Melon, Minnesota Midget
75 in stock
Quick Overview
MELON, Minnesota Midget –
Cucumis melo var. reticulatis
FULL SUN Developed at The University of Minnesota at St. Paul in 1948, this little muskmelon has 12 oz. fruit and can be easily trellised. The skin is lightly netted and the flesh is pale orange. This is a rare, short season melon that sweetens even in cold climates. Plant in late spring after danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to a depth of 6 in. Plant in hills, 4 ft. apart. When seedlings are 3 in. high, thin, leaving 4 plants per hill. Well rotted manure or compost dug into the soil where the seeds are to be planted is highly beneficial.
| Type | Spacing | Planting Depth | Days to Germination | Maturity |
| Muskmelon | 8 in. | 1 in. | 7-10 | 8 |
Melon, Minnesota Midget
Melons are native to the continent of Africa. Many wild forms of melons and watermelons can still be found there today. Though it is not known when melons were first cultivated, it is believed that prehistoric man may have gathered and saved the seeds of the sweetest melons, and this practice lead to cultivation. Seeds and wall paintings found in Egyptian tombs indicate that melons and watermelons were under cultivation in Egypt at least 4000 years ago. Melons were introduced into Asia about 3000 years ago. The melon became immensely popular in the region that includes Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, south and central Russia, China and Japan. The Greeks and Romans most likely introduced the melon into Europe. Columbus brought melons to the New World on his second voyage, and by 1494 melons were under cultivation in Haiti. By the 16th century, melons and watermelons were being cultivated through out North and South America.
Muskmelons and their close relatives, Persian melons, are the melons Americans know best. In America, muskmelons are frequently, incorrectly referred to as cantaloupes. Muskmelons are distinctive for the netting that covers most of their rind, and they are usually ribbed. The melons come in many sizes and shapes including round, oval, and cylindrical. The flesh is generally orange and quite sweet, but some varieties of muskmelon and specifically, the Persian melons, can have green or white flesh. Some green-fleshed melons are quite sweet, but most of the green- and white-fleshed melons have a less sweet, but very refreshing flavor.
