Athena Melon Fruit What Is An Athena Melon Plant

An Athena Melon is a type of muskmelon that has a longer ripening period than most varieties so the melon remains firm and sweet without becoming soft. The Athena, with its netted skin and orange interior fruit, closely resembles a cantaloupe in appearance.

What's the difference between cantaloupe and Athena melons?
How do you know when an Athena melon is ripe?
How do you pick a good Athena melon?
How do you plant Athena cantaloupe seeds?
Is melon and cantaloupe the same thing?
How many calories are in Athena melon?
Are melons in season right now?
How can you tell when a cantaloupe is ripe and sweet?
How do I know when my honeydew melon is ripe?
What is the sweetest variety of cantaloupe?
Should you keep cantaloupe in the fridge?
How can you tell a good cantaloupe?

What's the difference between cantaloupe and Athena melons?

Technically, the term cantaloupe refers to two varieties of muskmelon: Cucumis melo cantalupensis which has a ribbed light green skin, and Cucumis melo reticulatus which has a net-like surface. The Athena melon with its highly netted skin is the latter of the two types.

How do you know when an Athena melon is ripe?

When checking for ripeness, depress the blossom end of the melon, opposite the stem end, to make sure it is not hard and yields slightly when depressed. And, the sweet aroma of the melon should be detectable.

How do you pick a good Athena melon?

5 Tips for Picking a Perfect Melon

Inspect the melon for defects. Your first order of business should be to inspect what the melon looks like. ...
Check the skin color. When buying watermelon and honeydew, choose a melon with a dull looking appearance. ...
Size does matter. Pick up a few melons and see how they feel. ...
Tap, tap, tap! ...
Don't forget the smell test.

How do you plant Athena cantaloupe seeds?

Plant 3 seeds/cell or pot, about 1/4" deep. Keep temperature 80-90°F (27-32°C) until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C).

Is melon and cantaloupe the same thing?

Let's start out by learning what they each are. Honeydew melon and cantaloupe are two members of the same species, Cucumis melo. Although they are closely related, they're two different fruits. ... Honeydew has a smooth, light-colored rind and green flesh, while cantaloupe has a darker, netted rind and orange flesh.

How many calories are in Athena melon?

"One cup of cantaloupe contains only about 55 calories (due to its high water content) but offers over 100 percent of your daily needs for vitamin A, over 50 percent of the daily needs for vitamin C, 1.5 grams of fiber and is a good source of potassium," Mangieri said.

Are melons in season right now?

How to buy honeydew melon. Honeydew is available all year round, with peak season running between June and October in the northern hemisphere. One of the trickiest parts of buying large fruits such as melon and watermelon is to tell whether they're ripe or not.

How can you tell when a cantaloupe is ripe and sweet?

Smell it. A ripe cantaloupe should have an overall sweet smell, but I get the absolute best melon by putting my nose close to the blossom end (the end opposite the stem). It should smell sweet and slightly musky. If it doesn't smell good, I don't buy it.

How do I know when my honeydew melon is ripe?

When ripe, the color of the rind should be a creamy yellow rather than green, and the rind will become smooth and waxy rather than dusky. If you press on the bottom of a ripe honeydew (the opposite end from where it's attached to the vine), it should feel slightly soft or at least a little springy.

What is the sweetest variety of cantaloupe?

Crenshaws also have peachy flesh, similar to a cantaloupe's, which is juicy and sweet to taste. In fact, it is known to be one of the sweetest melons there is.

Should you keep cantaloupe in the fridge?

Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

How can you tell a good cantaloupe?

The best way to pick a cantaloupe is by smell. The fruit should have a sweet, slightly musky scent. A good cantaloupe feels heavy for its size, has a rind that resembles raised netting, and has a stem end that yields slightly when pressed with your thumb.