The original Shumways's Giant was a special selection of Tip Top. Shumway folded in the early 80's, was bought out and relocated to South carolina. The new ownership tried to reestablish some of the old Shumway cultivars like the Abe Lincoln and snow ball tomatoes and Shumway's Giant cantaloupe. He was not too succesful, I tried the new Snowball and the new Shumways' Giant. neither was the same cultivar that I grew in 40's, 50's and 60's. With the subsequent buy out by Jung, the older cultivars are losing emphasis again. The only hope is that there ia seed saver out there somewhere who is still growing it.

Thanks, farmer. Maybe next year I'll try Tip Top, which I see is available from Baker Creek.

I just bought some seeds for these on eBay but I can't find no information on them nowhere.

If it is version of the Old Shumways Giant, it will be a large wheel shaped melon. I have grown them in excess of twenty pounds. The last one Shumway sold as the Giant for a large oval melon similar to Fields Daisy. It will go to about 15 lbs.

Thanks for the information.These are suppose to be from seed he bought years ago.and he said they came from a 29 pound muskmelon. I guess I'll see.