- The botanical classification of melons
- The origin of the different types of melon
- Current growing areas for melons
- tips and tricks
In this country, melons are usually only grown privately, since they actually prefer warmer areas as a growing area. Basically, melons have found their way to almost every country in the world in the last millennia.
The botanical classification of melons
Botanically, all types of melon belong to the pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae). However, the plants can be distinguished from pumpkin plants at first glance, as their leaves are usually slightly pinnate and less regularly heart-shaped. Since all parts of the pumpkins and melons die off completely after the fruit has ripened and the plant grows completely new from seeds in the next season, it is strictly speaking a vegetable and not a fruit.
The origin of the different types of melon
Most botanists assume that all melon species have their origins in Africa. The Tsamma melon, which can still be found as a wild plant in West and Central Africa, is considered the archetype of the various varieties of watermelon. However, this type of melon used to be taken on ships as a durable food not because of the rather bitter-tasting pulp, but because of the many seeds as a basis for flour and oil. This also laid the foundation for today's distribution, since melons found new distribution areas in overseas regions as well as in the early cultural areas of ancient Egypt and Persia. Sugar melons such as the Charentais melon and the honeydew melon are now also widespread in tropical areas of Australia, Asia and South America, but their ancestry probably also goes back to melon forms from Africa.
Current growing areas for melons
Most melons can now be traded all year round as they ripen at different times in different growing areas around the world. Due to the high weight, however, watermelons of the heavy Crimson Sweet varieties are usually only available in Germany during the season from May to September from the following European growing areas:
- Spain
- Hungary
- Italy
- Turkey
Sugar melons such as the Charentais melon are widespread in southern France, the honeydew melon is sometimes also referred to as the yellow canary due to its large-scale cultivation on the Canary Islands.
tips and tricks
Since the imported fruits often have to be harvested early due to their long transport route, you should check their ripeness based on the sound and the color of the skin.
WK