User:CrashTest666/Crane Melon

The Crane Melon is an heirloom Muskmelon developed by Oliver Crane in the early 20th century.

Characteristics

The Crane Melon is a unique species that is grown and sold at the Crane Melon Barn. Like most melons, the Crane Melon grows in approximately 80 days. A ripe melon can grow to be about 4-7 pounds and has an aromatic, light orange flesh. Some of the websites reviewing the melon have classified it as "exceptionally sweet and juicy". This melon is often described to be "round like a soccer ball", but a more accurate description would be pear shaped or water drop shape. The bottom half of the melon has a smooth and round curve. The top is pointed upward a little, similar to the pointed tops on pears.

Recognition

The Crane Melon was recognized as a true heirloom by an article in the Los Angeles Times website. The article mentions the requirements that are needed for a fruit or vegetable to be considered an heirloom. The article says that the term heirloom is applied to vegetables and fruits that are "propagated by seed". Another important requirement for heirloom status is how old the vegetable or fruit is. The article discusses that generally the accepted age is between 50-75 years. It gives examples of other known vegetables that fall short to be qualified as heirloom due to their age, such as the Green Zebra, which is only 29 years old. Even though the Crane Melon is grown in California, people can buy its seeds from various websites online, one of them being Seed Savers Exchange. These melons grown from seeds might not turn out to have the same quality as the ones grown at the Crane Melon Barn because weather and soil conditions might vary.

History

Crane Family

Richard Hope Crane came from Missouri to the gold rush in California in 1849. He later settled down in the Santa Rosa region. The Crane Melon Barn was established in 1868 on Petaluma Hill Road. The barn was built out of sturdy redwood, which has helped it last over a century. It has been passed down many generations of Cranes, who carry the family tradition of farming Crane melons and other produce.

Crane Melon

In 1920 Oliver Crane, RIchard Crane's son, developed the heirloom Crane Melon. He crossed several species of melons including a Japanese melon, a Persian melon, an ambrosia melon, and a white melon. The Crane Melon is not found at grocery stores, it is farmed in the Crane Melon Barn, it is vine ripened, and does not have shelf life to be shipped.