Melons for 2009

[canadamike]

Since I have a lot of pms on melons from new members, I am bringing back this list of the melons I grew this summer. I have OP seeds of the best ones, this list will be published later.

Let's see it as a starting point for the next season, where about + 200cultivars will go in ground. I'll post some pictures too....


Here is a resumé of my notes taken on Aug 22 in the melonnière:

VS : VERY SMALL- should not make it to fruit
S : SMALL - 3/4 of a pound, if we have some good weather, some chance

M : MEDIUM - around 1 pound. Fair chances if cold does not show up to fast

L : LARGE - evidently well over a pound- BEST CHANCES OF ALL
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NUMBER AND SIZE OF MELONS.


VIEILLE FRANCE---------------- 2 VS
KOLCHOSNITSKA--------------- 1 VS
GREEN NUTMEG----------------- 1 VS- 1S
BLANCO DE RIBATEJO---------- 4 VS- 1S-1M
PETIT GRIS DE RENNES--------- 1 VS-1S
BUON CAMBIO-------------------- 1 VS
OLD TIME TENNESSEE----------- 2M
MARYGOLD------------------------- 3S
ORANGE---------------------------- 0
MINNESSOTA MIDGET------------ 2VS 7 S ( SMALL TYPE)
STREIT FRIELAND GUGENETZ--- 1VS-2S
HERO OF LOCKINGE-------------- 3 VS
ALTAÏ-------------------------------- 1M-4L
MANITOBA-------------------------- 3M-3L
ANGEL DEW------------------------ 3S-1M
PRESCOTT-------------------------- 3M
FRIELAND MISCHERINO---------- 3M-2L
CONSUL SCHILLER---------------- 2M-1L
CUM271----------------------------- 1L-3M
ODEN-------------------------------- 3M
DVASH HAOGEN-------------------- 6S-2M
SMALL FRUITED(2 hills)----------- 13M ( SMALL TYPE)
KAISER AUGUSTE VICTORIA------ 6M 1L
RING LEADER------------------------ 5M 1L
LUNÉVILLE (2/3 OF A HILL)------- 5L ( the largest , with one Frieland Mischerino)

All hills 3 plants

The melons in the other patch did not perform, it was such a bad spot with no air circulation and not enough sun the melons can't be qualified, I will retry them.

GINGER'S PRIDE----------------------------2VS
HAOGEN--------------------------------------0
TIGGER----------------------------------------2VS
NORTHERN ARIZONA------------------------2VS
NOIR DES CARMES---------------------------0
BANANA-----------------------------------------2 VS
PASSPORT HYB--------------------------------1M
COLLECTIVE FARM WOMAN----------------- 1L

These melons have been hit by downy mildew.

[canadamike]

A few pictures I did not post yet:

Melon CONSUL SCHILLER from Germany, est producer after LUNÉVILLE



Once cut open:



KAISERIN AUGUSTE VICTORIA from Germany :



Open



ANGEL DEW:



MANITOBA looks dramaticly like football shape form of LUNÉVILLE, but much early. Breeding called for. Less tasty than LUNÉVILLE




Inside view:





PETIT GRIS DE RENNES: BEST IN THE WORLD.



STREITS FREILAND GRUNGENETZT ( Germany): Very close to PGR. Absolutely exquisite.



RINGLEADER from sweden. Very good firm flesh, perfect for restaurant trade where firmess is desired, ut not as hard as honeydew, simply better tasting:



ALTAÏ: originally from Russia, grown in the canadian prairies, their best tasting so far in the prairie melons I have tasted:





Well, that's it folks, let's start to rrrrrrrumble!!!!!

[bluelacedredhead]

[MANITOBA looks dramaticly like football shape form of LUNÉVILLE, but much early. Breeding called for. Less tasty than LUNÉVILLE]

Michel, You and I both know (and I'd bet so do Grunt and Grungy), that Anything developed at the Manitoba Experimental Station is virtually tasteless.

But you have to give them credit for developing Fruit that will actually ripen in what? Zone Zero?? LOLOLOL

There is a reason that the majority of the population of Canada lives in Southern Ontario and B.C.

[canadamike]

OUCH! ERASE THAT, IT IS SO UNCANADIAN!!

I am not sure it has been bred there. It looks like an oriental melon, probably from Russia. They got most of their old family heirlooms from there, and had a tendency to rename them.

I'll be growing a lot of the AG-CAN made melons next year. They did not even keepthem in the genebank for the most part.

I don't know, but it might end up being a good one next year if regrown. This year was exceptionaly bad....

[bunkie]

here are my choices michel! thanks for the pics and the info on all. it really helped!

LUNEVILLE

MARYGOLD

ALTAÏ

CONSUL SCHILLER

STREIT FRIELAND GUGENETZ

[canadamike]

Well, the way I see it, a certain lady as read some posts!! ;D
Done deal. Please allow some time as it is early and I am expecting seeds of the original form of the Lunéville melon ( round). Mine are more football shape, The round gene is recessive and the funny thing is even after many hundred years, plants with round ones still throw out some football shaped sometimes.

I have lost in the move a lot of my seeds from last year, so I re-ordered some, and then some more. Those, too have to make it here. Sorry for the delays...

[bluelacedredhead]

I would like some Luneville seed too, please Monsieur. But only a few. My new property is smaller than the garden here, lol

Oh, and I would be content with the one that gives two melon types for the price of one. How to impress the new neighbours with fancy vine crops ;D

[canadamike]

Quote from Blue:How to impress the new neighbours with fancy vine crops ;D

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Well my dear, how about wearing a tutu, a bowler hat and smoke a joint when you have them visit the garden? ;D

I'd pay to see that!!

[bluelacedredhead]

Cough Hack Cough .... Smoke?? The only smoking I do is out my ears sir.... Okay, forget I asked...

[canadamike]

[Alan]

Hey Mike, send me the best of the best my friend!


I definitely want the Luneville (I'll take as many of these as you can spare without cutting into any ones requests) and as you know I'm a sucker for anything with green flesh.

I just sent you some seed the other day, more will be heading your way soon.

Let me know when you get ahold of some more of that wheat, I would like to get some of it.

BTW, let our french friends know about the Ginseng seed, you will recieve one lb for distibution next fall, it's already paid for, they just ran out before they got to that order since it came in late.

[canadamike]

Good! I already posted something in that matter. Thanks.

As much as I want.... meaning you would plant my OP seeds of the good great mothers??? Of course green being recessive, it might be good to plan for more orange flesh( they were more numerous), but since your love for green is also a way for your subconscious mind to tell you you do not like musk in melons, it is my great pleasure to tell you that almost all the melons were NOT muskmelons So apart from your eyes, the rest of your evaluation tool kit should be pleased with the result....

That would be something friend. I have a HUGE hunch that apart from the resistance and cold/wet tolerance genetics, there are some beautiful surprises waiting for us...

See you brother...

[PatrickW]

Mike,

I would love to try some Lunéville melons for next year. I already PM'd you with my address.

How far apart do you plant your hills?

Also, how do you isolate your varieties?

[bunkie]

michel, no hurry with the seeds. we are finally expecting snow tonight, and thus...winter...begins...here...now... ;D

[ottawagardener]

Okay, I'm going to admit to mostly being a melon novice. I have grown some before from seeds someone gifted me and they did 'okay.' This year, I have acquired some Piel de Sapo as I hear good things and my hubby is Spanish. However, if you could pity me a couple seeds (literally, 2 or 3, and only if you aren't inundated with requests) of some variety that you think would be worth a go, then that would be kind. I promise to give them a preminium spot in full sun and report back but like I said, I know next to nuthin' 'bout melons except they taste good.