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.
The casaba melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) is a winter melon variety named after the Turkish city of Kasaba (modern Turgutlu) from which the fruit was historically exported. Wrinkled bright yellow rind, white sweet flesh, no scent until cut.
Origin and history
Native to Persia and Asia Minor, cultivated for over 1,000 years across the Middle East. Introduced to the United States in the 1880s by California growers.
Where casabas grow today
Turkey, Iran, central Asia, Spain, and the United States produce casabas commercially.
How to grow
Longer season than cantaloupes (110+ frost-free days). Otherwise cultivation is the same โ warm summers, sandy loam, full sun.
Bottom line
A traditional Middle Eastern winter melon with excellent storage life. Plant in warm-summer climates for autumn harvest.
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