I'm looking through the bakers creek seed catalog. I found a few small melons that might work on a trellis in my small garden. I'm just wondering if anyone has tried any of them, and if so, what you thought of them.

Rich Sweetness 132

Kari

Minnesota midget

Tigger

Kiku Chrysanthemum Melon

I'd love some input about Minnesota Midget. It's the only one I have room for.

Deeby said:I'd love some input about Minnesota Midget. It's the only one I have room for.

I've tried it in 2019. This is not melon country (I am a few hundred feet too high) but it was extremely disappointed by it compared to Zuccherino and Iago who manage to perform if not well at least in acceptable fashion.
Germination rate was poor (under 50%) and the plants really struggled all season. Methinks they were selected for very specific weather and soil conditions.

Minnesota Midget is good under the right conditions. Despite being listed as a melon for short season areas, it needs heat to develop. Don't expect huge harvests, though. We grew it for our Master Gardener sale; customers reported a harvest of 3 to 7 melons per vine. It is a short vine variety.
If you're looking for a container watermelon, try Cal Sweet Bush. I grew this in a container last summer, truly mini vines, the vines weren't any longer than 2'. Mine produced one melon, you could get more; seed co. says 2 to 3 per vine. Here's the pic of the fruit. Very sweet, about 7 to 8 pounds.

I'm not a fan of watermelon. I don't need a container melon but rather a small melon that can be trellised. I was reading the reviews of each online and have narrowed it down, but I forgot to keep track of which I they were so I'll have to look at reviews again.

Minnesota Midget should fit your requirements.

When it comes to watermelon, I can take it or leave it. Maybe a bite of someone else's once in a while.
I've never tasted home grown cantaloupe and it's on my bucket list.
With a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the center!

Cant beat that!

Here's some varieties I'm considering based on size and reviews (though I might have to wait 1 more year before adding melons to my garden since I'm making a bunch of changes this year already and these melons aren't exactly cheap).

I have grown Minnesota midget in the past
I also do remember it having a poor germination rate , as for the flavor I have forgotten , my guess I was not impressed or I would still be growing it
I get some very good melons from the local farmers market , the Amish know how to grow veggies very well so there are several things I just leave to them

I grew the Kajari melon from seeds that I got from Baker Creek last year.

First couple of batches fell prey to bunnies and the dog, but I finally got 2 plants to get big enough to start producing melons.

Lost a couple melons to mice & squirrels , but finally enclosed them in the clear containers that fruits come in & managed to get 2 to grow and ripen on the vine. Flavor was pretty good.

I saved a bunch more seeds and will be growing them again this year, might just grow a couple sacrificial ones closer to where the squirrels live, so they leave mine alone

I'm thinking I'll have to wait and do melons next year. I've already spent enough on garden stuff but haven't bought my blueberry bushes yet. I'm already trying several new things in my garden already so I'm not sure I'll have space. But good to know at least 1 type might be worth my time.

I wouldn't buy any blueberries from Home Depot, I did buy them and returned all of the plants, they were very sour.

I planted their Madhu Ras honey melon last year. But did not give it a fair shake.. too shaded. Got two small fruit, overripe, did not eat any.

SoCalGardenNut said:I wouldn't buy any blueberries from Home Depot, I did buy them and returned all of the plants, they were very sour.

What did you end up replacing them with? I'm looking to create an edible hedge of sorts and am in almost the same zone/area as you.

I was looking at some Southern Highbush varieties and maybe a pink lemonade or two since they recommend having multiples for better production, but I cannot find anything in stock anywhere else.

I forgot what I bought, but most of them were from the farmers market guy, he has a nursery in Torrance. But before the pandemic, he brought his truck to the Farmers market and they were loaded with big fruit, I purposely chose them that way. So they were the local varieties and they have big fruit.

Deeby said:When it comes to watermelon, I can take it or leave it. Maybe a bite of someone else's once in a while.
I've never tasted home grown cantaloupe and it's on my bucket list.
With a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the center!

You've just never had a good watermelon!

True, I've only had store bought.

Deeby said:True, I've only had store bought.

Well shoot! You need to do something about that! A small container grown watermelon might just change your mind about the taste!