Last summer, the greenhouses at Inagro in Beitem hosted a demonstrative trial of two alternative melon varieties:
- the limelon, a fresh, slightly sour melon
- and the cumelo, a fist-sized melon with a taste very similar to cucumber.
As these varieties are not yet grown in Flanders, the extent to which the Flemish greenhouse climate is suitable for this naturally southern crop was tested. Besides production potential and fruit quality, a careful search for a market was also carried out. Who likes this product? And is it worth developing the local market and betting on local production?
Trial design cumelo
The trial design for cumelo was very simple:
- 1 sowing date (10 April at 21°C),
- 1 propagation regime (from 17 April under glass at constant temperature: 16°C),
- 1 planting date (8 May at 3rd leaf stage),
- 1 cultivation system (on ridges with drip line),
- 1 planting distance (60 x 160 cm),
- 1 climate (minimum 12°C, ventilation at 24°C during the day, 20°C at night).
So pure demo in an energy-efficient way.
No fertilizer, but useful insects
Fertilization was not necessary, as a soil analysis showed 190 units of nitrogen were still available before the start. Phosphorus and potassium were also still sufficiently present. Useful insects were also present: bumblebees took care of pollination, predatory mite swirskii controlled thrips and whiteflies and a mix of parasitic wasps controlled the aphids.
Cultivation on ridges and the course of the harvest
The tendrils of the cumelo plants were budded between the ridges, at 75 cm, to allow a narrow passage through the crop. This was essential for harvesting, which took place from 17 June to 20 August and was done twice a week. Since this type of melon is harvested unripe, no discoloration of the fruit could be counted on to distinguish it easily. So the grower had to look among the dense foliage for melons that had reached the size of a mature fist. In practice, some size variation did occur. Cultivation was stopped because of the breakthrough of Botrytis and the gradual decline in production rates. A healthy crop could have been kept for a while longer.
Yield
Finally, an average of 11.64 fruits averaging 616 g/piece were harvested per plant, good for a yield of over 7 kg/m².
Trial design limelon
The trial design for limelon was very similar to that for cumelo. Both melons grew in the same greenhouse section. For limelon, however, two pruning methods were compared:
- one in which the tendrils were capped at 75 cm on both sides of the back
- and one in which the tendrils were kept short on one side (30 cm) and long on the other side (120 cm).
Planting, ripening, and harvesting
They started working with cultivar Prity F1, which had two true leaves at the time of planting. On the advice of seed supplier HillFresh, the optimum harvest time was matched to the sweetness of the melons; they aimed for 15 degrees Brix. At the same time, a color shift of the melon skin also occurs during ripening: from green to yellow. As a certain heterogeneity in size and color shift developed in the field around the period of ripening, it was decided to harvest in two stages: 75% of the fruit on 15 July and the rest on 26 July. Due to the hot summer days, sweetening proceeded rapidly, so they implemented the advice to cut irrigation in half a few weeks before harvest only eight days before the first harvest. As a result, a significant number of fruits showed cracks, which was certainly preventable.
Yield
No major differences were observed between the two pruning schemes in terms of yield or quality: in both, around 2.6 fruits/m² were harvested with an average weight of 1.7 kg. This is a slightly larger size than the imported version that was again available in some Flemish supermarkets this year (1-1.3 kg/piece). Due to cracks, 1/3 could not be delivered; 1/6 were still not ripe at the second harvest time.
Where do these newcomers come into their own?
- This demo trial came about partly at the instigation of Inagro itself because they want to use results from research into new crops under glass to offer perspective and support to growers looking to diversify.
- On the other hand, REO was also interested and willing to finance it, because retailers are often interested in novelties to expand their assortment or become less dependent on imports from the south.
Both varieties are suitable for local greenhouse cultivation, Limelon is most appreciated
Technically, both tested melon varieties are suitable for greenhouse cultivation in Flanders. They can provide high-quality local products with particularly low energy input during the summer period. However, the challenge remains how such a niche product can find its place in a strong, rather conservative melon supply. Supply will have to follow demand, and you create that demand by introducing people to the product. That is why Inagro's limelons and cumelos were offered for tasting at various places.
The limelon was described by many Inagro colleagues as a tasty, refreshing melon, perfect as a snack or in a fruit salad. Its innovative flavor nicely complements the familiar melons. The cumelo was found less exciting by most peers because of its strong cucumber flavor, which did not sufficiently fulfill expectations for something sweet. For many, it was therefore searching for the added value of this melon.
Boury praises cumelo for its texture and flavor
Besides offering test products to colleagues and demonstrating boxes on the judging table of the REO auction, some cumelos were also taken to star restaurant Boury. There, the melon was integrated into a dish with cockles, hamachi, tiger milk, papaya, lovage and a Thai dressing.
"The added value of cumelo over classic cucumber lies in both texture and flavor: cumelo contains more fiber, making it crispier. Moreover, the texture lasts longer and cumelo has a more intense, fresh, and pleasant cucumber flavour. As a finishing touch to a sushi dish, as a brunoise or as gravy, the cumelo is also very good," says Tim Boury, chef at star restaurant Boury.
Source: Inagro