Paintings of melons, including their seeds and leaves, appear in 4000-year-old Egyptian tomb art and there’s evidence they were cultivated at least 1000 years before that, so it’s fair to say humans have been enjoying these sun-loving fruits for quite some time. Historians think melons are native to Africa but, by the 16th century, they were being grown and appreciated by people around the globe.
Melons are the (mostly sweet) fruiting bodies of several genera belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. The melon family comprises some 900 species but only a handful can be bought at your local supermarket.
Thankfully, some of the rare and heirloom varieties may be grown from seed, which can be easier to find. So don’t put that baby in a corner — proudly carry that watermelon out of…
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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #13.4 - 2022