I had the pleasure of growing cantaloupes for the first time last year. They came out quite well. It was a bit of a surprise, because they were volunteers in my compost pile, I transplanted them into a very sunny bed, and I didn't really even know what they were until the melons were about softball sized. So now I want a planned crop, but I don't have a clue about varieties. I want something that will do well in central Texas climate with Texas pests, and (mostly alkaline) soil. San Marcos area, to be exact. I figure if seeds from a store-bought melon did well (goodness knows where that fruit came from), better suited varieties might do even better.

Preferences, anyone?