Melon, Papaya Dew Melon Seeds

Variety Info.:

Botanical Name: Cucumis melo (hybrid)

Days to Maturity: 70–90 days

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Native: Africa, Asia, Australia, West Pacific Islands

Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual

Plant Dimensions: 4’–5′ sprawling vines

Variety Information: 2–4 pound melons, slightly oval shaped with smooth, yellow-white skin when ripe. ‘Papaya Dew’ is a hybrid melon with a unique flavor and color. Orange-pink flesh is highly aromatic. Fruit is generally larger in warmer climates.

Sowing Info.:

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–90°F.

When to Start Inside: Recommended for short-season areas. 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting within 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Sow into biodegradable pots that can be directly planted in the ground; roots are sensitive to disturbance.

Days to Emerge: 5–10 days

Seed Depth: ¼”

Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound

Row Spacing: 4’–6′ apart

Thinning: Thin to 1 plant per mound

Growing Info.:

Harvesting: Papaya Dew’ is a unique hybrid melon with flavor and color like none other. Max Contin started his breeding efforts in 1997 with various melon types being crossed in hopes of developing an orange-fleshed honeydew with great flavor and aroma, as well as a sturdy plant. After about 8 years, when the traits had been stabilized, the final two parents of ‘Papaya Dew’ were identified. Max called it papaya melon because it reminded him of the papayas of his childhood in the Dominican Republic. Botanical Interests is proud to have been the first to offer the seed to home gardeners in 2013.