Haven't a clue but I'd like to find out if anyone else does.

Melons are part of the Cucurbitaceae family which includes squash, pumpkin, cucumber and gourds.

The problem with growing seeds from shop-bought fruit is twofold.

1. They will almost certainly be a hybrid bred commercially for best fruit yield, flavour, colour, etc, and the seeds won't necessarily come true but will revert back to their natural state. Like planting seeds from a rose bush will usually revert back to a dog rose, if that makes sense?

2. Because they are of the same family, and this is probably the case, they need a male and female flower to pollinate them. So it could be that a male flower pollinated by a bee from a gourd has had a bit of jiggy jig with with the female flowers of your melons and the result is a cross of melon and gourd.

Part of the fun of growing seeds from plants, especially fruits, is that you don't quite know what you will end up with. Many years ago someone just planted an apple pip and it grew into a new apple species... The Granny Smith was born. So keep at it, you never know, you might have discovered a new type of Cucurbit and you can name it The Omai Gourd. It took me a while to get it but I laughed when I did. Nice one.

Cammomile: I feel this is a breakthrough veg, my friend, and worth pursuing. Please give it a go. I'd be interested if anyone else has the same or similar result.

Myron: Thanks for your very useful info. I guessed I was seeing a hybrid reverting to type but what puzzles me as much is finding a really delicious veg that I have never seen advertised in any seed catalogue. The greenhouse plants gave me nothing but the ten I put outside have each fruited. Some rotted but I have had enough not to notice the loss of my courgettes to The Slug. My Bulgarian partner uses them in a traditional dessert dish (banitsa) and I made a curry with half of one this very evening. The flesh is firmer than marrow and with a far better flavour. I have some good-looking seeds from them which I will plant next year. Maybe they will remain true - or I might get my gala back! OMG. Thanks again for your advice.

The main thing is that you grew something for free and you managed to produce food from it which you liked. That's great.

You must plant those seeds next year, I doubt if you'll get your Gala back, who know, you might end up with a carrot. Just kidding, but I hope you know what I mean? Good luck.

Myron

Whatever grows will be an adventure. It's a lot of the fun of growing one's own (along with the heartache of bugs, slugs and digging). I've been growing my dinner for more than half a century and, however much effort is needed, none of that detracts from being able to say, "I grew this".
Cheers
Paul