Hara Madhu
A Punjab Agricultural University variety with large, round, smooth (non-netted) fruit, light green skin and very sweet, thick, light-green flesh — one of the sweetest melons grown in India. The thin skin bruises easily, so it suits nearby markets only.
Quick facts
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Zaid / summer
- Maturity period
- First harvest ~90–100 days
- Expected yield
- 15–20 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- No special resistance claimed
- Release
- Released by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Hara Madhu is an open-pollinated muskmelon from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and one of the sweetest melons grown in India. The fruit is large and round with a smooth, non-netted, light green skin and thick, light-green, very sweet, juicy flesh. Its weakness is that thin, smooth skin — the fruit bruises and breaks down within a day or two of picking, so it is a crop for local and nearby markets where sweetness matters more than travel. It matures at about 90–100 days.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose Hara Madhu if you sell within a few hours of picking, such as a roadside stall, a nearby town or a juice vendor, and sweetness is what wins your sale. PAU's variety has large, round, smooth light green fruit with thick, very sweet, juicy flesh, one of the sweetest melons grown in India, ready in about 90–100 days. The thin skin bruises and breaks down within a day or two, so it cannot travel. Choose Punjab Sunehri or Pusa Sharbati for a netted rind that handles transport.
Sowing & cultivation
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Among the sweetest muskmelons grown in India — thick, juicy, light-green flesh
- Large fruit; a strong local-market and street-vendor draw in the north-west
- Open-pollinated, so seed can be saved
Things to consider
- Thin, smooth skin bruises and breaks down within a day or two — for nearby markets only
- No disease resistance — downy and powdery mildew need managing; ripens all at once and does not store
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Rajasthan
A one-day crop: line up buyers before you pick
Hara Madhu is among the sweetest melons grown in India. Its thin, smooth skin also bruises and breaks down within a day or two of picking. Together that means you sell it fast or lose it.
Before the first fruit is ripe, agree with two or three buyers: a roadside stall, a juice shop, a nearby town market. Tell them the days you expect to pick and how many kilos you can bring each time.
Pick in the cool of the morning, carry the fruit in one layer on straw, not in sacks, and deliver the same day. Sow in two small lots a week or two apart so you are never picking more than your buyers will take.
Can you keep your own planting material?
This is an open-pollinated variety, so seed from a healthy crop of your own can be sown again. Keep seed only from disease-free plants, dry it properly, store it cool and dry, and bring in fresh certified seed every three to four years so the variety does not drift.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Muskmelon (Kharbuja) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arka Jeet | Small single-serve melon, resistant to powdery mildew | First harvest ~80–85 days | About 17 t/ha | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu |
| Arka Rajhans | Powdery-mildew resistant melon with good keeping quality | First harvest ~90–100 days | 20–25 t/ha | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
| Durgapura Madhu | Hardy open-pollinated melon for dry land and river beds | First harvest ~80–90 days | 15–22 t/ha | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh |
| Hara Madhuthis page | Very sweet melon for nearby markets only | First harvest ~90–100 days | 15–20 t/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| Punjab Hybrid | Uniform F1 melon for the commercial north-west crop | First harvest ~80–90 days | 22–28 t/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| Punjab Sunehri | Netted, transportable open-pollinated melon, north-west staple | First harvest ~85–95 days | 18–22 t/ha | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh |
| Pusa Sharbati | Classic sweet, aromatic melon for north and central India | First harvest ~85–90 days | 15–20 t/ha | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Muskmelon (Kharbuja) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Muskmelon (Kharbuja) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Muskmelon (Kharbuja) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Muskmelon (Kharbuja) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Muskmelon (Kharbuja) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Muskmelon (Kharbuja) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Muskmelon (Kharbuja) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
How far can Hara Madhu travel?
Not far. The skin is thin and smooth, and the fruit bruises and breaks down within a day or two of picking. Sell to nearby buyers, and line them up before you pick.
How sweet is it, really?
It is counted among the sweetest melons grown in India. A USDA germplasm record lists a TSS of 12% for it, which is one data point, not a guarantee. Sweetness depends on picking at full ripeness and on the weather in the last two weeks.
Can I pick it all at once?
It ripens all at once and does not store, so a big block gives you a glut. Sow in two or three small lots a week or two apart, and sell each lot before the next one comes ready.
What diseases should I plan for?
No disease resistance is claimed, so downy and powdery mildew need managing. Ask your KVK for a current spray plan and keep the waiting period between a spray and your first picking.
Can I save Hara Madhu seed?
Yes, it is open-pollinated. Save seed from your sweetest, healthiest fruit and keep the plot away from other melons so they do not cross.
Sourced from: TNAU Agritech Portal — Muskmelon. editorial policy.