The Tigger (Tiger) Melon (Cucumis melo) is a rare and eye-catching heirloom variety prized for both its ornamental beauty and delicious, sweet flavor. The small round fruits feature bold orange and yellow stripes, filling your garden with tropical color and a pleasant melon aroma even before harvest.
Perfect for home gardeners, edible landscapes, and decorative displays, the Tiger Melon is a non-GMO, warm-season annual vine that performs well in containers or open beds. Its compact growth habit makes it easier to manage than standard muskmelons while still offering high yields of fragrant, sweet fruit.
Features
- Beautiful Appearance: Bright orange and yellow striped rind adds tropical color.
- Sweet Aroma: Distinctly fragrant muskmelon scent, even before ripe.
- Compact Vine: Great for small gardens, trellises, or containers.
- Dual-Purpose: Both edible and ornamental.
- Heirloom Variety: Stable, non-GMO seed lineage.
Specifications
- Common Name: Tigger Melon / Tiger Melon
- Scientific Name: Cucumis melo
- Plant Type: Annual fruiting vine
- USDA Zones: 4 – 11 (grown as annual)
- Mature Height: 1 – 2 ft (vine length up to 6 ft)
- Fruit Size: 0.5 – 1 lb each
- Fruit Color: Orange and yellow striped rind, white to pale orange flesh
- Flavor: Mildly sweet, aromatic
- Light Requirements: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, fertile soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5
- Watering: Moderate, consistent moisture
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Days to Maturity: 70 – 85 days
- Growth Habit: Compact trailing vine
- Pollination: Insect-pollinated
- GMO Status: 100% Non-GMO
Planting Guide
- Soil Prep: Loosen soil and enrich with compost before planting.
- Sowing Depth: ½ inch deep.
- Spacing: 18–24 inches apart in rows 3–4 feet apart.
- Germination Temperature: 75–85°F.
- Watering: Keep soil moist but not soggy. Reduce watering as fruits mature.
- Support: Train vines on a trellis or allow to sprawl on the ground.
- Harvesting: Pick when rind turns bright orange-yellow and fruit emits a fragrant aroma.
Care Tips
- Mulch to retain soil moisture and prevent weeds.
- Avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal diseases.
- Apply balanced fertilizer every 3–4 weeks during growth.
- Protect young vines from pests such as cucumber beetles.