General Information
The Sharlyn melon has an oval shape with tan and yellow-orange coloring and on average weighs between 3 and 5 lbs. Superficially resembling an elongated cantaloupe, the Sharlyn does not possess the sweet unctuous flavor of cantaloupes, rather a more restrained balance of sweetness. Its pale orange flesh is soft near the center and more firm near the rind. Its aromatics are both floral and fruity with tropical notes of pineapple. Its flavor and aroma often improve after harvest, though the sugar content remains the same. Sharlyn melons have a short shelf-life and should be eaten within a week of harvesting when ripe.
History
The product of crossbreeding, the Sharlyn’s parent plants were both primarily cultivated in southern France, Northern Italy and Algeria as early as the late fifteenth century. As with many summer melon varieties, the Sharlyn thrives in a hot dry climate. They are ready for harvest when the fruits ‘slip’ or fully detach from the vine at the stem end.
