A Slice of Summer
A Slice of Summer
It’s Melon season on our farm right now from the beginning of August through October (weather-dependent). We farm over four acres of melons growing seven different varieties including red and yellow seedless watermelon, red and yellow seeded watermelon, muskmelon (AKA cantaloupe), honeydew melon, and canary melon. Belonging to the Cucurbits (Gourd family) these plants need… Read More »
It’s Melon season on our farm right now from the beginning of August through October (weather-dependent). We farm over four acres of melons growing seven different varieties including red and yellow seedless watermelon, red and yellow seeded watermelon, muskmelon (AKA cantaloupe), honeydew melon, and canary melon. Belonging to the Cucurbits (Gourd family) these plants need plenty of space for their vines and tendrils to grow.
Cucurbits contain two kinds of flowers, most cantaloupes and honeydew have male flowers called staminate as well as perfect flowers which are self-pollinating. Cucumbers and watermelons have both male and female (pistillate) fruit-producing flowers therefore requiring insect pollination. Honeybees are the best suited for the job and you will see them frequenting cucurbit flowers for their energy (nectar) and protein, vitamins and minerals, and lipids (pollen).
Seedless melons are monoecious, separate male and female flowers, making them reliant on cross-pollination to produce fruit. Pollination friends include bees, wasps, butterflies, and other small insects. Seeded melons are self-fertile and require a visit from pollination insects but don’t require cross-pollination between plants. Cucurbit flowers are only open for one day with the male flowers appearing first. The vines produce runner tendrils which can produce four flowers which may produce up to 2 – 4 melons, however, it typically can be less. We grow our melons in rows using contour farming which helps us with water and soil conservation efforts. Learn more about pollinators on our farm.
We allow our melons to naturally ripen on the vine for peak sweetness and flavor. Our melons are harvested when the stem starts to look dry or as farmers call it, the “browning of the pig’s tail”. You know that your melon is ripe by it’s fragrance, go ahead give it a sniff! Check out this video of Rebekah & Colin talking about Watermelons on our farm.
Preparing simple, easy, no-cook meals is so easy to do with amazing fruits in great abundance
here on our farm. Nature has a way of taking care of us and there is a reason why certain things come in and out of season. Eating veggies that are high in water content, and low in calories helps maintain your body’s temperature. Eating foods in season also provides the salts and nutrients that our bodies need to replenish at this time of year. Try watermelon salads, variations on green salads, tomato salads, and cool slaws. Freezing fruit or veggies in your ice cube trays and adding them to your water is another fun way to enjoy refreshing water-rich fruits and vegetables at this time or try a watermelon-lime spritzer for a refreshing treat. How about this seven-layer dip reinvented to eat more healthy and fresh this time of year? This colorful seven-layer dip replaces heavy beans, cheese, and sour cream with melons and fresh mint instead! A must-try recipe to enjoy while melons are still in season!
