A honeydew melon is a large, oval fruit with smooth, pale green or yellowish skin and sweet, light green flesh inside. Unlike its cousin the cantaloupe, which has rough, netted skin, a honeydew has a waxy, almost slippery surface that feels cool to the touch.

The flesh tastes mild and sweet, with a gentle, refreshing flavor that's less intense than watermelon or cantaloupe. When perfectly ripe, honeydew is juicy and slightly crisp, making it a popular choice for fruit salads and summer snacks. You can tell a honeydew is ripe when the skin gives slightly under gentle pressure and it has a faint sweet smell at the stem end.

Honeydews grow on vines close to the ground, like pumpkins and cucumbers. They need warm weather and plenty of sunshine to develop their sugar and reach their full sweetness.