Melon Trial 2000 table

Melon Project Trial 2000, Taste Test

This page shows results for the taste tests of the melons grown in the melon trial at McClellan Ranch during the summer of 2000. Note that seed suppliers update their offerings every year with new varieties. Varieties mentioned in this article may no longer be available. For details about how the project was conducted, refer to the project report page. For the table below:

  • Melon varieties are ordered by taste preference (best at top)
  • Taste Rating: 1 = Lowest, 10 = Highest
  • Yield: number of melons harvested from 3 plants.
  • Type: B = Butterscotch, C = Casaba, F = French Charentais, G = Galia, H = Honeydew, M = Muskmelon (Cantaloupe)
  Variety Type Taste Yield Skin Flesh Fruit Days Source Comment Sample
1 Earliqueen M 7.9 16 Tan Orange 3-4lbs,ribbed, net 74
JS
Consistently sweet taste through harvest 17
2 Burpee F1 Hybrid M 7.4 8 Tan Orange 7",ribbed,netted 82
GC
Reliable producer with outstanding flavor 8
3 Galia G 6.9 14 Grn/Gold Green 2-3lbs,netted 85
SG
Israeli, intensely perfumed and spicy sweet 9
4 Honey Pearl H 6.7 8 White White Medium, smooth 80
JS
Sweet flavor and grainy texture like Asian pears 17
5 Tropical Galia Passport G 6.6 14 Tan Green 5-6lbs, well-netted 73
JS
Very thick flesh and small seed cavity 16
6 Specialty Sweetie B 6.2 6 White Ornge/Grn 1-2lbs,smooth 75
JS
Fragrant, sweet taste with butterscotch flavor 17
7 Spanish Golden Beauty C 7.0 3 Yellow Green 4-5 lbs, wrinkled 80
JS
Canary type, oblong, powdery mildew resistant 9
8 Honey Orange H 5.8 5 Ivory Salmon 3lbs.,smooth 80 JS Tolerant to cool conditions 17
9 Sungold Casaba C 5.8 4 Yellow Grn/White 5-7 lbs, wrinkled 85-90 SC Oval shape, from Turkey, stores well 16
10 Athena M 5.7 7 Tan Orange 4lbs,well-netted 79 JS Good shelf life, resists powdery mildew/fusarium 9
11 Haogen M 5.5 21 Yellow Green 3-5lbs, striped 80-85 SC Israeli, green skin turns yellow when mature 16
12 Ambrosia M 5.3 15 Tan Peach 4-5 lbs, smooth 86 HS Softens and becomes overripe quickly 8
13 Minnesota Midget M 4.9 13 Tan Orange 4" in diameter 65 GC, SS Vines are only 3-4 ft, high sugar content 16
14 Collective Farm Woman M 4.8 4 Grn/Yellow Yell/White 7-10", smooth 80-85 SS Crisp flesh, skin yellow-orange when mature 17
15 Crane/Eel River M 4.6 4 Gold Orange 10lbs,fine net 105 SC Large, rare heirloom, dark highlights on skin 7
16 French Charentais Savor F 4.4 7 Grey/Green Orange 2lbs,smooth 78 JS Very sweet, aromatic flesh 17
17 Earligold F1 M 3.5 8 Tan Orange 4lbs,dense netting 72 JS Tolerant to cool conditions 8
18 Amish M 3.3 8 Green Orange Oval, 8-9", 4-7lbs 80-90 SS Heirloom from Amish, thick rind 8
19 Early Hanover M 2.9 23 Tan Salmon 3-3.5 lbs, slight net 80-85 SC Grows well under adverse conditions 15
20 Jenny Lind M 2.6 17 Tan/Green White/Grn 1-2lbs,ribbed, net 70-75 SS Small button on blossom end, Named after singer 9