Sarah's Choice Melon is an F1 hybrid cantaloupe bred for exceptional flavor, reaching harvest in just 76 days from transplants. This compact, bush-type plant produces netted melons that deliver some of the most vibrant sweetness you'll find in a homegrown melon. The variety thrives in warm conditions and responds beautifully to simple cultural tricks like plastic mulch and row covers, making it reliable even in northern gardens where heat can be scarce.
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Moderate
3-11
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Moderate
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Johnny's Selected Seeds developed Sarah's Choice specifically to maximize flavor, and the results speak for themselves: gardeners consistently report melons with remarkable sweetness and complexity. The hybrid vigor of this F1 cross ensures reliable production and disease resistance to both Fusarium Wilt and Powdery Mildew, two of the most common melon killers. At 76 days from transplants, it matures quickly enough to reward northern gardeners, yet produces full-sized, netted fruit with the depth of flavor you'd expect from a longer-season variety.
Sarah's Choice melons are grown for fresh eating, where their exceptional flavor shines brightest. Slice them chilled as a breakfast or dessert fruit, or cube them for fruit salads where their sweetness becomes the centerpiece. The dense, orange flesh is perfect for eating straight from the rind on a hot afternoon.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2-3 inch biodegradable pots in late April, about one month before your transplant date. Plant 3 seeds per cell, pressing them approximately 1/4 inch deep. Maintain soil temperature at 80-90°F (27-32°C) until germination occurs. Handle young seedlings carefully and never allow the soil to dry out completely. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C) for the remainder of the season, then reduce water and temperature for one week before transplanting to harden off the plants.
Transplant outdoors when weather is frost-free, warm, and settled. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart. Ensure soil temperature is warm before transplanting; cool soil will slow growth and set back plants.
Harvest Sarah's Choice melons when they reach full maturity at 76 days from transplanting. Look for a netted rind that feels slightly soft when gently pressed at the blossom end, and listen for a hollow sound when tapped. The melon should slip easily from the vine with a gentle twist; if it requires force, it's not quite ripe. Cut the stem rather than pulling the fruit to avoid damaging the plant.
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