Melon Banana

Banana Melon

Add a touch of the extraordinary to your garden with the Banana Melon (*Cucumis melo*), a long-time garden favorite known for its unique, banana-like shape. These novelty melons develop a vibrant yellow skin and can grow up to an impressive 24 inches in length, reaching weights of up to 8 pounds each.

The salmon-orange flesh within offers a delightful sweet and spicy flavor, complemented by a wonderfully strong and delicious fragrance that fills the air as they ripen.

A Historic Heirloom with Remarkable Aroma

The Banana Melon is a cherished heirloom variety, first documented in J. H. Gregory’s seed catalog in 1885. Mr. Gregory himself described the ripe melon as resembling “a large, overgrown banana” with an equally powerful and delicious banana-like fragrance.

Optimal Sowing and Growing for a Sweet Harvest

For successful cultivation of your Banana Melon seeds, ensure the soil temperature has warmed to a consistent 70-80°F before planting, as melons thrive in heat. To get a head start, you can start seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before your intended transplant date.

Sow several seeds ½ inch deep in peat pots and maintain a temperature of 75°F for germination. Thin to the strongest seedling per pot. Gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting them into hills spaced 4-6 feet apart, with 2-3 plants per hill. Consider companion planting with corn but avoid planting near potatoes.

Saving the Seeds of This Unique Heirloom

If you wish to save seeds from your Banana Melon, be aware that cross-pollination can occur with other melon varieties. Allow the fruit to fully ripen before harvesting seeds. Scoop out the pulp containing the seeds into a bowl and work it to separate the seeds. Add water to float away pulp and non-viable seeds.

Rinse the good seeds thoroughly and spread them to dry completely before storing them in a cool, dry place for up to five years.

• Novelty Banana-Shaped Melon
• Yellow Skin, Grows Up to 24″ Long
• Can Weigh Up to 8 Pounds
• Salmon-Orange Flesh with Sweet and Spicy Flavor
• Delicious and Powerful Banana-Like Fragrance
• Matures in Approximately 90 Days
• Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Warm Season
• Suitable for USDA Zones 3-12
• Plant in Full Sun

Order your Banana Melon seeds today and grow this fascinating and flavorful heirloom in your garden!