Culture
Easily grown in loose, fertile, medium-textured, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soils in full sun. Consistent and even moisture is essential. Plants are typically grown as annuals in cages, on trellises or, space permitting, along the ground. Plants are intolerant of frost. Plant seeds outdoors in the garden at the last spring frost date or indoors in pots or other containers about 4-6 weeks prior to the last spring frost date. Plants thrive in hot summer daytime weather with warm nights. Pick fruits when young (older fruits toughen as they mature).
Noteworthy Characteristics
Cucumis melo, commonly called musk melon, sweet melon, or cantaloupe is a scrambling or climbing, annual vine native to the paleotropics (Old World tropics). The stems and leaves typically have stiff hairs and a rough texture. The funnel-shaped flowers are yellow and relatively small, reaching 0.5-1.5" long. Unbranched tendrils help the vines to climb. The fruit (a pepo) vary considerably in terms of shape, size, rind, texture, flavor and flesh color. This is a polymorphic taxon with a history of nomenclature changes but there are six broadly accepted groups of cultivated, edible varieties as follows: (1) var. cantalupensis (sweet flesh with ribbed, smooth or scaly rind), (2) var. inodorous (winter melons including casaba and honeydew), (3) var. reticulatus (netted rind and musky sweet orange flesh, may be included in var. cantalupensis), (4) var. conomon (oriental pickling melon), (5) var. chito (feral melon of North American origin with small fruit, commonly known as mango melon or vine peach), (6) var. dudaim (Queen Anne’s pocket melon), and (7) var. flexuosus (Armenian cucumber, snake or serpent melon with cucumber shape and appearance).
Genus name from Latin means "cucumber" as derived from the Greek word kykyon also meaning "cucumber".
The specific epithet melo comes from the Ancient Greek melon meaning "apple" or used more generically to describe fruit.
The common name musk melon refers to the musky smell which emanates from many of the fruits in the species when cut open.
Problems
Watch for cucumber beetles which feed on the foliage and transmit diseases. Aphids and spider mites may be troublesome. Wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, stem blight, scab and leaf spot may occur. Mosaic virus is a potential problem in some areas.
Uses
Depending on the variety, can be eaten raw, pickled, or cooked.