{"product_id":"melon-pride-of-wisconsin","title":"Melon Pride of Wisconsin","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy I chose it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI have a weakness for old varieties that have survived because they're genuinely worth growing, and Pride of Wisconsin certainly qualifies. It's a heritage rockmelon producing substantial, beautifully ribbed fruit with firm orange flesh.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is my first season growing it, so we're finding out together whether a melon bred for Wisconsin can cope with life at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Garden Between\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Rockmelon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeritage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Yes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFruit:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oval, ribbed and netted, around 2–3 kg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlesh:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Firm, bright orange\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlavour:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sweet, juicy and aromatic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sprawling vine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePosition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Full sun, warm and sheltered\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaturity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Around 80–100 days from transplant \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kingsseeds.co.nz\/products\/organic-melon-pride-of-wisconsin?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eKings Seeds NZ\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the kitchen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is very much a melon to let ripen properly and then eat fresh. Chill it and cut into great wedges, add it to summer fruit platters and salads, or pair that sweet orange flesh with salty cheeses, herbs or something sharp and acidic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the garden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGive this one \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003espace and warmth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Pride of Wisconsin produces vigorous vines carrying sizeable fruit, so let it roam through a sunny bed or across an area where it won't immediately engulf something you particularly wanted to keep.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKings describes ripe fruit as loosening from the vine with a gentle tug. They also suggest watching the background skin colour beneath the netting — it lightens towards yellow as the melon matures — and the tendril opposite the fruit stem, which dries and browns as maturity approaches. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kingsseeds.co.nz\/products\/organic-melon-pride-of-wisconsin?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eKings Seeds NZ\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJo's useful trick:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e once fruit begins developing on the ground, slip something dry underneath it to keep it away from damp soil.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCare\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlant in rich, fertile, well-drained soil in your warmest sunny position. Keep moisture consistent while vines establish, flower and develop fruit, and feed during the growing season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMelons are tender plants and need warmth; Kings recommends warm conditions and gives an optimum germination soil temperature of 20–30°C. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kingsseeds.co.nz\/products\/organic-melon-pride-of-wisconsin?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eKings Seeds NZ\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat you'll receive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne healthy, established plant grown here at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Garden Between\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Plants naturally vary in size and shape and may be supplied in reused nursery pots or growing bags — perfectly useful plastic doesn't need replacing simply because it doesn't match.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Garden Between","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67875919823071,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/8279\/7023\/files\/4B400BEA-4A15-4456-988B-11C3AAEA68BF.jpg?v=1790978689","url":"https:\/\/agardenbetween.com\/products\/melon-pride-of-wisconsin","provider":"A Garden Between","version":"1.0","type":"link"}