Early melon seed Golden Giant

hybridyellowcylindrical

New! Early, attractive Korean melon. Crisp and refreshing. Korean types like Golden Giant are often favored by people who find other melons to be too sweet or musky. The cylindrical, 9–10" long fruits avg. 2 1/2 lb. Fruits have yellow skin with prominent white sutures and firm, white flesh. Performs well in cool weather. Harvest when fruits turn slightly golden, at forced slip, or cut from vine. Larger and earlier maturing than Torpedo, which it replaces. Avg. 45,000 seeds/lb. Packet: 30 seeds. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cucumis melo CULTURE: A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 7.0 and a southern exposure is ideal. Good soil moisture is important in early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting. After this point do not water the last week before fruits are ripe, as overwatering can cause bland fruit. TRANSPLANTING: Sow indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2-3" biodegradable pots in late April or one month (no sooner!) before transplanting outdoors. Plant 3 seeds/cell or pot, about 1/4" deep. Keep temperature 80-90°F (27-32°C) until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C). Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden-off seedlings. When the weather is frost-free, warm, and settled, transplant 2-3' apart in rows 6' apart or thin to 1 plant/cell or pot with scissors and transplant 18" apart. Even hardened-off melon seedlings are tender. Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly. DIRECT SEEDING: Sow 1-2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70°F (21°C), 3 seeds every 18", 1/2" deep, thinning to 1 plant/cell or pot.