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[R] Cucumis melo L. (Cucurbitaceae).
Fr: Melon; Ge: Melone; Sp: Melon; It: Melone; Pt: Melao.
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- Annual creeping plant with a herbaceous stem, insect-pollinated.
- The principal European producers are Spain, Italy and France.
- It is cultivated for its round and juicy fruits (*) .
- There exist numerous varieties, varying chiefly in the colour of their flesh and the type of skin.
- There are different methods for cultivating melons (open fields, forced cultivation under frames, plastic tunnels). The cultivation calendar varies with region. In the case of protected crops, sowing occurs in winter (November-February) and harvesting is spread out from April to September. In the Mediterranean region, cultivation often occurs outdoors with sowing at the beginning of April, transplanting around the 15th of May, and harvesting, when the fruits are mature, from July to September. In the case of direct sowing, the harvest is later.
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- Diseases: common to the Cucurbitaceae.
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- Principal European pests: common to the Cucurbitaceae. The most serious pests are the glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporarium) on protected crops, and the bean seed fly , (Delia platura).

[R] Images

* Melon (Minost C.)
a: stem crawling; b: leaves; c: fruit.

To read this page in French

HYPPZ on line: Species (scientific names), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.

HYP3 : HYPP Phytopathology.

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