Hannah's Choice

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Sink your senses into Hannah's Choice Crenshaw Melon’s fragrant, honeyed aroma and its luxuriously smooth, salmon-tinged flesh.

At maturity, the fruit develops a tender, velvety texture with a sweet, mellow flavor that shines in fresh slices and becomes especially alluring when blended into silky smoothies or spooned into elegant fruit preparations. A gardener’s delight from first bloom to harvest—grow this standout for a showy, garden-ripe melon that feels as beautiful as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Vine

Botanical illustration of Hannah's Choice

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 11th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	12

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Hannah’s Choice Crenshaw leans sweet and perfumed, with smooth, almost custardy mouthfeel—so you want treatments that stay cool and let the aroma lead. It slices cleanly for snacking, but it’s even better blitzed into a thick, spoonable drink or dessert where the velvety flesh turns into silk.

Best Uses

chilled raw slices with flaky salt and a squeeze of citrus to keep it crisp
silky smoothies where it behaves like a creamy base
spoon-style fruit cups or honeyed sorbets for a clean, fragrant finish
light melon panna cotta or custard swizzles for a soft, perfumed dessert

Flavor Profile

fragrant, honeyed sweetness mellow, low-acid juiciness silky, velvety flesh with a salmon-tinged glow

Kitchen Pairings

lime honey fresh mint prosciutto ginger Greek yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Cucumis melo (melon) and how can I treat it?

A common problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on melon leaves and can reduce fruit size. Start by spacing plants for airflow, watering at the base (not on leaves), and removing badly infected leaves early. If needed, spray a labeled sulfur product or potassium bicarbonate according to the label, and repeat at the interval listed for cucurbits.

How often should I water Cucumis melo during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During active vine growth and fruit set, water deeply about 1–2 times per week, aiming for consistently moist soil in the top 6–8 in (15–20 cm). Let the soil surface dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the root zone to swing to fully dry because melon flowers can drop and fruit quality suffers. Once fruits are about to ripen, reduce to lighter, less frequent watering to help flavor and prevent cracking.

How do I know when my Cucumis melo (‘Hannah’s Choice’) is ready to harvest?

Harvest timing is based on scent and slip: look for a strong sweet aroma at the blossom end and a rind color that matches the variety, with the skin becoming less green. Check the stem attachment—when ripe, the melon should detach more easily (“slip” off) with gentle twisting. If it still feels tightly attached and has little fragrance, give it a few more days in full sun.