The vines can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and spread out over 5 feet (1 ½ metres.) The plant is a reliable producer.
The melons are oval, about 7 inches (18) long by 6 inches (15 cm) wide, and weigh 5 to 6 pounds (2.3 to 2.7 kg.) They have a thinnish but hard, slightly-ribbed rind with netting.
Inside, they have a small seed cavity and juicy, aromatic, salmon-coloured to bright orange flesh.
Okay to ship short distances, but not long distances.
About 90 days from seed.
One strain, “Hales Best 36”, has no ribbing. It will be about 6 inches (15 cm) long and weigh 2 to 3 pounds (900 to 1400g.) It is still offered (as of 2005) only by a few seed companies, but it hasn’t proved as popular after all as the original. The plant produces good yields of uniformly sized melons. The salmon-coloured flesh is sweet, with a trace of spice in its taste.
History Notes
Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe Melon was introduced sometime in the 1920s. It was being grown by a Japanese person for sale to market in Brawley, California. Discovered there by an I.D. Hale in 1923.
Used as a progenitor of Honeyball Melons.
Language Notes
Named after Hale. The name of the gardener who actually developed it has sadly been lost.