North Florida Gardening

[PlainJane]

That's a cute little sucker! Sweet?

Very!

[PlainJane]

Here’s the Ha’Ogen melon, fully ripe.
It’s a green musk melon and the aroma is perfuming the whole kitchen.

Hell and damnation I found a hole in the other one still on the vine. I covered it back up to prevent fruit flies getting in and will see what happens.

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[ddsack]

That's a disappointment! Hope it is salvageable. I had seeds for it a few years ago from I think, Sand Hill Pres, but I don't recall mine looking like yours. It looked more like a regular monotone beige colored maybe slightly elongated muskmelon. I wonder if my seeds were crossed, I have no idea what it is supposed to look like. My seeds may have been a freebie.

[PlainJane]

@ddsack one of the reasons I picked this melon to grow was that it gives a distinctive color presentation when ripening. On top of the reputation for flavor, of course.

[ddsack]

(Lost my first reply, hope this is not a duplicate!)

I may have to try another source, definitely could use an added clue of a color change when ripe! I'll be waiting to hear your opinion of the flavor soon.

[PlainJane]

Fyi @ddsack my seeds came from Fruition Seeds, one of my favorite vendors.

[PlainJane]

Flavor and texture of Ha’Ogen is outstanding.
Melts in your mouth.

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[GoDawgs]

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[GoDawgs]

@PlainJane, just wanted to let you know we got the first cuke with pickleworm damage. It was a Suyo Long. These critters only arrived about 3-4 years ago. Some years they damage just a cuke or squash here and there and sometimes a lot more. It will be interesting to see what they do this year.

[PlainJane]

@GoDawgs I am experimenting with bagging some of my Itachi cukes to see if I can thwart them.

[karstopography]

I had a few cucumbers get hit last year by pickle worms, but nothing this year. Wonder what happened to them?

[GoDawgs]

I had a few cucumbers get hit last year by pickle worms, but nothing this year. Wonder what happened to them?

*whispering to karsto* SHHHHHHHH! They're just waiting for someone to say that before they descend on unsuspecting gardeners.

[PlainJane]

Yeah, I was out there this morning bagging things - more cukes and the first 2 Eel River melons.

[bower]

That Ha'Ogen melon is simply beautiful! Hope you get more (without holes)!

[PlainJane]

Yes, @bower I sure hope so.

[PlainJane]

I think I lucked out on the other Ha’Ogen.
There’s no softening or spotting around the hole and the rest of the melon appears fine.
Will open it in a day or so and see what’s going on inside.

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[PlainJane]

I have a slew of Green Ischia figs ripening now so I included some on a charcuterie plate for our neighborhood get-together. Marcona almonds, prosciutto, salami, bresaola, apricots, black grapes, figs, manchego and another cheese I’ve forgotten the name of. And Effie’s Biscuits.

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[PlainJane]

Boy am I glad I gave away the other Matrosik plants back in April.

A few peppers hung in there despite the horrible heat, and another New Queen watermelon. This one had far fewer seeds than the first 2.

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[GoDawgs]

We are swimming in eggplants! Not only a Matrosik but also a Rosita, a Millionaire and a Chinese String! Lunch today was a new recipe, a wrap filled with grilled eggplant, chickpeas, cuke, lettuce, diced tomatoes with a Greek yogurt-lemon juice-garlic sauce. Good stuff!

That looks like a great watermelon! I've got a new one too coming along, a Wilson Sweet. Can't wait to try it.

[PlainJane]

@GoDawgs this is the first watermelon I’ve grown and didn’t really know what to expect. 3 harvested and at least 7 still on the vine. A tiny bit less sweet than Mini Love but much more prolific.