Alchimia is glad to present Tiger Melon (Kokopelli) from Armenia.
This plant produces melons of about 250-500g, completely round and 15-20cm in diameter. This particularly productive variety presents a pale skin that takes on a bright yellow colour streaked with fiery red. Some of the melons remain yellow, without the red stripes.
Its pulp is white and very aromatic, with a sweet and refreshing flavour and a slight acidity touch. It is perfect to eat alone or to include in fruit salads. This melon is rich in nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. It is a relatively small melon and can be eaten directly with a spoon, cutting it in half.
Tiger Melon cultivation
Tiger melon cultivation requires a well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Like all melons, they prefer sunny spaces with high temperatures. It is a resistant plant easy to grow.
Sowing is usually done in the seedbed 6 weeks before transplanting, usually done after the last frost. It can also be sown directly in the ground adding compost at a 1.5cm depth and when the temperature no longer drops below 15º C. The distance between plants must be at least 1m. This melon, due to its low weight, can be grown on a trellis.
It requires abundant watering in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
The harvest is ready when a slight tug already makes the melon detach from the plant.
