Our Favorite Melon Varieties

Musky, fragrant cantaloupes, with their velvety flesh, and crisp, sugary watermelons in spectacular colors are just a couple of the sweet treats that come from a summer garden. Fresh slices make a perfect—and perfectly simple—summertime dessert, but we found that with a little extra effort you can put together a creamy sherbet that's the absolute essence of melon. And they shine with savory elements, too: A little salty cheese, pungent onion, and lightly bitter greens bring out their best.

An heirloom brought back from the edge of extinction some 30 years ago, this hefty melon has sweet, meaty flesh.

It shares a name with one of our cuke varieties but stands alone among melons: Its fragrant, crisp, sugary flesh boasts a hint of lemon. The best melon we've had.

A watermelon-sized cantaloupe (8 to 10 pounds) with classic muskmelon aroma. The soft flesh bruises easily, so handle with care.