Starke Ayres has a full range of long shelf-life cantaloupe varieties that are suitable for spring and summer season production. These varieties were selected for their high fruit quality and preferred fruit size, as well as high yield.
Orangelly* is ideal for early- and late-summer production in various climates. The vines are vigorous with resistance to Fusarium, powdery mildew and cotton aphid. Orangelly produces very high yields of attractive, large, oval fruit with medium to coarse netting that turns grey-straw in colour at maturity, with radial cracks forming around the peduncle. The deep orange flesh is very firm with a long shelf life, high brix and excellent flavour. The variety is suited to the whole-fruit market and fresh-cut processing.
Morgan* is a Harper-type variety for early-summer production in various climates. The vines are vigorous and have resistance to Fusarium. Morgan produces very high yields of very attractive, large, oval fruit with medium to fine netting that turns straw in colour at maturity, with radial cracks forming around the peduncle. The bright orange, firm flesh has a long shelf life, high brix and excellent flavour. The variety is suited to the whole-fruit market and fresh-cut processing.
Gatsby is a Harper-type cantaloupe, ideal for summer production. The very vigorous vines continue to flower and set fruit after initial harvesting, and have resistance to Fusarium as well as powdery mildew. Gatsby is very high yielding and produces large, round fruit with coarse, dense net that turns grey-straw in colour at maturity. The fruit is ready for harvest after the skin colour change is complete and a crack develops around the peduncle of the fruit, forming a clear “slip”. The fruit has salmon-orange, firm flesh with a long shelf life, high brix and excellent flavour. The variety is suited to the whole-fruit market.
Cyclone is ideal for early- and mid-summer production. The plants produce medium, vigorous vines that have resistance to Fusarium, powdery mildew and vine decline. The fruit are medium to large, round/oval, with attractive, well-developed netting. At maturity, the fruit skin colour changes from green to grey-straw in colour and a thin crack develops around the peduncle. The flesh is deep orange and very firm, with good flavour, high brix and very good eating quality. The variety is suited to the whole-fruit market and fresh-cut processing.
Sweet Spring* is a new Harper-type cantaloupe, suited to early- and mid-summer production. The vines are vigorous with resistance to Fusarium, powdery mildew, melon necrotic spot virus and cotton aphid, as well as tolerance to sulphur burn. Sweet Spring produces very high yields of attractive, medium to large, oval fruit with medium-coarse netting. When the fruits reach maturity the background colour turns green-straw in colour, with radial cracks forming around the peduncle. The flesh is attractive deep orange with a firm texture and long shelf life, while high brix and excellent flavour combine to give excellent eating quality. The variety is suited to the whole-fruit market and fresh-cut processing.
Eastern shipper cantaloupes
Venus is ideal for early to main season production. This variety is well loved for its consistent high yield and its wide adaptability to different growing conditions. The plants have vigorous vines with a dense canopy that protect the fruit well, and plants have resistance to Fusarium and powdery mildew. Venus produces medium to large, oval fruit with attractive medium netting that turns straw colour at maturity. The fruit flesh is firm with aromatic flavour and very sweet taste, which also makes it popular with customers who prefer aromatic “musk melons” in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State production areas of South Africa. The variety is suited to the whole-fruit market.
This range of cantaloupes makes it possible for the grower to select the ideal variety for preferred size and quality during spring and summer season production.
A healthy and productive cantaloupe planting.
