Hales Best Jumbo is one of the most popular open pollinated melon varieties. This melon is great for the home vegetable garden or the market garden. It is a standard early shipper that takes about 85 days to develop its heavy coarse net and light ribs.
Hales Best Jumbo melons were introduced in 1924 by I. D. Hale, who found this variety being developed by a Japanese market grower in Imperial County near Brawley, CA.
 
Growing: In cooler climates, melons may benefit from black plastic to warm the soil; mulch also helps to conserve necessary moisture, control weeds, and keep the melons clean. Adequate moisture is particularly crucial as the vines begin to develop. After midsummer, pinch off blossoms and smaller fruits in order to direct the full energy to the larger fruits; the smaller fruits will not have time to ripen before frost, and are no great loss.
Harvesting: As the melon ripens, it will turn a slightly golden color and become fragrant; the stem should fall off easily, and the blossom end should be slightly soft. The melon will keep for several weeks in a cool place.