Cucamelon - Mexican Sour Gherkin (Heirloom)

Mexican Sour Gherkin: You may know this adorable vegetable as Mouse Melon, named for it being the perfect size for a mouse’s meal. This cucumber-like fruit is shaped like a baby watermelon! Great for salads and pickling, it gives a flavor combination of cucumbers and lemon. They are best planted in hanging baskets or trellised in containers. Planting Tips: Seeds can be sown directly into the soil after the last average frost. The seeds prefer soil that is colder than 60 degrees. You can use rows or hills. Place 4-6 seeds per group and thin to the strongest 3 to 4 seedlings when they reach 1-2 inches in height. Indoor starts are not necessary, but can be started 3 to 4 weeks before the last average frost. Curing the heat of summer, afternoon shade is beneficial to the plants. Seed Planting Depth - ½ inch, Seed Spacing - 3 inches, Days to Germination - 7-14, Plant spacing after thinning - 19-26 inches, Row spacing - 18-24 inches, Plant height - 12 inches. Harvesting the fruits frequently will maintain a healthy production.

Seed Saving: If you save cucumber seeds, it is best to plant one type of cucumber per year. Otherwise, this plant may cross pollinate. Allow cucumbers to mature on the vine if possible. Once the color changes to yellow or orange, they will need to continue maturing on the vine or in a container until soft to the touch. Halve the fruit, place the pulp, seeds and water in an open container and allow this to ferment for 3 days at a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees. Next, add fresh water to the mixture and stir. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom allowing anything floating to be poured off. Place seeds on a coffee filter until the seeds easily snap. Store dry seeds in an airtight container in a cool dry place. Properly stored seeds are viable for up to 5 years.

Cantaloupe - Vine Peach

Vine Peach: This mild flavored melon grows to about the size of a baseball. Not a favorite to eat raw, 1 or 2 of these melons can scent an entire room with the scent of peaches and mangos. The low sugar content means that it is neither as sweet or juicy as a muskmelon or cantaloupe. It is best eaten pickled, as a relish or preserved. The young, green melons make a great substitute for cucumbers when making Bread and Butter pickles. Slice them like you would apples and mix them in with the apple slice when making apple pie. Add some to preserves you are making to enhance the flavors of the other fruits. Be sure to remove the rind before using in recipes. Planting tips: Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Caution: Take care not to disturb the roots when transplanting. Or, sow 6 seeds over a hill 9 to 12 inches tall and 2 feet across. When plants are 3” tall, thin to 3 plants per hill. Use a balanced fertilizer to increase yield. Be sure to trellis the vines to make harvesting easier. Seed Planting Depth - 1/2 inch, Seed Spacing - 6 seeds/Hill, Days to Germination - 7-10 days, Plant spacing after thinning - 3 plants/Hill, Hill spacing - 4’/ 6’apart. The seeds of dropped melons will reseed for next year's crop so gather them up unless you want a dedicated vine peach patch.

Saving Seeds: If you save cantaloupe seeds, it is best to plant one type of cantaloupe per year. Otherwise, this plant may cross pollinate. Harvest when fruit reaches maturity. Cut melon in half, scoop out seeds into a strainer and rinse. Once all pulp is removed, lay the seeds in a thin layer on a paper towel, coffee filter or old screen. Dry for several days, place in an airtight container in a cool, dark dry location. Be sure to keep them moisture free to prevent mold.

Cantaloupe - Minnesota Midget (Heirloom)

Minnesota Midget: In addition to being an early blooming melon, it is compact and great for small gardens and containers. They are prolific producers and work well in cold weather locations. Measures 4” across and has sweet flesh. It is the perfect version of the classic muskmelon. Planting Tips: Indoor start is optional and should be done 3-4 weeks prior to the last frost in individual pots so roots are not disturbed when being hardened and planted outdoors. Outdoor starts need warm, rich, well drained soil. Plant 4 to 6 seeds in a mound leaving 3 inches of space between seeds. Do not start until after the last average frost and the soil is 65-75 degrees F. Minnesota Melon is resistant to Fusarium wilt. Vines grow to 4 feet long. Plants need 1-2 inches of water per week. If growing in a container, extra watering may be needed. Seed Planting - ½ -1 inch, Seed Spacing - 2-4 feet/hill, Days to Germination - 7-10, Plant spacing after thinning - 3 plants/hill, Days to maturity - 60-70, Plant height - 3-4 ft vines.

Saving Seeds: If saving seeds, it is best to only grow one type of melon as this seed needs to be separated from other seeds by 800 feet to half a mile. To harvest, cut the fruit and scoop out pulp and seeds into a colander or strainer. Rinse away the pulp from the seeds and lay them on a paper towel to dry in a cool place, away from the sun. Seeds are dry enough to be stored for up to 3 years when they can easily be snapped in half.

Cantaloupe - Honey Rock

Honey Rock: Matures to an almost round 5-6”. Heavy netting, faint ribbing and deep salmon color with sweet flesh makes this a favorite for gardeners. Planting Tips: Plant after danger of frost in hills, Seed should be no more than 2’ deep and 4 to 6 seeds per hill. Press soil firmly over seeds. Once well established, thin to 3 plants per hill. Cantaloupe is ready to pick when golden beige, has a distinct aroma and slips easily from the vine. Seed Planting Depth - 2 inches, Days to Germination - 7-10 days, Plant spacing after thinning - 3 plants/Hill, Row/Hill spacing - 2’ apart.

Saving Seeds: If you save cantaloupe seeds, it is best to plant one type of cantaloupe per year. Otherwise, this plant may cross pollinate. Harvest when fruit reaches maturity. Cut melon in half, scoop out seeds into a strainer and rinse. Once all pulp is removed, lay the seeds in a thin layer on a paper towel, coffee filter or old screen. Dry for several days, place in an airtight container for 3 years in a cool, dark dry location. Be sure to keep them moisture free to prevent mold.

Cantaloupe - Hearts of Gold (Heirloom)

Hearts of Gold: This vigorous plant bears a medium size cantaloupe. Vine-ripened fruits average 2-3 pounds and the skin will be heavily netted with a thin rind. They are ready to harvest when the melons turn from green to a yellow or tan, and they break off the vine easily with a light pressure from your thumb. You may also smell a fruity aroma near them as they ripen. Planting Tips: Melons are warm season annuals that grow best in fertile, well-drained soil. While direct sowing is recommended, indoor starts can begin 3-4 weeks before the last average frost. Be sure to harden off anything started indoors before transplanting outside. Direct seed or transplant 1-2 weeks after danger of frost has passed, one row in the center of bed. Can also be planted in hills of 3-5 plants in rows 3-5’ apart. Direct sow 6 seeds per hill, 9 to 12 inches high and 2 feet wide. Thin to 3 plants per hill after the first ture leaves appear. Seed Planting Depth - 1/2 inch, Seed Spacing - 3 seeds/foot, Days to Germination - 5-10 days, Plant spacing after thinning - 3 plants per hill, Hill spacing - 6 feet, Plant vine length - 36-72 inches.

Saving Seeds: If you save cantaloupe seeds, it is best to plant one type of cantaloupe per year. Otherwise, this plant may cross pollinate. Harvest when fruit reaches maturity. Cut melon in half, scoop out seeds into a strainer and rinse. Once all pulp is removed, lay the seeds in a thin layer on a paper towel, coffee filter or old screen. Dry for several days, place in an airtight container in a cool, dark dry location. Be sure to keep them moisture free to prevent mold.

Cantaloupe - Hale's Best

HHale’s Best Heirloom cantaloupe with aromatic tangerine sorbet flavor. Oval fruits have slightly ribbed netted skin. Vine-ripened fruits average 5-6 pounds. Planting Tips: Melons are warm season annuals that grow best in fertile, well-drained soil. Start transplants 4 weeks before planting date. Direct seed or transplant 1-2 weeks after danger of frost has passed, one row in the center of bed. Can also be planted in hills of 3-5 plants in rows 3-5’ apart. Seed Planting Depth - 1/2 inch, Seed Spacing - 3 seeds/foot, Days to Germination - 5-10 days, Plant spacing after thinning - 12-18 inches, Row spacing - 6 feet, Plant height - 24 inches. Harvest when skin turns gold and fruit slips.

Saving Seeds: If you save cantaloupe seeds, it is best to plant one type of cantaloupe per year. Otherwise, this plant may cross pollinate. Harvest when fruit reaches maturity. Cut melon in half, scoop out seeds into a strainer and rinse. Once all pulp is removed, lay the seeds in a thin layer on a paper towel, coffee filter or old screen. Dry for several days, place in an airtight container in a cool, dark dry location. Store seeds in a cool dry place. Be sure to keep them moisture free to prevent mold.

Squash - Benning's Green Tint Summer

Benning’s Green Tint Summer: Easy-to-grow patty-pan type, with pale green color that matures to a creamy white. Bushy plants provide saucer-shaped fruits with scalloped edges. Harvest when fruit is 2-3” for best quality. Planting Tips: Summer squashes are warm season annuals that grow best in fertile, well-drained soil. Start transplants 3-4 weeks before planting date. Direct seed or transplant one week after danger of frost has passed, one row in the center of bed. Seed Planting Depth - ½-1 inch, Seed Spacing - 3 seeds/foot, Days to Germination - 7-14 days, Plant spacing after thinning - 12-24 inches, Row spacing - 5 feet, Plant height - 24 inches. Harvest every other day for best quality and to maintain productivity.

Saving Seeds: Remove pulp and seeds from squash. Rinse and place in a bowl of water. Good seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl. Place them on a paper towel covered plate in a single layer for 2 -3 weeks. Stir occasionally to ensure they dry out completely. Store in a cool dry location and seeds will be usable for up to 4 years.