Cucumis melo Banana di Lentigione

Cucumis melo 'Banana di Lentigione' is an ancestral Italian variety that has been somewhat lost to history. It is still cultivated by a few families in a small region along the border between the provinces of Reggio Emilia and Parma. This melon doesn't resemble any known ancient variety. It is classified as a 'banana' melon, not because of the shape of its fruits but because its flesh has a vague banana flavour. To be fully appreciated, the fruit must be harvested at perfect ripeness, when the stem begins to detach. It should also be consumed quickly. Sow in a warm location from March to May for a harvest 80 days later.

The 'Banana di Lentigione' melon is a hardy and vigorous variety that can tolerate clayey soils. It has a creeping habit. Each plant produces 3 or 4 round melons with thin and smooth green skin with dark and irregular stripes. At maturity, the skin turns yellow-orange, while still retaining the green stripes. The whitish flesh is 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) thick, and tender and juicy. Harvested at perfect ripeness, this melon boasts meltingly sweet flesh with intense aromas of banana with a touch of pear. The fruits weigh between 1 and 2 kg.

The melon is a compact fruit that is round or oblong with a smooth, ribbed or reticulated skin. The juicy flesh can be green, white, yellow, or orange, and surrounds a central cavity filled with seeds. It is commonly consumed raw as an appetiser or sweet dessert, as well as in sorbets, jams, compotes, or syrup. The small melons removed during thinning and pruning can be pickled in vinegar with herbs. Melons are hydrating, refreshing, and diuretic. They are reputed to be rich in trace elements and vitamins B and C in particular. Orange-fleshed varieties also contain vitamin A (the famous carotene).

They are annual creeping herbaceous plants, with female flowers distinguished from male flowers by their inferior ovary (under the flower), resembling an embryo of a fruit. They are located on the secondary or tertiary branches of each plant and will develop into the fruit. As for the male flowers, they always appear in the axils of the leaves on the main stem.

Harvesting: wait four weeks between fruit formation and picking. The fruit will emit a sweet smell and the stalk will start to detach, indicating that the melon is ready to be harvested.

Storage: an unopened Banana di Lentigione melon can be stored for a maximum of 2-3 days in a dry and ventilated place. Rest it on racks, for example. If it has been cut open or is damaged, you can freeze it (cut the flesh into pieces and moisten it with lemon juice).

The gardener's tip: place a slate tile under the fruit to block direct contact with the ground. This avoids rotting from excess moisture. Mulch around the plants, especially during the height of summer, as melon plants like moist soil.

Melons are highly susceptible to powdery mildew (a fungal disease that leaves a white powdery coating on the surface of the leaves). Be careful not to water the leaves or flowers.

Melons are nutrient-demanding fruits. They belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, like cucumbers, watermelons, and squash, etc. This family are notorious for depleting the nutrients in the soil. Therefore, it is advisable not to grow this type of fruit in the same location, or consecutively, in order to avoid excessively depleting the soil.

Organic or "AB" seeds come from plants grown in organic farming (without the use of phytosanitary products). They undergo no treatment after harvest. These seeds are suitable for organic market gardening.