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Cucumis melo
Raas Leela is a cross of four Carosello Cucumber Melons, or as we like to call them, Meloncumbers. Botanically considered a melon, Meloncumbers are of the same species as muskmelons but have been bred to be eaten in its premature fruiting stage. Selected in antiquity first in Northern Africa then travelled northward to the Middle East and the Mediterranean long before Cucumis sativus (Slicing Cucumbers) were brought west from India along the Silk Road. Early maturing, high yielding, sweet, with a juicy gourmet eating quality similar to cucumber-- but a wholly unqiue experience. Delicious floral and melony notes, slightly crispier and very smooth in texture. We are further selecting for bacterial wilt resistance and downy mildew resistance. Harvest at 2-3” in diameter for best eating quality.
Growing Instructions:
Direct seed after last frost or start indoors in trays 3-4 weeks before last frost. Transplant out after last frost when melon plants when roots have developed enough to hold the soil around them when pulled out of the trays. Plant 18” apart in rows 5-6 feet apart.
Put a hearty helping of compost and a sprinkle of wood ash in each planting hole at time of transplant. A fall or spring leguminous cover crops would benefit the crop greatly as well.
Recommended soil pH between 6-6.8
Harvest oval fruits when they are between 2-3” in diameter and round fruits when they are 2-4” in diameter.
