Banana Melon | Cucumis melo | Certified Organic
Giant banana shape, subtle papaya-like texture and flavor.
Some years back, we received a letter addressed to “The Banana Melon Seed Company.” As the only seed company in town, our local post office knew to deliver it straight to us. Inside, was a letter written in a shaky script. A man from Texas was writing to tell us how growing these melons restored cherished memories from childhood: the twining tendrils, the color and sweetness of the fruits, felt like time travel to a distant past. It was a tender reminder of the power of seeds.
Try this banana-shaped New York heirloom with a sweet, distinct, complex fruity flavor for yourself next season.
Sow indoors under protection 2-3 weeks before last frost, or direct sow after last frost and when soil has warmed significantly. Provide fertile soil and plenty of space. As fruits mature, elevate using flat, porous stones or ceramic shards to avoid rotting fruit. Melons are ripe when they slip from the vine with a gentle tug; color will deepen and change to a warm buff tone and fruit will become aromatic.
Days to Germination 7 to 14 inches
Days to Maturity 90 days
Planting Depth ½ to 1 inch
Spacing in Row 36 to 48 inches
Spacing Between Rows 36 to 72 inches
Height at Maturity 18 inches
Sun Preference Full Sun
Sarah Hada is an artist, gardener, and mom in western North Carolina. In this watercolor collage, she channels a joyful, child-like perspective to tell our nostalgic story of Banana Melon.
About Hudson Valley Seed Company
These Art Packs, most fundamentally, tell stories. Hudson Valley challenges artists to convey in a manner that is fully their own, the history and meaning of the seed variety contained in each pack. These stories were once integral to traditional societies-stories of seeds were often origin stories for entire communities and peoples, and the lore and beliefs that accumulated around seed varieties reflected the nearly familial way in which gardeners and farmers regarded their crops. Our society is, by and large, no longer connected to plants this way. But we like to think these Art Packs help to stitch our fragmented world back together: useful seeds, evocative art, both equally valuable to our experience of being human.