Banana Melon (Cucumis melo) is a classic 19th-century heirloom melon prized for its distinctive shape, smooth yellow rind, and aromatic, salmon-colored flesh. This sweet, flavorful melon offers a rich, tropical fragrance and deliciously juicy texture. Perfect for home gardens, small farms, and local markets, Banana Melon Seeds produce high-yielding vines with large, banana-shaped fruit weighing up to 5–7 pounds each.
Features
- Produces large, banana-shaped melons with a smooth yellow rind
- Sweet, fragrant flesh with a hint of tropical flavor
- Vigorous, high-yielding vines ideal for warm climates
- Excellent for fresh eating, desserts, or smoothies
- Non-GMO and open-pollinated heirloom variety
Specifications
- Scientific Name: Cucumis melo
- Common Name: Banana Melon
- Plant Type: Annual fruiting vine
- Growth Habit: Trailing vine (up to 6–10 feet)
- Fruit Size: 5–7 lbs each
- Fruit Shape: Elongated, banana-like
- Flesh Color: Salmon-orange
- Rind Color: Yellow
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–11 (grown as annual)
- Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hours daily)
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained loam with pH 6.0–7.0
- Bloom Season: Summer
- Harvest Season: Late summer to early fall (90–100 days from sowing)
- GMO Status: Non-GMO
- Organic Status: Conventional (Organic option available)
- Planting Season: Spring (after frost)
- Sowing Depth: ½ inch
- Germination Time: 7–14 days
- Watering Needs: Moderate; consistent moisture without waterlogging
- Fertilization: Balanced organic fertilizer at transplant and mid-season
- Spacing: 2–3 feet between plants; 4–6 feet between rows
- Pollination: Insect-pollinated
- Maintenance: Regular weeding and mulching; prune for airflow
- Uses: Fresh eating, juicing, desserts, fruit salads
Planting Guide
- Soil Preparation: Choose a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil.
- Sowing: Plant seeds ½ inch deep in hills or rows after danger of frost has passed.
- Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during germination; reduce slightly once vines establish.
- Support: Train vines along the ground or use trellises for space efficiency.
- Fertilizer: Apply balanced fertilizer during flowering and fruit set.
- Harvesting: Pick when the rind turns bright yellow and the fruit emits a sweet aroma.
