DIVERGENT
Product Description:
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Key Features:
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Customer Reviews
We will grow this melon every year in the Cascade foot hills of WA! We start them indoors and transplant out in May to a low tunnel. We take the plastic off after we see the first blooms. We like our melons very ripe, so we wait till it's 90% yellow and slips easily from the vine. These did great in 2023 with the heat and they are still spectacular in the "summer" of 2024. They were hardly stunted by the Juneuary and still ripened despite the cool end of August where nights went into the 40's for a week and days hardly cracked 60. An absolute winner!
Great flavor and texture. We started harvesting little melons in late July and still have a few more to harvest beginning of September. Vines have been very healthy with no mildew and good resistence to cucumber beetles. We will definitely grow Divergent again.
Zone 8a. Coastal Washington. We had 9 beautiful perfect tasty cantaloupe off ONE plant. We greenhouse started early, and cloche covered for most of spring until temp really heated up. 5 stars, 10/10, A+, purchasing again.
I transplanted these out, never had a shock issue. They have been so prolific, and the bees love them. Im about to pull my second ripe melon for the season. The taste is great, if you can wait for the perfect ripeness. Oh and no powdery mildew in sight.
| Soil Temp for Germ | 70–85°F |
| Seed Depth | ½" |
| Days to Emergence | 3–10 |
| Soil Temp for Transp | 60°F |
| Plant Spacing | 3–4' |
| Row Spacing | 5–6' |
| Fertilizer Needs | High |
| Minimum Germination | 80% |
| Seeds per Gram | ≈ 20–40 |
| Seed Life | 3 years |
Melons: Cucumis melo
Watermelons: Citrullus lanatus
The sweet succulence of summer-ripe melons is irresistibly tempting, but the health benefits of these luscious fruits shouldn't be overlooked. Look to red-fleshed melons to fortify the heart and urinary tract. Yellow and orange flesh types provide support to the immune system, heart and vision. Green-fleshed varieties promote strong bones and teeth as well as vision health. We've selected varieties that are successful in both southern and northern gardens.
Days to maturity are calculated from transplant date.
Culture
• Melons and watermelons perform best in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
• Apply 1/2 cup of TSC's Complete fertilizer and a shovelful of compost to each plant
• Watermelons are less tolerant of cool conditions than melons — the use of plastic mulch or floating row cover is highly recommended
• Monitor the temperature under the row covers on hot days, especially early in the season
• Remove covers prior to flowering for pollination
Direct Sowing
• Soil temperature is critical for good germination and only recommended in warmer climates
Transplanting
• Start indoors in 4 inch pots, 3-4 weeks before anticipated transplant date
• Grow the seedlings under dry, warm conditions
• Avoid letting starts get root bound; transplant carefully as to not disturb roots
• Fertilize seedlings with a balanced liquid fertilizer, such as Age Old Grow
Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Cucumber beetles
• Insect control: Pyrethrin and row covers
• Common diseases: Bacterial wilt and powdery mildew
• Disease control: Zonix
• Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation, avoid overhead watering
Harvest & Storage
• Cantaloupe will easily slip from vine when ripe
• With other melons, check the leaf where fruit is attached to the vine — fruit is mature when this leaf begins to yellow
• Watermelons are ready for harvest when the tendril closest to the fruit is dry and brown or when the bottom side of the fruit is yellow
• Melons and watermelons will not ripen off vine
• Pick in the cool of the day and chill quickly
• Melons: store at 40°F and 95% relative humidity
• Watermelons: store at 50-60°F and 85% relative humidity
KEY TO MELON DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
A | Anthracnose
AB | Early (Alternaria) Blight
F* | Fusarium Wilt
MNSV | Melon Necrotic Spot Virus
PM* | Powdery Mildew
PRV | Papaya Ringspot Virus
WMV | Watermelon Mosaic Virus
ZYMV | Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus
*Numbers indicate specific disease race.