Description
Melon Jam (Preserving Melon, Red Seeded Citron) – 7 HEIRLOOM Seeds
Citrullus vulgaris Syn. Citrullus lanatus
Citron Melon – Homemade Jam’s Best Friend
This ancestor to our modern watermelon goes by several names that hint at its best uses – jam melon, preserve melon, or pie melon. At first glance, the citron melon looks like a small, round watermelon, but when cut into, you’ll find a pale green to white, dense, crunchy flesh dotted with shocking red seeds scattered throughout with a very mild to almost absent flavour. Sometimes people taste a young, not-quite-ripe honeydew, others taste cucumber, and still, others taste the young pumpkin.
The lack of flavour from a fresh-picked fruit might surprise you, especially since it looks so much like the beloved watermelon. Its real value is not in the fresh taste but in what it can do for jams, jellies, marmalades, and pickles.
Citron melon has naturally high concentrations of pectin, the traditional gelling agent for jams, jellies, and marmalades, as well as fruit pies and cobblers. The high pectin content makes them perfect for candied fruit for fruitcakes and desserts. After cooking, the natural flavours become more apparent.
Because of their tough rinds, melons are harvested in late autumn, and some kept aside in a cool place until just after Winter, to be made into the last preserves of the year.
Details
Seed germination is strong, and production is quite prolific – 50 melons from a single large, sprawling plant is not uncommon. Most people prune the first half-dozen flowers, then let the next set pollinate for however many melons are needed, then the rest of the flowers are also pruned. This prevents being overrun by melons!
Uses
The French have long since figured out the easiest and most delicious way to work with what they call ‘melons d’Espagne’ - translating as Spanish melons, but meaning ‘jam melons’. In the Médoc region of France, just north of Bordeaux, these melons are widely grown solely to make fruit confitures after harvesting in early November.
In fact, locally crafted sweet preserves made with ‘jam melons’ are highly valued – it is an honour to receive a jar of fruit confiture from outside the family.
These melons create the most delicious homemade jams after peeling, de-seeding and chopping. Vanilla and sugar are added to a bowl of chopped melon, or ginger, mandarin, melon, and sugar as another option. Left overnight to soak and mingle the flavours, they turn into a syrupy fruit mash that is gently simmered for about 45 minutes, turning a gorgeous translucent yellow and filling the house with the scent of sugar and spices.
Growing Tip
As you might expect from a melon that grows exceptionally well in the Sahara and is used as a water source during droughts, citron melon is hardy – shrugging off the heat and dry conditions with aplomb. Despite this, better flavour results from moderate moisture during seedling growth and after flowering when the fruits are growing. Harvest the fruit when the vine starts to die back.
Jam Melons are warm-season annual vines and need a long warm season to mature. Jam Melon needs plenty of room to grow as it sends out long vines.
Start them early if you can. In temperate areas sow October - November, after all, the danger of frost; subtropical areas sow September - November; in tropical areas sow April - July, during the dry season. Sow directly where it is to grow 10 - 20mm deep, or start early in individual seedling pots; in cool areas, bottom heat will be required. Seed germinates best at a soil temperature of 21 - 35° C. Seed will germinate in 7 - 14 days. Soil should be fertile, well-drained, with a pH of 6 - 6.5.
Prepare your soil with compost and well-rotted manure; deep digging is beneficial. The soil needs to be well-drained.
Space rows 1.5 m apart with 1m between plants on raised mounds. Avoid over-watering once the fruit is nearly ripe, as this will make for a bland flavoured melon (also too much rain).
Slide a flat piece of wood underneath ripening fruit on the ground to avoid rotting from contact with wet soil—harvest when the melon slips easily from the stem.
Harvest in 10-16 weeks. Compatible with (can grow beside) Sweetcorn, Sunflowers. And avoid growing close to Potatoes.
All orders ship from Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Where We Ship
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All over Australia, including WA & TAS. We do not ship seeds outside Australia.
Processing Times
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Order dispatch or packing time, 1 to 3 business days. Weekends and public holidays excluded. Transit time is additional.
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Western Australia orders are packed each Thursday and handed to Australia Post on Friday. Place WA orders before Wednesday 11:59 PM Sydney time for Friday dispatch.
Delivery Options and Prices
Standard Post and Parcels, Australia Post or courier
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Typical delivery time, 3 to 10 business days. Remote WA and NT may take longer.
| Order contents | Price |
|---|---|
| Seed packets only, or any seeds or garden supplies up to 200 g | $3.95 |
| Upgrade seed packet delivery to tracked letter | Add $4.00 |
| Mixed items 200 g to 400 g | $5.95 |
| Mixed items 401 g to 2 kg | $8.95 |
| Mixed items over 2 kg, including seed potatoes, tubers, canes, rhizomes | $13.95 |
| Free Standard on orders over $150, any weight | Free |
Free letter option for small seed orders
Seed packet orders under 1 g qualify for free untracked domestic letter shipping when the order value is $40 or more after discounts. Delivery for untracked letters may take 5 to 12 business days, sometimes longer.
Express Post and Parcels, Australia Post or courier
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Typical delivery time is 1 to 3 business days. WA, NT, TAS, and remote areas may take longer.
| Order contents | Price |
|---|---|
| Seed packets only | $16 |
| Seed packets and bulk weight-based seeds up to 500 g | $19 |
| Bulk seeds 0 to 500 g | $19 |
| Bulk seeds 501 g to 1 kg | $21 |
| Bulk seeds 1.01 kg to 3 kg | $26 |
| Bulk seeds 3.01 kg to 5 kg | $45 |
| Bulk seeds 5.01 kg to 10 kg | $80 |
| Bulk seeds 10.01 kg to 15 kg | $120 |
Important for WA Express
We do not provide Express parcel service for WA orders because Quarantine inspection delays delivery, which defeats the purpose of Express.
State Specific Requirements and Fees
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Western Australia, add $6 per order for Quarantine inspection. All WA seed orders go to Quarantine WA for inspection. Tracking (if any) is activated after inspection, which may take up to 10 business days from our packing date. Delivery within WA generally takes an additional 1 to 5 business days after release from Perth Airport.
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Tasmania, add $3 per order for Biosecurity paperwork. Maximum 1 kg per seed line item. Biosecurity Tasmania restrictions apply.
Tracking and Delivery
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You will receive a dispatch email with a tracking number when your order ships from our warehouse. Some small-value orders may ship as untracked letters.
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Signature on delivery is available. Add $3.95. If not selected, the carrier may leave the parcel in a safe place, your letterbox if it fits, or at a collection point. ID may be required for Registered or Signature services.
Delivery Timeframes and Late or Missing Orders
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Dispatch and delivery times are estimates. Events outside our control, such as weather or carrier delays, can affect timing.
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We use Australia Post guidelines to decide when an order is considered late or missing.
When an order is considered missing
| Service | Usual delivery time | Time before an order is counted as missing | Review period before replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy delivery | 3 to 7 business days | 20 business days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Express delivery | 1 to 3 business days | 5 business days beyond Australia Post’s estimate | 2 to 3 business days |
Delivery guarantee
If your order is lost or damaged in transit, we will work with you on a fair resolution, which may include a full refund, an upgrade to tracked delivery at a subsidised rate, or a one-time replacement. If we resend an order, that replacement is final and is sent at your own risk. No further refund or replacement will be provided.
Important Notes
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We process orders after receiving cleared payment.
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Postage rates are per order. We may combine multiple orders to the same recipient at the same address into one shipment.
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Shipping charges are not discounted during product sales.
Need Help?
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Phone, 1800 733 399
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Business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm NSW time (AEDT or AEST depending upon daylight savings)
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Address, PO Box 148, Riverstone NSW 2765
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ABN, 63 634 537 492
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship outside Australia
No. We only ship within Australia.
How long does Standard delivery take
Most orders arrive in 3 to 10 business days. Remote WA and NT may take longer.
How long does Express delivery take
Most orders arrive in 1 to 3 business days. WA, NT, TAS, and remote areas may take longer.
Do WA orders have delays?
Yes. WA orders go through Quarantine inspection. Tracking activates after inspection.
Can I get a signature on delivery?
Yes. You can add a signature on delivery for $3.95.
When is an order considered missing
We follow Australia Post guidelines. See the timeframes above.
Estimate shipping
Shipping Restrictions
Western Australia Customers: We can ship most seed line items, except Quarantine WA restricted seed lines to WA. To help us ship your order as quickly and efficiently as possible, please do not include any seed items prohibited in WA; they are listed with the label 'NOT to WA'. Due to quarantine restrictions in WA, there is a 10kg seeds limit per variety. WA orders require additional handling time. Please remain within an approved limit when ordering seeds. We review every WA order before dispatch and remove (or reduce) excess seed quantity from your order to comply with WA biosecurity regulations. Please check further information here
Tasmania Customers: We can ship seeds to Tasmania. Please do not include seed line items labeled 'NOT to TAS'. Please note that the maximum allowable limit per permitted seed line item is 1kg per order.