Melons
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, Galia
8 articles in this section
Watermelon: From the Kalahari Desert to Global Summer Staple
Watermelons originated in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa, where they were prized for storing water. A 5,000-year journey to global supermarkets.
Cantaloupe: The Italian Pope's Melon
Named after the Italian town of Cantalupo, the cantaloupe traces from Persian and Armenian melons cultivated for thousands of years. A guide to growing it.
Honeydew: The Smooth-Skinned Melon — Origin, History, and How to Grow
Honeydew is a true cantaloupe variety with a smooth pale rind and pale green flesh — milder, sweeter, and longer-keeping than its netted cousin.
Galia Melon: The Israeli Modern Hybrid
The Galia melon was created in Israel in 1973 — a cantaloupe × honeydew hybrid that revolutionized export melon agriculture.
Bitter Melon: The Asian Medicinal Vegetable-Fruit
Bitter melon is one of the most bitter foods humans eat — and one of the most-used Asian medicinal plants. The story of this challenging fruit.
Korean Melon (Chamoe): The Yellow Striped Asian Melon
The Korean melon is a small yellow-skinned summer melon with white sweet flesh, eaten whole including the seeds.
Casaba Melon: The Turkish Winter Melon
The casaba is a wrinkled-rind winter melon named after the Turkish city Kasaba. Mild, sweet, and an excellent keeper.
Pepino Melon: The Andean Cucumber-Melon
The pepino is a small striped fruit from a South American nightshade — botanically a relative of tomatoes, marketed and eaten as a melon.