Days to Maturity: 90 to 110
Juane Canary, an heirloom melon, is grown as a fruit vegetable. The football-shaped fruits weigh 4 to 5 pounds. They have a subtle tropical aroma; a smooth, waxy, slightly corrugated yellow rind; and pale ivory flesh that's soft and succulent with a sugar-sweet, slightly tangy flavor, similar to honeydew. Eat sliced or add to salads or smoothies.
A Canary melon (Cucumis melo), also referred to as San Juan canary melons, Spanish melons, and Juane des Canaries, Juane Canary is a member of the cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae) family. Open pollinated, the plant produces seed that grows true to variety, ideal for seed saving.
Melons grow best in sunny locations with loose, fertile, organically rich, well-draining soil having a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 to 6.8. Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks with an all-purpose food.
A warm-season vegetable, sensitive to cold temperatures and frost, canary melon seeds can be direct sown into warm spring soil after the last frost date. For an earlier harvest, seeds can be started indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting after all threat of frost has passed. Flowers begin to set fruit with night temperatures between 55° and 75°F. Protect plants with row covers if temperatures are expected to dip below 50°F. Mulching helps to moderate soil temperature as well as to maintain soil moisture and control weeds.
If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
