benefits of honeydew

To get a head start on melons or in areas with a short growing season, start transplants from seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before the frostfree date. Plant seeds one inch deep in sterile seedstarting media. Melons dont like roots disturbed, so start transplants in individual containers or peat pots. A heat mat or warm germination location promotes earlier germination.

In areas with a growing season longer than 120 days, honeydew can be direct seeded in the garden. Honeydew seed germinates best in warm soil, with the optimum soil temperature for germination around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. A black plastic mulch, with holes cut out for the individual melon plants, warms the soil up faster to promote earlier growth and fruit production.Melon vines sprawl, so allow plenty of space.

Groups of multiple melon vines are planted. Space groups of 2 plants 36 inches apart, and space groups of 3 plants 48 inches apart. The hills dont need to be raised, but they should have plenty of organic matter worked into the soil. Plant 56 seeds in each hill. When the seedlings have 4 leaves, choose the best 2 or 3 seedlings in each hill, and cut the rest at soil level using scissors or small garden pruners.

A ripe honeydew melon has more nutritional value than one that is overripe. When purchasing a honeydew melon, look for one that is light green with a creamy white rind, has a sweet scent and does not show signs of bruising or injury, suggests Iowa State University Extension.

The light green pigment of the honeydew melon indicates the presence of the carotenoid called zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin is considered to be a powerful antioxidant that can protect your vision by accumulating in the macula area of your eye where it absorbs harmful blue light, as revealed by research conducted by the Schepens Eye Research Institute. This research revealed a possible correlation between eating foods high in carotenoids, such as honeydew melon, and a reduced risk of acquiring agerelated macular degeneration.

Honeydew melons are available in many varieties. The basic and the primary fruit is the one that is available in green flesh. It assumes a yellow rind once it matures. Other than this, honeydew melons are also available in orange flesh and in golden flesh. In the orange fleshed melon, the rind is waxy and is of pink color. The golden fleshed melon has a creamy white rind, and tastes very sweet.

Some people may develop some sort of allergy towards this fruit. Therefore it should only be consumed by those who are resistant to the allergic qualities of honeydew melon. One such allergy is the Oral Allergy Syndrome. This allergy is caused due to the consumption of certain fruits or nuts. Therefore it is very much possible that people may develop oral allergy syndrome towards the honeydew mellow. The other spectrum of allergies ranges from the common touch allergy to other allergies to specific minerals and vitamins.Honeydew Melon is a very sweet fruit.