muskmelon

Muskmelon refers to cultivars of Cucumis melo that produce sweet, fragrant fruit, commonly consumed fresh. The term is used to describe melons with musky aroma and includes many rind types, most notably netted varieties such as cantaloupes as well as smooth-rinded types like honeydew and Casaba.

Botany and classification: Muskmelon is a species in Cucurbitaceae; within Cucumis melo, horticultural groups include cantalupensis (cantaloupes with netted rind), inodorus (smooth-rinded honeydews and some casabas), and others. Fruits range in size and color; flesh is typically orange in cantaloupes, greenish in some others.

History and origin: Native to western Asia and Africa; cultivated since ancient times; spread to Europe and the Americas through trade and exploration; modern breeding has produced many cultivars.

Cultivation: Warm-season crop; prefers full sun, long frost-free season; sandy to loamy well-drained soil; regular irrigation; training vines; harvest when fragrant and rind color; storage.

Nutrition and culinary uses: Hydrating fruit with high water content; provides vitamin A (beta-carotene) and vitamin C; modest calories; eaten fresh, in fruit salads, desserts, smoothies; used in savory dishes in some cuisines.

Production and trade: Widely grown worldwide; major producers include China, Turkey, Iran, the United States; seasonality and markets vary; typical shelf life after harvest is a few days to a week or two when refrigerated.