{"product_id":"melon-delice-de-la-table-organic","title":"Melon Delice de la Table — Organic","description":"The name says it all: Delice de la Table — \"Delight of the Table.\" This extraordinary French heirloom melon, first documented in Vilmorin-Andrieux's 1885 seed catalog, produces beautifully ribbed fruits that resemble small pumpkins on the outside and deliver silky, aromatic, deeply sweet orange flesh within. An Ark of Taste variety so exceptional and so rare that it deserves active preservation. You will not find this in any store.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHISTORY \u0026amp; HERITAGE: A pre-1885 French heirloom continuously cultivated by French gardeners and seed-savers for over a century, despite being virtually unknown in North America. Included on Slow Food's Ark of Taste — an international catalog of endangered food varieties worth protecting. While the commercial melon market has consolidated around just four hybrid types, this variety maintains the extraordinary diversity of flavor that industrial agriculture has largely erased.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCULINARY TIPS: Sweet with forward floral and vanilla notes, reminiscent of the great Charentais melons of France. Serve at room temperature — never cold, as chilling mutes the fragrance. Slice with a squeeze of lime and fresh mint, or wrap in prosciutto in the classic Italian manner. The ribbed exterior and warm coloring make it a spectacular table centerpiece.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGROWING GUIDE: Start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost. Transplant carefully without disturbing roots into warm, compost-rich, well-drained soil in full sun. In cooler climates, use black plastic mulch to warm the soil. Water deeply but allow soil to dry somewhat between waterings as fruits approach ripeness — this concentrates sugars. Harvest when the fruit emits a sweet fragrance at the blossom end and the stem begins to crack slightly. Days to maturity: 80-90 days.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLIMITED RELEASE — Available exclusively in our signature cello packets, each featuring a mailable postcard with original botanical artwork.","brand":"Orange Pippins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43137090126033,"sku":"SEED-MELON-DELICE-TABLE-ORG","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0549\/8178\/7857\/files\/IMG_6657.jpg?v=1780795727","url":"https:\/\/www.orangepippins.com\/products\/melon-delice-de-la-table-organic","provider":"Orange Pippins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}