{"product_id":"true-love-f1-melon-10-seeds","title":"True Love F1 Melon: 10 seeds","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-sugar melon with near perfect texture designed to complement its sister variety, First Kiss F1.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA testament to our trials process, this melon is the perfect complement to First Kiss F1 as it is full slip, slightly later and larger, and can be planted as a second succession for continual melon harvest. The aromatic sweetness of this melon evokes the feelings of true love and this show stopping cultivar comes to us from Dr. Brent Loy at the University of New Hampshire. A portion of the sales of this variety is paid to the breeder - learn more here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2-3 lb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHMOS EXCLUSIVE\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBR\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHybrid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Loy's Choice™ variety, bred by High Mowing in partnership with University of New Hampshire's Dr. Brent Loy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisease Resistance Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHigh Resistance: Fusarium Wilt (2), Powdery Mildew (1 \u0026amp; 2)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCULTURAL INFO\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelons\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e(Cucumis melo)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare warm season tender annuals in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCucurbitiacea\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efamily, which includes cucumbers, summer squash and winter squash, and gourds. Types include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHoneydew and Casaba\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e(inodorous group)\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuskmelon\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e(reticulates group)-\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eNetted fruit slips from vine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEuropean Cantaloupe\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(cantalupensis group)-\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFruit is not netted and does not slip when ripe.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil Nutrients and Requirements\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelons will thrive in warm, well drained soil high in organic matter with pH between 6.5-7.5. Sandy loam is best. Melons are heavy feeders. Give 80-120 lbs of N per acre. Calcium deficiency can lead to blossom end rot, especially when adequate moisture is not available.  Use dolomitic limestone. Manganese in excess can cause black spot. When Boron is deficient, fruit may crack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeding Depth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e½”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlant Spacing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12-18”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRow Spacing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6' centers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen to Sow\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDays to maturity are from transplants; add 10-14 days if direct seeding. Direct seed 1-2 weeks following last frost date. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 75-85°F. Sow seed indoors 4 weeks before planting date. Air temperature for healthy seedling growth is 75°F. It is common to plant either single plant transplants or double plant transplants at larger plant spacing.  Harden off plants by reducing temperatures and water. Plant outdoors when all danger of frost has passed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOther Considerations\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlastic mulch and floating row cover are used to increase soil and air temperatures as well as ward off insects, especially cucumber beetles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarvest\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarvesting melons at perfect maturity can be tricky, each type is a little different.  In general: cantaloupes slip from vine when ripe; charantais types can be cut when they have a thick netted skin (they are a bit over-ripe if they slip); galia types slip from the vine and are ready when skin turns bright yellow; honeydews can be cut from the vine when skin turns color. Other indicators of ripeness are when the leaf closest to fruit becomes dried and shriveled and when the stem becomes corky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStorage\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRipe melons usually keep up to 4 weeks in a cold storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePest Info\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriped cucumber beetles cause feeding damage to the leaves, and often transmit bacterial wilt. Larvae feed on the plant roots. Row covers can provide effective protection, but must be removed during flowering to allow pollination. Practice crop rotation and good sanitation to eliminate overwintering habitat. Frequent application of kaolin clay and\/or pyrethrum have shown some effective control.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSquash vine borer will cause plants to look wilted even when moisture is plentiful. Slice open stem and remove and destroy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSquash bugs can be controlled by handpicking. Bury or compost plant residues at the end of the season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDisease Info\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePowdery mildew can be checked by providing good air circulation. Give plants wide spacing and eliminate weeds, especially milkweed, marshcress and yellowrocket. Choose resistant varieties.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFruit rots such as anthracnose, scab, and fusarium fruit rot are common under wet conditions. Space plants apart, avoid wetting foliage and water early in the day so that leaves can dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFusarium Wilt is caused by the fungus\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFusarium oxysporum f. sp. Melonis (Fom)\u003c\/i\u003e, and can be seed and\/or soil borne.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBacterial Wilt and Cucumber mosaic virus should be controlled by removing and destroying infected plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Bloomery LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40921554714647,"sku":"2635.1","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/9338\/6263\/files\/TrueLoveF1melon1.jpg?v=1708631329","url":"https:\/\/www.thebloomeryky.org\/products\/true-love-f1-melon-10-seeds","provider":"The Bloomery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}