Brilliant
Brilliant: 75 days to harvest, 7-10 days to germinate, 18-24 inches between plants, hardy in zones 2-11. Fruit runs to about 5-5 1/2". Give it full sun (6+ hours) and regular, consistent moisture; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week water. Because this is a hybrid, seed saved from it will not repeat the parent — plan on fresh seed each year.
Sowing
Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, or direct sow after last frost when soil temperature reaches 70°F
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Regular, consistent moisture; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week
- Soil
- Well-drained loam, moderately fertile
- Spacing
- 18-24 inches
- Height
- 6-9 feet
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Dark yellow
- Size
- 5-5 1/2"
- Shape
- Oval, approximately 5-5.5 inches long by 4.5-5.5 inches wide
- Flavour
- Sweet and juicy with a classic, mild cantaloupe flavor and refreshing finish.
In the kitchen
Fresh eating, fruit salads, smoothies, breakfast plates
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Cucumber beetles, squash vine borers, aphids, spider mites
- Diseases
- Powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, downy mildew
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | April – May | June – August | — | August – September |
| 3 | April – May | June – July | — | July – October |
| 4 | March – April | June – July | — | July – October |
| 5 | March – April | May – June | — | June – October |
| 6 | March – April | May – June | — | June – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – June | — | June – November |
| 8 | February – March | April – May | — | May – December |
| 9 | January – February | March – April | — | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – April | — | April – December |
| 11 | January | January – March | — | March – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 4 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 23
- Protein (g)
- 3.15
- Fat (g)
- 0.64
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 2.65
- Fibre (g)
- 1.6
- Sugars (g)
- 0.3
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 264
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 18
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.8
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 415
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.155
- Folate (µg)
- 68
- Calcium (mg)
- 177
- Iron (mg)
- 3.17
- Magnesium (mg)
- 64
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 56
- Potassium (mg)
- 295
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.81
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.3
Where to buy seed and equipment
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Brilliant?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other herbs with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Brilliant suits these too.
- Topit 75 days
- Wega 75 days
- Purple Ruffles Basil 75 days
- Menuette 75 days
- Darki Green 75 days
- Giant of Italy 75 days