Hebrew: מֶלוֹן, melon
Family: Cucurbitaceae Juss
Scientific Name: Cucumis melo
The muskmelon is an annual plant from the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), growing mainly during the summer. It is a climbing or sprawling plant that spreads out on the ground. There are many melon varieties with different types of fruit—elongated, round, and flattened—growing while lying on the ground.
The name melon is not mentioned in the Torah or the Talmud, but various descriptions suggest that the plant was known in our region and was one of the important cultivated crops in the ancient world.
Several plants mentioned in biblical and rabbinic texts are classified today as part of the gourd family, including watermelon (avatiach), zucchini (kishu), and cucumber (melafefon). However, most researchers believe that the kishu and melafefon referenced in those texts are not the same species known by those names today. Zucchini originates from the Americas, while the cucumber was not present in the region during biblical and rabbinic times. However, several species that were known in the biblical and Mishnaic periods have been identified with these three plants: avati’ach corresponds to the modern watermelon, while the kishut (kishu) and melafefon were likely the Armenian cucumber and melon, respectively.
Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting: annuals & grapevines): Gourds have a high tendency to spread in fields. Some opinions state that a distance of two cubits (approx. 1 m) must be maintained from other species in all directions. If planting two different gourd species, the required separation is four cubits (approx. 2 m). These distances should also be maintained from grapevines.
Grafting: In recent years, due to reduced pesticide use, various gourd species, including muskmelon, have been grafted onto pumpkin rootstocks. This type of grafting is halachically prohibited, but post facto, the fruit itself is not forbidden.
Shehechiyanu (blessing for new fruit): Since melon is a summer crop that requires relatively high temperatures to develop properly, it has traditionally been a seasonal fruit. Although it is now also cultivated in greenhouses in the Arava region, there is still a period when muskmelons are not available in markets. Therefore, the shehecheyanu blessing should be recited upon eating the first melon of the new season.
