Fruit Cantaloupe Hearts of Gold is one of America’s most celebrated heirloom melon varieties, with a heritage dating back to the early 1900s. This time-honored variety produces vigorous, prolific vines spreading up to 72 inches, yielding abundant round melons with thick, deeply golden flesh and a distinctive heavily netted rind that serves as a reliable ripeness indicator. The flavor is exceptional — intensely sweet and aromatic with complex depth that modern hybrids struggle to replicate. Each fruit weighs 3–4 lbs with a 6 to 6½ inch diameter. Ready to harvest in approximately 79 days.

Germination Rate: 85%. Test Date: 11/25. WILL.

Why Choose Fruit Cantaloupe Hearts of Gold?

• Legendary American Heirloom: Heritage dating to the early 1900s — one of the most beloved cantaloupe varieties in home garden history.
• Intensely Sweet Golden Flesh: Deep orange-gold interior with exceptional sweetness and aromatic complexity that modern hybrids can’t match.
• Netted Rind Ripeness Indicator: The distinctive heavy netting tells you exactly when fruits are at peak ripeness — no guesswork required.
• Prolific Yield: Vigorous vines spread up to 72 inches and produce abundantly throughout the season.
• Drought-Resistant: Resilient in dry conditions and resistant to powdery mildew — ideal for warm and Southern climates.
• Heirloom & Open-Pollinated: Save seeds year after year from your best fruits for a self-sustaining garden.
• Non-GMO Seeds: Plants whose DNA has not been altered in ways that do not occur naturally through traditional breeding methods.

Planting Tips for Success

• Sunlight: Full sun — at least 8 hours per day. Cantaloupes need maximum heat and light for fruit development and sugar concentration.
• Soil: Well-drained, sandy loam with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Amend with compost and ensure excellent drainage — soggy soil causes root rot.
• Planting: Direct sow after last frost when soil temps reach 65°F+. Plant 4–6 seeds per hill, 1 inch deep. Thin to 2–3 plants per hill once established. Can start indoors 3–4 weeks before transplanting.
• Spacing: Space hills 4–6 feet apart in rows 6 feet apart. Vines spread aggressively — plan for ample room or use vertical trellising with support slings for fruit.
• Watering: Water deeply and consistently during vine growth. Reduce watering significantly as fruits approach maturity to concentrate sugars in the flesh.
• Fertilizing: Apply balanced fertilizer at planting; switch to low-nitrogen, high-potassium formula once flowering begins to support fruit development.
• Pollination: Male flowers appear first; female flowers follow. Bees are essential — hand-pollinate with a soft brush if needed.
• Harvesting: Ready at 79 days. Fruits are ripe when the stem slips easily from the vine with gentle pressure and the blossom end gives slightly. A sweet, musky aroma confirms peak ripeness.

Why Choose David’s Garden Seeds®?

• Veteran-Owned: Supplying premium seeds since 2009.
• GO TEXAN Certified: Supporting local agriculture and communities.
• Integrity Pledge: David’s Garden Seeds has taken the Seed Integrity Pledge.
• Vegetable Seed License: David’s Garden Seeds® holds a valid Vegetable Seed License, ensuring our seeds meet state and federal quality standards.
• Great Customer Service: David answers all customer service questions. Usually within a few minutes.

Cooking Methods & Uses

• Fresh: Halve and scoop for the purest expression of the sweet, golden flesh — serve chilled for maximum flavor.
• Prosciutto & Melon: Wrap chilled slices in thin prosciutto for the classic Italian appetizer that showcases the exceptional sweetness.
• Smoothies & Juices: Blend with lime juice and fresh mint for a refreshing summer drink packed with natural sweetness.
• Fruit Salads: Cube and combine with berries, herbs, and a honey-lime dressing for an elegant summer salad.
• Sorbet: Purée and freeze for a simple, intensely flavored cantaloupe sorbet with no added sugar needed.
• Salsa: Dice with jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, and lime for a sweet-heat fruit salsa perfect with grilled fish or chicken.

Order Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe Seeds Today

Order yours today and grow your own fresh cantaloupe in your spring and summer gardens.

Nutritional Information

Applies to harvested cantaloupe (not planting seeds). Per 1 cup (160g) diced cantaloupe:

• Calories: 54
• Total Fat: 0.3g (0% Daily Value)
• Sodium: 26mg (1% Daily Value)
• Total Carbohydrate: 13g (5% Daily Value)
• Dietary Fiber: 1.4g (5% Daily Value)
• Total Sugars: 12.6g
• Protein: 1.3g
• Vitamin A: 299mcg (33% Daily Value)
• Vitamin C: 57mg (63% Daily Value)
• Potassium: 427mg (9% Daily Value)
• Folate: 33mcg (8% Daily Value)

*Percent Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutritional values are estimates for harvested fruit from mature cantaloupe plants.

Important Disclosures

• Variety Disclaimer: Fruit size, sweetness, and maturity may vary based on growing conditions, climate, and soil. Results may vary by region.
• Seed Storage: Store seeds in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Properly stored cantaloupe seeds remain viable for 4–5 years.
• Planting Zones: Grown as a warm-season annual in USDA Zones 3–11. Best in Zones 7–11 for full-season heat. In cooler zones, use black plastic mulch and row covers to extend the warm season.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something delicious. Grow with David’s Garden Seeds®.