Where do the best cantaloupes come from? Most likely they come from Guatemala with a portion coming from Costa Rica, Honduras or Mexico during this time. Here in California, farmers will begin harvesting cantaloupes in the southern desert area as early as April and into July.
What cantaloupes can do for your health?
How to eat more cantaloupe
- It's super hydrating. When it comes to fruits with high water content, watermelon (surprise!) takes top billing—but cantaloupe isn't far behind. ...
- It has antioxidant power. Antioxidants (i.e. ...
- It could help you have a healthier pregnancy. ...
- It has a whole day's worth of vitamin C. ...
- It's a good source of potassium. ...
- It keeps your eyes healthy. ...
When to pick cantaloupes from the vine?
When To Pick Cantaloupes From The Vine
- When To Harvest Cantaloupe: The Right Way to Pick Cantaloupe. When your cantaloupe is all ripened, picking can be a simple job and most times, the fruit separates itself from ...
- Storage. After harvesting, storage is next if you don’t intend consuming all at once. ...
- Conclusion. ...
Why is my cantaloupe not sweet?
Why can't I grow good tasting cantaloupes?
- Ravenlost. Two years ago I grew big beautiful cantaloupes that tasted nasty. ...
- Guest. I don't know, but I've been buying these cantaloupes at the supermarket called ambrosia something-or-other.
- Ravenlost. I have only had ONE good cantaloupe this year and it came from Wal Mart!!!
- Callieslamb. ...
- Allen W. ...
- Guest. ...
- T-Bone 369. ...
- Ravenlost. ...
- Allen W. ...
- Randy Rooster. ...
How to grow cantaloupe as big as your head?
- A sturdy tomato cage
- A fence
- A trellis
- Bamboo hoops
- Two sturdy poles with twine strung between them
- Zip ties and wire fencing
See more
Where do cantaloupes come from?
When are cantaloupes available?
When is cantaloupe season in Georgia?
Is California cantaloupe still available?
Is cantaloupe a food safety crop?
What is the best cantaloupe?
11 of the Best Cantaloupe CultivarsCharentais.El Gordo Hybrid.Hearts of Gold.Olympic Express Hybrid.Planters Jumbo.Sarah's Choice Hybrid.Top Mark.Zena.More items...•
What state grows the best cantaloupe?
In the U.S., California is the largest producer of cantaloupes producing almost three times as much as Arizona, the second largest producing state. Other states with significant amounts of production include Georgia, southern Indiana, and eastern Colorado (Fig 1).
What is the sweetest variety of cantaloupe?
Crenshaws also have peachy flesh, similar to a cantaloupe's, which is juicy and sweet to taste. In fact, it is known to be one of the sweetest melons there is.
Where are most cantaloupes grown?
The largest producing States are California (58 percent) and Arizona (26 percent). The United States imports over one-third of the cantaloupes consumed in the country.
What is the best tasting melon?
Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon are the best known melons, but also be adventurous and try casaba, Crenshaw, Persian melons or other varieties. Some are grown in the United States. Others are imported from Central America and New Zealand. Enjoy the taste of summer with melons.
Where are cantaloupes native?
Cantaloupe has been growing since ancient times in the Nile River Valley in Egypt. It likely first originated in the Middle East or India, but ancient Egyptians and Romans are known to have grown the melon. Cantaloupe was introduced to Europe in the 15th century and became a popular fruit due to its sweetness.
How do you pick a good cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.
What is the sweetest melon in the world?
Honey Globe Melon Many describe this type of melon as one of high quality and extremely sweet. And it's the delicious taste of the Honey Globe that sets this apart from other melons. The light green flesh is thick and succulent and, because over 15% of its weight is sugar, it's one of the sweetest melons.
What is Pecos cantaloupe?
The Pecos Cantaloupe is not a variant of cantaloupe, but rather one that is grown in Pecos, Texas. Many Texans would swear that the Pecos Cantaloupes are the best cantaloupes from anywhere. The Pecos Cantaloupe has thicker flesh, a smaller seed pocket, and is sweeter than any other cantaloupe out there.
Are cantaloupes good for you?
The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C present in cantaloupe are vital nutrients for your heart health. Potassium can help to lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Fiber helps to decrease levels of “bad cholesterol” in your body. It can also keep your blood pressure in check.
Where are California cantaloupes grown?
California has two primary cantaloupe (or muskmel- on; Cucumis melo L.) production areas: the southern desert valleys in Imperial and Riverside Counties and the San Joaquin Valley (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties).
Can diabetics eat cantaloupe?
Therefore, eating cantaloupes in their whole food form is very recommendable for both diabetics and those at risk of developing diabetes.
What Cantaloupes Can Do for Your Health - WebMD
Cantaloupe is a nutrition-packed relative of the watermelon and honeydew melon. Find out how this orange-fleshed fruit can benefit your health and how to enjoy it.
Where does cantaloupe come from?
C. melo var. reticulatus hails from North America, whereas C. melo var. cantalupensis comes from Europe.
What color is cantaloupe?
A few quick details to cover: First, cantaloupe are generally beige or tan to greenish in color, and the rinds are covered with netting. Most varieties are also ribbed, or covered with what are known as “sutures,” grooves of varying depth that typically start light green and darken as the fruit matures.
How long does it take for a jumbo melons to mature?
With firm rinds and sweet, deep orange flesh, smooth netting, and green sutures, these melons reach maturity in 80 to 90 days. It’s worth the wait, particularly if you live in a region with a hot, humid climate where vines are often prone to disease. ‘Planters Jumbo’ is resistant to downy and powdery mildew.
How long does it take for cantaloupe to mature?
Melons weighing six to eight pounds each mature in 72 days. One of the earliest to be ready, if you have a short growing season or you want to be the first in your neighborhood to enjoy some homegrown cantaloupe, this is the perfect pick.
What is the best melon?
Described as “the quintessential French melon” and “the best melon ever developed,” the salmon-colored flesh has an exceedingly pleasant, super sweet flavor and an ambrosial aroma reminiscent of tropical fruit.
Where did the melon originate?
An open-pollinated heirloom with origins tracing back 100 years to the Poitou-Charentes region of France, this melon was first brought to market by the Randon family and it’s been beloved ever since.
Can you grow cantaloupe at home?
One of the best parts of growing your own cantaloupe at home is that you get to choose when to pluck those webbed orbs from the vine, letting your senses guide the way, and you get to decide when to make that first slice to reveal the juicy goodness inside.
Where did cantaloupe originate?
Etymology and origin. The name cantaloupe was derived in the 18th century via French cantaloup from Italian Cantalupo, which was formerly a papal county seat near Rome, after the fruit was introduced there from Armenia. It was first mentioned in English literature in 1739.
How much does a cantaloupe weigh?
Cantaloupes range in weight from 0.5 to 5 kilograms (1 to 11 lb). Originally, cantaloupe referred only to the non-netted, orange-fleshed melons of Europe, but today may refer to any orange-fleshed melon of the C. melo species.
What is a rockmelon?
The cantaloupe, rockmelon (Australia and New Zealand), sweet melon, or spanspek (South Africa) is a melon that is a variety of the muskmelon species ( Cucumis melo) from the family Cucurbitaceae . Cantaloupes range in weight from 0.5 to 5 kilograms (1 to 11 lb).
How long can you keep cantaloupe after cutting?
The fruit should be refrigerated after cutting it and consumed in less than three days to prevent risk of Salmonella or other bacterial pathogens. A moldy cantaloupe in a Peoria, Illinois, market in 1943 was found to contain the highest yielding strain of mold for penicillin production, after a worldwide search.
What is the nutritional value of cantaloupe?
Fresh cantaloupe is a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value or DV) of vitamin C (44% DV) and vitamin A (21% DV), with other nutrients in negligible amounts (less than 10% DV) ( table).
Is cantaloupe a fruit?
Cantaloupe is normally eaten as a fresh fruit, as a salad, or as a dessert with ice cream or custard. Melon pieces wrapped in prosciutto are a familiar antipasto. The seeds are edible and may be dried for use as a snack.
Do you have to wash cantaloupe before eating?
In general, the FDA recommends thoroughly washing and scrubbing the rinds of all cantaloupes and melons prior to cutting and slicing, and to keep sliced melons refrigerated prior to eating. ^ Bellis, Mary (30 June 2017). "The History of Penicillin: Alexander Fleming, John Sheehan, Andrew J Moyer". ThoughtCo.
What is a cantaloupe?
Cantaloupes are a type of melon with a tan-green rind. Typically, the rind is covered in a spiderweb-like pattern, though some varieties may also be striped. Inside, the flesh is bright orange and sweet. Their growing requirements are similar to that of other popular melons, such as watermelons and honeydew melons. Cantaloupes vs. Muskmelons.
What kind of soil do cantaloupes like?
Cantaloupes do best in well-draining soil that’s a mix between loamy and sandy. Plant in a spot that gets full sun. To produce the best melons, the plants need all the light they can get. Plus, afternoon sun will dry off leaves, reducing the risk of fungal and other diseases that come with wet foliage.
How long can you keep cantaloupe uncut?
Melons will soften after harvesting, but will not continue to sweeten off the vine. Cantaloupe can be stored uncut for 5 or 6 days.
How to tell when cantaloupe is ripe?
Be careful not to pick too early, however. Look for a crack in the stem where it attaches to the fruit. This is a sign of ripeness as well.
Why do my muskmelon vines taste bland?
If your muskmelons taste bland, the trouble could be a lack of magnesium in sandy soil. Sweeten the fruit by spraying the vines with this solution: Dissolve 6 ½ tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 ⅓ tablespoons of borax in 5 gallons of water.
How to keep fruit plants moist?
If possible, use drip irrigation to keep plants consistently and evenly watered. Mulching around the plants can help to retain moisture. Reduce watering once fruits are growing.
What is the sweetest melons?
Hot, dry weather produces the sweetest melons. If you’ve had an exceptional amount of rainfall during the ripening stage, this can cause bland fruit. Once fruit begins to grow, prune end buds off vines. Your plants may produce fewer melons, but they will be larger and of better quality.
Where did cantaloupe originate?
Some believe that the original cantaloupes actually originated from Asia. They traveled to Europe and were named after the continent, but the origins of this sweet musky fruit remained in Asia; more specifically, in Persia, which earned it its local name of Persian melon or Hami melon.
Why are cantaloupes called cantaloupes?
They were unfairly named cantaloupes because of the Italian place, Cantalupo, where they were harvested after they arrived from their sources.
What is a Charentais melon?
Charentais Cantaloupe or charentais melons is the signature French melon, originating in the Poitou-Charentes region in Western France. It is considered to be one of the best variants of cantaloupes ever produced, superior to its counterparts in terms of flavor, aroma, and texture. The charentais melon is smaller than most melons, and is hardly the size of a grapefruit, weighing just 2lb on average. The exterior is a smooth and a stony creamy-gray with faint green ribs, and the flesh is bright salmon-orange and dense. The fruit is flavorful with high sugar content, and extremely fragrant.
What is the name of the green melon?
The Galia has a sweet, pale yellow, or green flesh. The scientific name of galia melons is Cucumis Melo var. Reticulatus. It is a hybrid of a cantaloupe and a melon and is often said to look like a cantaloupe from the outside, but a honeydew melon from the inside.
What is the most expensive fruit in Japan?
They’re extremely expensive and show the status symbol of people who can afford it. Japan has an extensive gift-culture and fruits are generally considered luxury items – melons being the most expensive. Yubari melons are a common choice for gift-giving among the affluent.
What is the real deal with cantaloupe?
This is the real deal. Dubbed as the ‘true cantaloupe,’ European cantaloupes or Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis are characterized by their gray-green and tough rinds. The rinds are slightly netted or more often, not netted at all. Their exteriors are smooth light colors with green stripes, and no spider-web like crisscross patterns. Their flavors and smells are musky and sweet.
What are cantaloupe balls?
When the cantaloupes are ready for harvesting, these big fruit balls can be cut up and made into a variety of different delicious foods and treats. Cantaloupes are loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and phosphorus. They can be made into smoothies, fruit salads, and even soups. Though all cantaloupes and melons are available only during ...
Where do cantaloupes come from?
Most likely they come from Guatemala with a portion coming from Costa Rica, ...
When are cantaloupes available?
These melons are referred to as “Westside” cantaloupes and they are available from June through October. After that, cantaloupes from the southern desert will step up to the plate again for their fall cantaloupe season, which can last into December in some years.
When is cantaloupe season in Georgia?
In Georgia, the harvest season runs from May through October. In South Carolina, cantaloupe harvest typically takes place from June through August, and North Carolina usually harvests in July and August. From around March through July, Florida harvests cantaloupes grown down the middle of the state and in the panhandle.
Is California cantaloupe still available?
With the holiday season in full effect and rain finally falling on drought-parched farmland throughout the golden state, California cantaloupes are no longer available – sadly. But never fear; fresh, juicy California cantaloupes will be back in season come spring. Until then, you can still get your cantaloupe fix!
Is cantaloupe a food safety crop?
California cantaloupes are currently the only crop produced under a mandatory food safety program in the United States produce industry that requires food safety audits to inspect all aspects of cantaloupe production operations from growing, to harvesting, to packing and cooling.
Overview
Production
In 2016, global production of melons, including cantaloupes, totaled 31.2 million tons, with China accounting for 51% of the world total (15.9 million tons). Other significant countries growing cantaloupe were Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and India producing 1 to 1.9 million tons, respectively.
California grows 75% of the cantaloupes in the US.
Etymology and origin
The name cantaloupe was derived in the 18th century via French cantaloup from The Cantus Region of Italian Cantalupo, which was formerly a papal county seat near Rome, after the fruit was introduced there from Armenia. It was first mentioned in English literature in 1739. The cantaloupe most likely originated in a region from South Asia to Africa. It was later introduced to Europe, and around 1890, became a commercial crop in the United States.
Types
The European cantaloupe, C. melo var. cantalupensis, is lightly ribbed with a sweet and flavorful flesh and a gray-green skin that looks quite different from that of the North American cantaloupe.
The North American cantaloupe, C. melo var. reticulatus, common in the United States, Mexico, and some parts of Canada, is a different variety of C. melo, a m…
Consumption
Cantaloupe is normally eaten as a fresh fruit, as a salad, or as a dessert with ice cream or custard. Melon pieces wrapped in prosciutto are a familiar antipasto. The seeds are edible and may be dried for use as a snack.
Because the surface of a cantaloupe can contain harmful bacteria—in particular, Salmonella —it is recommended that a melon be washed and scrubbed thoroughly before cutting and consumptio…
See also
• Melon
External links
• Media related to Cucumis melo cantaloupe group at Wikimedia Commons
• Sorting Cucumis names– Multilingual multiscript plant name database