Melon - Mango

Minimum Seed Count: 15

A Golden yellow pocket sized melon from China! Sometimes called the Vine Peach, these melons are primarily grown for canning, preserves, jams, pies, and a variety of cooked dishes. The small, flavorful fruits develop a rich, sweet/tart tropical flavor and firm flesh that holds up beautifully when cooked or preserved. A productive and unusual addition to the garden, Mango Melon is a wonderful choice for gardeners interested in preserving old-fashioned flavors and putting their harvest to use

Plant Details

• Species: Cucumis melo
• Plant Type: Annual vining melon
• Days to Maturity: 75–90 days
• Fruit: Small, oval-shaped melons
• Fruit Color: Golden yellow when mature
• Flesh: Firm, flavorful, and aromatic
• Growth Habit: Vigorous trailing vines
• Primary Uses: Canning, preserves, jams, pies, cooking, and fresh eating

Growing Guide

Starting Seeds

• Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before your last expected frost, or direct sow after the soil has warmed.
• Soil temperatures should be at least 70°F for best germination.
• Plant seeds ½–1 inch deep.
• Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
• Germination typically occurs within 5–10 days.

Planting

• Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
• Choose a location with full sun.
• Space plants 24–36 inches apart.
• Allow plenty of room for vines to spread.
• Grow in fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Growing Conditions

• Full sun (8+ hours daily)
• Warm temperatures
• Fertile, well-drained soil
• Consistent moisture during fruit development
• Long, frost-free growing season

Care

• Water deeply and consistently throughout the growing season.
• Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Fertilize periodically throughout the season.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen once flowering begins.
• Give vines plenty of room to spread or grow them vertically on a sturdy trellis.

Harvesting

• Harvest fruits when they reach their mature color and begin developing their characteristic aroma.
• For preserving and cooking, fruits can be harvested when mature but still firm.
• Handle carefully to prevent bruising.
• Use the harvested melons for preserves, jams, pies, canning, and other cooked recipes.

History

Mango Melon represents the kind of old-fashioned kitchen garden variety valued for putting a harvest to work in many different ways. Rather than being grown solely as a dessert melon, its firm texture and flavorful fruit make it especially useful for cooking and preserving. Varieties like this were prized by gardeners who wanted crops that could be transformed into jams, preserves, pies, and pantry staples to enjoy long after the growing season ended.