For a honeydew, the color becomes creamy. For a cantaloupe, the netting pattern on the melon becomes more visible and a crack appears at the base of the stem when it was ripe. Do not let the granules come in contact with the plant.ĭays to Maturity: A ripe melon should be very easy to remove from the vine. Melons are heavy feeders, so fertilize at planting and throughout the growing season with a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 granular fertilizer. Watering: Melons need a steady supply of water, and soil needs to be damped but not flooded, approximately 1 inch a week.įertilizer: Prior to planting, mix aged manure and compost into the soil. Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly. Even hardened melon seedlings are tender. When the weather is frost-free, warm, and settled, transplant 2-3′ apart in rows 6′ apart or thin to 1 plant/pot or cell with scissors and transplant 18″ apart. Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden seedlings. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Keep temperature 80-90☏ until germination. Plant 2-3 seeds per or pot, about 1/4″ deep. For transplanting, sow indoors in 3 weeks before last frost and transplanting outside. Planting: For direct seeding, sow 1-2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70☏, 3 seeds every 18″, 1/2″ deep, thinning to 1 plant/spot. Good soil moisture is important in early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting. In addition to the typical cantaloupe and honeydew melons, gardeners can grow other varieties such as banana melons.īefore Planting: A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 7.0 and a southern exposure is ideal. Read more about the Piel de Sapo on Salapedia.Melons provide a sweet and colorful addition to summer meals, and they can be grown in the home garden. The melon doesn't like going in and out of refrigeration as the skin can condensate, resulting in black spots.Īlthough the Piel de Sapo is perfect on its own, its versatility allows it to be included in a range of meal occasions including for breakfast, as a snack, salads, appetisers, desserts and cheese platters paired with a crisp white wine. Once you cut this melon up to share it’s not likely to last long! But Piel de Sapos do have a long shelf life and are best stored at a consistent 7-8 degrees celcius. How should I store the melon and how long will it last? Look for a yellow “dollar spot” at the stem and a yellow resting base. The melon will be non-aromatic. This indicates that the melon has been harvested at its peak so its pale green-coloured flesh is sweet and ready to eat. The secret to picking a good Piel de Sapo melon is to select a firm, yellowing olive-coloured melon with ample ‘netting’ or ‘cracking’ lines on the skin. Piel de Sapos are available all year round as the melon can grow in southern Australia in summer and in northern Australia during the winter months. Where are they grown in Australia and when? When you cut a piel de sapo, don't cut too closely to the rind as that's where the melon isn't as sweet. They are green on the outside with creamy yellow flesh, similar to a honeydew but generally sweeter in taste. The Piel de Sapo is different in appearance both internally and externally to a rockmelon. How do they differ from a rockmelon or honeydew melon? The thick rind means that Piel de Sapos possess excellent shelf life and transportability and its tough exterior hides a dense, juicy and refreshing sweet flesh that has to be tried to be believed. The melon is shaped like an oval, similar to a football. Piel de Sapo means “frog skin” in Spanish, and while the rough mottled rind of these melons closely resembles the amphibian they are named after, it has led some Australian growers to call them "Croc-melons". The Piel de Sapo melon, although not widely known in Australia, is the melon of choice in Spain. Keep an eye out for this ugly melon and don't be afraid to try it out! Are you aware of the deliciously sweet and refreshing flavour of the Piel de Sapo melon? Originally from Spain, the melon is now grown in Australia all year round.
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