Opportunities for Diversifying Your Farm with Specialty Mixed Melons

Jonathan R. Schultheis and Wilfred (Bill) R. Jester Dept. Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7609 Phone: 919-515-1225 Fax: 919-515-2505 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Introduction In the eastern United States, eastern-type muskmelons (cantaloupes) have traditionally been grown for local markets. However, the release of the cultivar Athena has provided growers the opportunity to ship eastern-type melons in significant quantities due to their improved shelf life. The increased commercial shipments that have resulted from the use of the improved cultivar Athena illustrates how superior cultivars can change an industry. Since 1997, as part of the Specialty Crops Program in North Carolina, advanced lines or cultivars of various melon types not traditionally grown in North Carolina have been screened and evaluated for market potential each year. Those attributes that make a melon a good candidate for production consideration are high yields, good sweetness, attractive appearance, reasonable shelf life, resistance to various diseases, unique flavor, and a means to determine harvest for optimal fruit quality. Some potential cultivars and distinctive melon types have been identified and their qualities or attributes identified.

The primary goal of the melon screening program is to assess advanced lines or new cultivars of the various melon types and to determine their adaptation to eastern United States growing conditions (i.e. North Carolina). Another objective, which is equally important, is to take promising lines or cultivars of the various melon types and test market them for consumer acceptance. It is very important that markets are developed as production factors are being evaluated. Several previous reports have described tests that involved the evaluation of specialty melons, but it appears that there has been limited market penetration by these specialty products. A third objective of our melon evaluation programs is to have grower participation in the market development. This is done through informal contacts during the season and through the use of advisory committees. The most important goal when all is said and done is to provide North Carolina farmers with a quality product they can grow which produces well, and can be successfully marketed for profit!

Methods Before the growing season, seed companies are contacted to obtain seed for a variety of specialty melon types. Seed companies donate seeds in all cases as they are interested in their cultivar and product lines and how they grow and produce in the eastern United States, and if they have market potential. As mentioned earlier, the primary melon type grown and marketed in the eastern United States is muskmelon. Thus, all other melon types (i.e. juan canary, ananas, charentais, crenshaw, piel de sapo (Christmas), casaba, etc.) are considered specialty types. This includes honeydew melons since these are not grown or marketed in any great quantity in the eastern United States.

Once all seed are obtained, they are planted into LE 1803 transplant trays (Landmark Plastics Corp.; Akron, OH) between mid-March and early April. The planting medium typically used is a Fafard 4P, a commercial soilless mix (Conrad Fafard, Inc.; Agawam, ME). Approximately 4 to 6 weeks after seeding, the plants are established in the field. Fertilizer is incorporated prior to the laying of black polyethylene plastic (1.25 mil thick; NC Plastic Products, Morganton, NC). Methyl bromide is injected at the time the plastic is layed. Spacing between row middles is 5 feet and in-row spacing 2 feet. Plot size is one row of 15 melon plants. At time of transplant, a starter solution is applied using 20-20-20 (1 lb/50 gallons water) and Diazinon (3 oz/50 gallons water) for insect control. Plots with missing plots are replanted approximately 7 days after planting to achieve nearly 100% stand in most cases. Trickle irrigation is utilized (T-tape, 8 mil, 12 inch spacing, 0.34 gph; T-Systems International, Inc. San Diego, California) over the growing season. Fertigation is initiated one week after planting and applied weekly. Fertilizer rates are applied according to muskmelon recommendations. Likewise, pesticides are typically applied weekly as a preventative measure beginning about two to three weeks after transplanting.

Harvest is every 2 to 4 days, depending on weather conditions. Evaluations of each melon include yield, production earliness, total soluble solids using a hand held refractometer, fruit shape and size, exterior and interior descriptions, flavor, flesh texture, disease susceptibility/tolerance and harvesting criteria (i.e. slip vs does not slip). Based on this information, cultivars or advanced lines which show potential for commercial production are included in a screening or evaluation trial the second year. Melon entries with obvious defects or no special features are not evaluated the following year.

The incorporation of marketing is very important as mentioned earlier. Thus, it is included in second year evaluations. A similar sequence of events is followed in procuring seed and evaluating cultivars as described for the first year of evaluation. In addition, in the second year, those cultivars showing the most promise are grown in greater quantity to provide samples for test marketing at farm markets or independent grocery stores. Sometimes, sample quantities are larger (several boxes) so that they can be included as part of a trailer load with grower cooperators and evaluated for shelf life when commercially shipped. Melons are grown on the research station the second year to minimize the risk to the grower.

After market testing is completed the second year, results are evaluated. If results are favorable, a few growers volunteer to produce a small crop area (0.5 to 1 acre) so there is a larger quantity of fruit to include in some test markets. If consumer acceptance is favorable, increased grower participation occurs the fourth year. Research, production guide lines, and marketing support have been provided to improve fruit quality and yields and promote market penetration and acceptance.

This program has been supported by the College of Life & Agricultural Sciences, North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, a special legislative bill supporting business growth and development in eastern North Carolina (Global Transpark), and the Golden Leaf Foundation which provides funding through the tobacco settlement.

General Results

Melon Type Descriptions and Potential Cultivars Cultivars or advanced lines mentioned below and their corresponding seed company and web address is included in table 1.

Ananas melons are oval to oblong shape, netted, nonsutured and tend to be very perishable. They have a soft white flesh and a green rind that turns yellow or orange when ripe. These melons are aromatic when near ripeness. They will slip from the vine but most are overripe when this occurs. Harvest at the first sign of an abscission layer. Shelf life is short with this melon and the distance it can be shipped is short. One cultivar that has performed well in our test is Duke.

Charentais melons are round, non-netted, sutured, white to gray melons. The flesh is salmon to dark orange in color. Charantais is white to gray with green sutures when immature. These melons will turn tan around the blossom end, and some cultivars have a tan exterior with green sutures when ripe. Charentais melons require precise water management, especially near harvest. These melons will typically split prior to slipping when grown in the field, and harvest determination is often difficult. Harvest should be made with signs of an abscission layer develops around the stem. Since water management is such as issue, this melon type is typically produced in greenhouses or high tunnels in Europe to prevent splitting. HMX 9606 is a charentais that exhibits less splitting and is very flavorful.

Crenshaw melons are usually quite large. Fruit turns from a green to a blotchy green and yellow when at optimum ripeness. Crenshaw melons are marketed mainly at farmer’s markets and roadside stands due to its relatively short shelf life. It is prized for its sweet, soft flesh. Burpee’s Early Hybrid is a good Crenshaw.

Galia is a round, netted, sutureless melon that has green or white flesh. The immature melon is dark green in color. As this melon matures, it changes from dark green to light green and yellow. Galia melons are the predominant melon produced in the arid Middle East. In the high humidity climate of the eastern United States, Galia melon types have a reduced shelf life. Galia melons are strongly aromatic. The melon will slip, but may need to be force slipped in order to provide extended shelf life. Sunny Gal and Golan 329 are two good cultivars.

Juan canary melons are a type of winter melon. They take longer to mature and have a longer shelf life than most melons. Determining when the fruit are ripe can be difficult since the fruit does not slip from the stem like a muskmelon. Melons are ripe for harvest when the rind turns to a golden yellow. On some varieties like Golden Beauty a corky area develops in the wrinkles around the stem end of the melon when they are ripe. On smooth exterior cultivars, there is often a slight netting which develops on the stem end or over the entire melon. The flesh of most canary melons is white and very sweet. Canary melons will ship well. Two good cultivars are Golden Beauty 229 and Sonora.

Honeydews offer a new opportunity for eastern U.S growers since disease resistance and quality have been improved for production under more humid, wet conditions Harvest of honeydew fruit can be difficult to determine as they do not slip; the stem remains intact at harvest. Honeydews should be harvested when the rind color is a dull white to cream, little to no fuzz is present on the melon and the calyx end is springy to pressure. Most honeydew is green flesh although there are orange and white flesh specialty types. Rocio is a good honeydew cultivar.

Oriental, crisp-flesh melons come in a variety of shapes and color combinations and patterns. The exterior color can be solid yellow or white, or a mixture of the two colors either as striped or mottled. Oriental melons can be relatively bland or very sweet. Their crisp flesh and fruit size is smaller than honeydew melons. A success of the Specialty Crops Program is the oriental, crisp- flesh cultivar Sprite. Sprite is a unique melon that ranges in size from 1 to 2 pounds, is oval, becomes cream to mottled yellow when ripe. It has a crisp, white flesh. Netting will form at the calyx end of the fruit when ripe. Sugars are extremely high reaching as high as 18% and the flavor has a unique blend of several fruits. This melon was tested in 1988 and did not reach its potential until it was entered in the NC Specialty Crops Program. With research towards an improved understanding of production, significant marketing, and commercial grower involvement, the sales of this melon have flourished in the last three years returning nearly $3 million to NC vegetable growers in 2003.

Piel de Sapo (Christmas melon) is a winter melon. Piel de Sapo is an oval to oblong, sutureless, non-netted melon with white flesh. Either or both ends can be pointed depending on the cultivar. Exterior color is frog-skinned mottling. When mature, it will turn from mottled green to golden yellow with green mottling. Sancho is a delicious cultivar that has good powdery mildew tolerance and has grown well in North Carolina.

Summary There are many potential opportunities for producers to grow, market and profit from specialty melons. It is critical that production and marketing go hand in hand in order to achieve success. Some of the specialty melons that offer the most potential are the juan canary (Golden Beauty 329 and Sonora cultivars), oriental crisp flesh (Sprite cultivar), Galia (Golan 329 and Sunny Gal cultivars), and honeydew (Rocio cultivar).

Acknowledgements We are grateful to the various seed companies for their donation of seeds for the various advanced lines and cultivars. We also thank the Golden Leaf Foundation and the Global Transpark for their financial support of the NC Specialty Crops program which funds much of the research, extension and marketing melon program.