Rare Chinese Hongyun Hami Melon 哈密瓜 Large 4-5lb fruits Sweet & Crunch Non-GMO, Organic, Heirloom B10

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Hami Sweet is an improved hybrid variety of the famous Xin-Jiang Hami melon from western China. Fruits are uniform, light yellow with well-netted skin and oblong in shape, weighing 5-7 lbs. The flesh is very crispy and sweet (16% sugar content). The plant grows very well in mild climates and is strongly resistant to powdery mildew.

The football-shaped Hami. Beloved for centuries in China, this sweet golden melon with salmon-colored flesh offers its own surprise — a refreshing crunch like an Asian pear.

Hami melons, also known as snow melons, are a variety of muskmelon with a netted-rind and orange flesh rimmed with green. These melons have a flavor that is reminiscent of savory honeydew splashed with honey, cloudberry, and spice. These melons are sweet and strongly fragrant with a crisp flesh that becomes succulent and velvety soft when ripe. Hami melons are ripe when the skin gives to light pressure and the ends start emanating a strong and discernible melon aroma.

Full Sun
Sprouts in 7-14 Days Lifecycle: annual (vegetable) Ideal Germination Temperature: 75-85F Seed Depth: 1/2 inch Plant Spacing: 18" Frost Hardy: No Hardiness Zones: 3-10 Days To Maturity (# Days) 85-95 Sowing Method: Transplant Plant Scientific Name: Cucumis melo

100% Non-GMO, Organic, Heirloom, Open Air Pollinated Seeds

Hami melons are large, averaging 20 to 30 centimeters in length and 12 to 16 centimeters in diameter, and have an oblong shape with elongated, blunt, and curved ends. There are many different varieties of Hami melons appearing in slightly different sizes and shapes, generally weighing between 6 to 11 pounds. The rind is thick, hard, and found in shades of golden yellow, salmon, green, brown, to yellow with green streaks, depending on the cultivar. The rind also exhibits unique textural elements such as netting, rough patches, cracks, or being completely smooth. Underneath the surface, the flesh is dense, semi-aqueous, and firm, ranging in color from orange, coral, yellow to white. There is also a large central cavity filled with stringy fibers and oval, cream-colored seeds. Hami melons are known for their firm, crunchy, and succulent texture and fragrant floral aroma, released when the fruit reaches peak maturity. When selecting Hami melons, they should feel heavy for their size and have some give when pressed near the stem end. The melons also contain a high sugar content, creating a refreshing, sweet, and fruity flavor with tropical and honeyed nuances.

Hami melons, botanically classified as Cucumis melo, are ancient Asian muskmelons belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The name Hami is a general term used to describe over 200 different varieties of sweet and floral melons that originated in northwestern China. In the present day, Hami melons are one of the most widely cultivated melons in China and have experienced worldwide success, grown as a specialty melon in other parts of Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States. The melons are known for their sweet flesh, often reaching 16 to 23 Brix, a measurement of sugar, and the flesh is tender and crisp, offering a unique sensory experience. Hami melons are also known as Hamigua, Chinese Hami melon, and Snow melon, primarily consumed fresh or incorporated into a variety of sweet and savory culinary applications.

Nutritional Value Hami melons are an excellent source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, and antioxidants to protect the cells against free radical damage. The melons also contain fiber to regulate the digestive tract, potassium to balance fluid levels, and lower amounts of magnesium, B vitamins, and calcium. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, melons are believed to cool the body, reduce lung irritation, including coughs, and restore qi or bodily energy.

Melons provide a sweet and colorful addition to summer meals, and they can be grown in the home garden. In addition to the typical cantaloupe and honeydew melons, gardeners can grow other varieties such as banana melons.

Before Planting: A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 7.0 and a southern exposure is ideal. Good soil moisture is important in the early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting.

Planting: For direct seeding, sow 1-2 weeks after the last frost when soil is warm, above 70°F, 3 seeds every 18″, 1/2″ deep, thinning to 1 plant/spot. Space rows 6′ apart. For transplanting, sow indoors 3 weeks before the last frost and transplant outside. Plant 2-3 seeds per pot, about 1/4″ deep. Keep temperature 80-90°F until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F. Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden seedlings. 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. Even hardened melon seedlings are tender. Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly.

Watering: Melons need a steady supply of water, and soil needs to be damped but not flooded, approximately 1 inch a week.

Fertilizer: Prior to planting, mix aged manure and compost into the soil. Melons are heavy feeders, so fertilize at planting and throughout the growing season with a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 granular fertilizer. Do not let the granules come in contact with the plant.

Days to Maturity: A ripe melon should be very easy to remove from the vine. 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. For a honeydew, the color becomes creamy. Most melon varieties are ready for harvest when the gray-green color begins to change to pale yellow and when a light tug separates the fruit from the vine. Some melon types, like honeydew, Charentais, canary, Spanish, and Crenshaw are overripe by the time the stem can be tugged from the fruit. (See each variety for days to maturity)

Harvesting: Melons must be cut from the vine. All melons should be stored at 90% relative humidity. Store ripe melons at 40-45°F for 7-14 days.

Tips: Cut off watering 1 week before harvest. This will give a more flavorful, concentrated melon. Over watering before harvest can cause a bland taste.

FREE GIFT when you order 5 items or more. Free gift is full of surprise seeds which may include single or mixed varieties.

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