The muskmelon is one of the most important summer fruits, along with the watermelon. It has a long history of cultivation in China, and the economic value is substantial. The cultivation of muskmelons is widespread in China. In order to understand this industry it is important to understand the distribution of muskmelon plantations throughout China. Around 70% of the plantations are in north China, northeast China, and the middle and lower Yangzi regions. The provinces with the largest surface area devoted to muskmelon plantation are Heilongjiang, Shandong, and Henan.
Map of the distribution of muskmelon plantations in China
The muskmelon varieties grown in the northwestern provinces Gansu, Xinjiang, and Ningxia are top-quality fruits that can withstand drought, are relatively large, and have a thick skin. The muskmelon varieties grown in the three provinces in the northeast, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, as well as Jiangxi and Guangdong, are early-season varieties that resist disease well and can endure a moist atmosphere. Their skin is relatively thin. Production areas in Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang have both the thick-skin and thin-skin varieties of muskmelon.
Source: Planting Sees Online