Golden Gopher Melon Seeds Open-pollinated (Cucumis melo) Muskmelon

This is an early-maturing heirloom melon developed in the 1930s by the University of Minnesota. I was impressed by the extremely sweet and tasty fruit – far superior to any modern hybrids sold at supermarkets! This melon is a little smaller than the average muskmelon (up to 2 lb), has great color and a small seed cavity. Perfect for areas with shorter seasons. While my frost-free season in Zone 6 West Virginia is not particularly short, the season for melon growing can be, due to late season diseases and fruit rots. This variety produced a beautiful crop that actually ripened before vines were decimated. I highly recommend covering vines with floating row cover (eg. Agribon + AG 19) for the first 3-4 weeks of their lives. This protects them from cucumber beetles that can quickly kill vines by introducing bacterial wilt disease. This variety is resistant to Fusarium wilt but susceptible to powdery mildew, so you may need to use an organic spray if this disease arrives early in your area. Fruit slips from the vine when ripe. Check plants often for ripeness, as fruits can get antsy and pop open! Non-hybrid. 80-85 days from seed to harvest. Seeds produced in Morgantown, WV. Germ 99% 12-25-23.