The Nearly Ripe Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe

After much anxious waiting and slavering I finally got to eat a nearly ripe Minnesota midget cantaloupe.  Only three grew to any size.  I think the seeds were a mix because two cantaloupes were smooth and one had ribs.

Here is the remaining smooth one - the other one I cut accidentally and ate tonight.   Oops.

 Here is the ribbed one. 

Here is the first EVER nearly ripe cantaloupe I've ever grown.  It is also the only Alaskan grown melon I've ever eaten.  The seeds appear ripe, so I'm saving them.  

Here is the cleaned melon, with a nickel for perspective.  It smelled good and melon-ey.  After slicing, the flesh had a slight tinge of pink.  It was juicy and surprisingly sweet for the state of ripeness it was in.   I shared half with my sister Jadeen.  And gave a bite to my boy.  Not much for a meal, but a real treat.  It would take 15 or 20 of these little melons to make a dessert.  We really like our melon around here. 

These lilliputian melons will be a regular feature in the garden.  Here's to five bites of home grown melon goodness.  Thanks to the family friend who gave us the seeds!