Melons are the vegetable garden's crown jewels--and Amy Goldman's
lifelong passion and calling. Her new book, THE MELON, will entice and
educate, whether you are a passionate gardener, a locavore, or simply
delight in the inherent beauty and evanescence of the fruits of the
vine.
THE MELON was produced by Amy Goldman in collaboration with celebrated
photographer Victor Schrager over the course of nine years. It's a cut
above their award-winning melon book MELONS FOR THE PASSIONATE GROWER,
published in 2002. In the intervening years, Goldman has grown as a
gardener and has learned a lot more. She has taken advantage of recent
research findings that informed her thinking on crop history and best
cultural practices.
THE MELON includes additional horticultural groups of melon and gives
watermelon--which is less genetically diverse--more of a fair shake.
Much like the word "cantaloupe," which is used colloquially and
erroneously by Americans to describe muskmelon, the word "melon" is
commonly used in the United States to refer to both melon and
watermelon. These vining crops belong to two different species within
the Cucurbitaceae or gourd family of plants.
Melon and watermelon are now among the world's most important vegetable
crops. The 125 varieties illustrated and described in THE MELON comprise
85 melons and 40 watermelons from all over the globe. Their stories are
as diverse as the melons themselves.
In addition to the stunning portraits and beauty shots and detailed
descriptions of melons, THE MELON includes in-depth sections on picking
and choosing melons and watermelons in the market, growing them in the
garden, and saving pure heirloom seeds. Mouth-watering recipes by
renowned cookbook author Mindy Fox complete the journey from seed to
table.
