Imagine cutting into a large melon, with the typical cantaloupe webbing, and bold green stripes running along the melon. Imagine as you cut the melon the wonderful sweet aroma of cantaloupe wafts up and tickles your nose. Imagine scooping out the seeds, cutting the melon into slices, and then picking up a slice, as your mouth waters. You open your mouth, take a bite, and the sweet juiciness of the fruit rolls over your tongue.
This is what I experienced with the first Tuscan Melon I ever had. I am pretty fussy about cantaloupe, and when I discovered the Tuscan Melon, I not only thought it was the best cantaloupe that I have ever tasted, it was one I just had to grow! So last year, I took the seeds, I rinsed them really well and let them dry. Then I packaged them for use for planting for this year.
Tuscan Melons on the vine
These plants began in the greenhouse and have done really well in my garden. A couple of friends of mine, Patti and Jeff, took one of my seedlings, planted it, have been watching it grow and the fruit develop, and this morning they were able to enjoy one of the many from their plant! They said the melon was extraordinarily sweet!
Ready for some interesting facts about this melon? I was amazed to discover that this fruit is actually a member of the cucumber family as a lot of melons and squash or gourds are. This melon is the true cantaloupe. It belongs to the muskmelon family and has thick fleshy walls, with the typical fibers and seed mass in the center.
The developing melon
The plant actually sets male flowers before the female flowers and they rely on bees for pollination.
The Tuscan Melon flowers
The melon will be ready to pick shortly
Always wash this melon before cutting into it! Stay tuned for a post on my harvesting of this lovely melon!
Life in the Foothills 