Arava Melon is a full-season organic hybrid that reaches maturity in just 77 days from transplants, delivering ripe melons well before the season closes. This bush-type grower produces netted melons prized for their reliable quality and consistent yields, especially when given the warm, protected conditions it loves. With proper care and timing, you can have homegrown melons on your table in under three months from planting.
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Moderate
3-11
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Moderate
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A full-season organic hybrid that matures in 77 days from transplants, Arava thrives in warm conditions and produces reliable yields when grown with plastic mulch and row covers, particularly valuable for northern gardeners. The variety resists Powdery Mildew, a common melon problem, and delivers netted melons that store well at cool temperatures for up to two weeks after harvest.
Arava melons are enjoyed fresh as a table fruit. The netted skin and mature flavor make them well suited to serving chilled as a dessert melon or slicing for fruit platters.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2 to 3 inch biodegradable pots in late April, or one month before your planned transplant date. Place 3 seeds per cell about 1/4 inch deep and maintain soil temperature at 80 to 90°F (27 to 32°C) until germination. Once seedlings emerge, grow them at 75°F (24°C) and keep soil consistently moist. About one week before transplanting outdoors, reduce both water and temperature to harden off the plants.
Transplant outdoors when weather is frost-free, warm, and settled. Handle young plants carefully, as they are delicate. Space transplants 2 to 3 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart. Remove row covers once female flowers appear on the plants.
Harvest when melons are fully netted and ripe, typically 77 days after transplanting. Ripe netted melons will feel slightly soft at the blossom end when gently pressed and will slip from the vine with a light tug when truly mature.
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