Muskmelons are considered a high value crop in Northern Illinois and continue to be a popular choice at farmers markets. Certain specialty melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are often too big to enjoy in one sitting, which can negatively affect fruit quality in just 1-2 days. However, muskmelons can be a tricky crop to grow in Illinois due to pest pressure from squash bugs and striped and spotted cucumber beetles. While cucurbit research is prominent throughout Illinois, little research has been conducted on muskmelon performance in Northern Illinois. Research in Summer 2025 will be analyzing three different cantaloupe cultivars and the environmental effects on plant growth, pest pressure and fruit marketability in Northern Illinois. The study will take place at the inactive St. Charles Horticulture Research Station in Kane County, owned by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The three cultivars selected were ‘Hales Best Jumbo’, ‘Honeyrock’ and ‘Hearts of Gold’, all varieties selected are personal sized melons that are great for quick consumption. The photo taken on May 22 demonstrates the stage of seedling development on the greenhouse shelf for 'Hales Best Jumbo' variety. Multiple data sets will be collected such as harvest count and weight, plant height and vine length as well as pest counts for spotted/striped cucumber beetles and squash bugs. The goal is to have all research plants in the field by mid-late June, depending on temperatures and weather at that time.
Growing alongside the muskmelon trial will be a sunflower variety trial, testing bloom diameter, stem length and the quality of stems harvested like insect damage and curved stems in an open field setting. Sunflower varieties include ‘Stella’, ‘Velvet Queen’ and ‘Summertime Mix’.
Special thanks to the Illinois Vegetable Growers Association for funding part of the muskmelon research project.