This melon is a specialty of Dulcinea Farms, a large melon grower in California. It is deeply sutured like an Eastern Muskmelon, but has the fine mesh pattern and excellent shipping properties of a Western Muskmelon. The Tuscan is a beautiful melon to look at - right up to the point when it is fully ripe - then it becomes as grungy as shown the photo.
The photo specimen weighed just over 6 pounds and was 8 inches long and 6-1/2 inches in diameter. It was eaten the day after this photo was taken and was perfectly ripe and delicious.When properly ripened this melon is very sweet - right out to the rind,
and has excellent muskmelon flavor. The flesh is thick and the seed cavity
small. Even better, the flesh is still fairly firm and of quite even texture
from center to rind making it excellent for dicing in fruit salads and the
like. It is completely ripe when the green color in the sutures starts to fade
and become uneven. The flower end will also have a fair amount of give and
it will have a distinct muskmelon aroma. Be aware that fruit flies are as
enthusiastic about this melon as I am.
Photo © cg1
|
|
ml_tuskz 090714
©Andrew Grygus
- ajg@aaxnet.com - Linking and non-commercial use permitted
This photo shows a "Tuscan Style Cantaloupe" as you will find them in stores.
It has not yet reached optimum ripeness but it looks real nice and is very
firm for shipping. Leave it lie around on the kitchen floor for awhile until
it looks something like the photo at the top. Yum!
Photo