what does Jenny Lind melon really look like?

19 years ago

Mine are about the size of a large navel orange, maybe 10-12 ounces. They have netting, green skin even when ripe, green flesh with orange toward the seed cavity, no knob, slight to no ribbing. From Pinetree seeds (who this year sent me a swan-neck gourd instead of a pumpkin Vif d'Etampes.) Oh, and flavor is nice but not extraordinary. And the leaves browned and died as the melons were ripening.

When I google JL, I get 1) a melon with very deep ribs 2) a melon with a very distinct knob, either weighing a pound to a pound and a half.

What is the really Jenny Lind?

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Comments (2)

carolyn137
19 years ago
The real Jenny Lind, as with all other melons, may have variable size depending on the growing conditions.

Here's a description from an SSE member who also got seeds of it from Pinetree:

75 days, green flesh melon with a small turban on the end, 2-4 #, sweet mild flavor.

Other SSE members say turban on the end and I think that's what you mean by knob, and size about 2#.

One member has a separate listing for one with no turban.

Skin should be netted, not ribbed.

When I grew it it was netted, had a distinct turban, and various fruits ranged between 1-2#.

I didn't think the taste was anything special. I think this variety became well known simply b/c it was rediscovered.

This has not been that great of a melon year in the NE, so I'm not that surprised with the small size of your fruits.

Weather can also influence fruit genetic traits.

Carolyn
fert1
19 years ago
Last year I tried growing Jenny Lind, and got a melon with netting, no ribbing and no turban. Decided I had incorrect seeds and requested more. So I tried again this year. This year's melons were netted and ribbed, but again no turban. The fruits have been about grapefruit sized. They turn a yellow/golden color when ripe and slip from the vine. They have been about as good as any of the melons I've grown this year, being as how it's been a cool, wet summer here. None have been extremely sweet. I'm still not 100% sure I've grown a true Jenny Lind though.