FruitMelon
Orange Flesh Melon
Orange Flesh Melon is a heat-loving annual that delivers the sweetness of honeydew wrapped in a compact, nearly round package weighing 5 to 6 pounds. Sometimes called 'Honeyloupe,' this open-pollinated heirloom variety matures in 100 to 109 days and thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 2 through 13. The smooth, thin-skinned fruits develop a delicate orange flesh with a small seed cavity, making them both beautiful to look at and efficient to eat. Grow it in containers, raised beds, or garden plots; its vining habit and moderate water needs suit many garden styles.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
15 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
15in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The true draw here is the flavor, which sits beautifully between honeydew and Crenshaw melon, neither as intensely musky as a Crenshaw nor as mild as straight honeydew. At 5 to 6 pounds, the fruits reach a hand-friendly size that's easier to manage than massive watermelons yet substantial enough to feed a family. The small seed cavity means you get more flesh per melon, and the smooth skin is forgiving to grow; this variety tolerates heat without fussing and resists six major diseases that plague other melons.
Common Uses
Orange Flesh Melon shines on the summer table: slice it fresh for breakfast or dessert, scoop the flesh for elegant fruit salads, or blend it into chilled soups and sorbets. The small seed cavity makes it convenient for eating out of hand or portioning into bowls.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date in seed trays or pots filled with warm seed-starting mix. Keep soil between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off once all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant into garden soil or containers once nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the soil has warmed. Space transplants 36 inches apart within rows spaced 72 inches apart. Suitable for containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil (70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit) after the last frost date has passed. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and thin seedlings to 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Melons reach harvest readiness at 100 to 109 days from planting. Pick fruit at the half-slip to full-slip stage, when the melon separates easily from the vine with a gentle twist or when a small crack appears at the stem end. Look for a golden or creamy undertone on the skin, which indicates ripeness. The blossom end should yield slightly to thumb pressure when ready.
Pruning
As a vining melon, pinching back growing tips can encourage bushier growth and redirect energy toward fruit production rather than excessive vine extension, though this variety is generally manageable without heavy pruning. If you are trellising the vines, remove any weak or crowded lateral shoots to improve air circulation.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis melo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“This variety carries heirloom pedigree, preserved as an open-pollinated cultivar through generations of seed savers who recognized its exceptional flavor and reliable performance. Its dual parentage, tasting distinctly between honeydew and Crenshaw, suggests careful selection by breeders seeking to capture the best of both melon types in a single fruit.”