A traditional, True Charentais Melon is surprisingly hard to find. The oval fruit have a smooth gray exterior with dark gray sutures. The flesh is a lovely, fragrant, delicious bright orange. Plants are medium size and the melons run to 2 pounds. Fruit should be harvested when the skin turns from green to gray for the best flavor. 15 seeds PLANTING Cucumis melo Germination: 4-10 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2" deep Sowing Indoors: 3-4 weeks before last frost. Provide 70-85ºF soil temperature. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 36" apart. Sowing Outdoors: Sow after the last frost when soil temperature is over 70ºF. Sow 2-3 seeds every 36", thin to the strongest seedling. How much does a packet plant: 18-20 foot single row, 5-6 hills Harvest: Look for the following signs, as it does take some practice on telling when they are ready to harvest. The skin tone changes and netting becomes heavy, the ends soften, they will slip from the vines, or a gentle tug will pull it away from the vine, a crack develops around the stem, the closest tendril to the stem dries, and the aroma increases when ripe. Tips: True Charentais Melon should be planted in fertile soil, amended with compost or well rotted manure, and kept well watered. They benefit from growing on black plastic and by using row covers for weed, insect control, and more rapid growth.
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