yubari Melon
The melons Yubari have been in some periods the most expensive fruit in history and although currently still have a high price, they are far from the $ 100,000 that came to pay for some. To take care of their special flavor and sweetness. They are grown with individual hats to protect each of the fruits from sunlight. Another marked feature is that its pulp is orange.
How to grow melons
If you want to enjoy big and tasty melons, follow these recommendations that we give you to grow melons at home optimally.
Light
Melon is a plant that needs a great contribution of light, in addition to a warm and stable temperature. However, if you live in a tropical or extraordinarily hot area, you will do well to prevent the plant from receiving direct sunlight during the hardest hours of the day. Find a location where the plant receives light during the afternoon, and if there are very cold days, cover it with some plastic or tissue that makes greenhouse.
Watering the melons
Since the fruits of the melon have a large amount of liquid. It is normal that the plant needs a lot of water to be able to develop large and tasty melons. In the hot months, water your melons daily, making sure that the ground of the plant never stays too dry, but always without flooding. In the cold months, reduce irrigation doses so that the soil does not cool excessively, which would harm the plant.
Melon fertilizer
Melon also needs a soil rich in organic matter. Therefore, in the months when the plant is active, fertilize it with compost or earthworm humus once a month or every 15 days. In the cold months, you can reduce the subscriber in half.
If you like to prepare your own materials for horticulture or gardening, do not hesitate to make your own fertilizer. Here we tell you all about organic fertilizer, what it is, types, benefits and how to do it.
Plagues and diseases
This plant can be quite likely to be attacked by insects and pests. Using hydrogenated fertilizer before the rainy season can help prevent these attacks. If your melons still show signs of plague, use natural insecticide according to the specific species.