Melon - Minnesota midget (Cucumis melo)
An extra-early cantaloupe/muskmelon variety bred by the University of Minnesota in 1948. Fruits are small - orange or grapefruit sized - but the taste is intense and their perfume is very strong. The variety is bred to be small and early to ripen. It is also resistant to Fusarium wilt, a true bane of melon growers.
The super-sweet, softball-size melons grow on compact vines 100-120cm long. You could even grow them in a container, they are so well behaved. Each plant will produce anywhere fromfour to eight melons, each perfect as a treat for one or two people.
Maturing in 60 - 70 days, this variety is a good choice for areas with cool short summers, but it will thrive in almost any climate. Here in Scotland we have not tried growing it outdoors, only grown it under glass. Plants are small enough to be grown under cloches or in a cold frame.
Plant indoors in spring. The classic method is to plant two seeds per pot then thin to the strongest if both sprout, however, we have found that if the compost is too cold or wet the seeds have a tendency to die. Our preferred method is to fold the seeds in damp tissue (wet and squeeze out as much water as possible), put in a plastic bag and keep somewhere warm for a few days. Seeds should sprout in 3-5 days. As soon as they do, put them up in individual pots. Melons dislike root disturbance, so when planting in their final positions try to plant them with the rootball intact. Plant 50 - 100cm apart. For neatness, you can train each plant to two or four vines, or you can just let them sprawl around as they like.
The melons will emit a sweet scent as they near maturity. Harvest when they separate from the vine with the slightest effort. Any later fruits which don’t ripen on the plant can be brought indoors to ripen. They won’t be as sweet as the earlier ones but will still be delicious.