Winter Melon seeds
This melon goes by many names. A member of the cucumber family, the Winter gourd is considered both a gourd and/or a melon. It can be dried and saved like a gourd, or grown for its edible flesh.
The winter melon is a highly prized commodity in China. The walls are composed of thick, dense, wet flesh. This melon is almost flavorless, we noticed a very slight hint of cucumber. In China, this melon is used for hot soups, hot pots, and stews. A popular trend nowadays is to make a winter melon juice as it gains popularity as a superfood. Since the flesh is a blank slate, it will absorb anything you cook it with. This makes it exceptional for soups as it soaks up the flavorful broth it's in. This melon is best if used for steaming, simmering, or parboiling.
When cut open, the inside looks incredible, like a snowflake. The seed cavities are large which makes the melon lighter than it appears, but fret not, there is still plenty of flesh to consume along the walls. This is an incredibly versatile melon that is easy to grow.
Seed count: 10
Botanic name:
Cucumis melo
Plant spacing:
5-6 feet apart
Color:
Light green interior and exterior
Sowing depth:
1/4-1/2 inch
Sun requirements:
Full sun
Utilization:
Sakata's Sweet Melon is extremely sweet and can be eaten as a dessert by itself. It can also be frozen and made into popsicles, frozen smoothies, sorbet, daiquiris, and fruit salads.
Frost hardy:
No
Maturity days:
90-100 days
Life cycle:
Annual
Can I start indoors:
Yes
Container friendly:
Yes, grow in containers that are at least 38 inches accross
Other names:
Ash Gourd, Wax Gourd, Winter Gourd, Chinese Melon, White Gourd, Tallow Gourd, Ash Pumpkin, and Puhul
Vine Habit: