Charentais melon - cultivation and properties

Growing the Charentais melon in your own garden

Classification and characteristics of the Charentais melon

Different types of melon such as the Charentais, the honeydew melon (or yellow canary) and the Galia are usually grouped under the umbrella term of sugar melon due to their sweet taste. The so-called cantaloupe melons, which include, for example, the following subspecies, are considered an intermediate stage in the determination of melon varieties:

Charentais
Galia
Ogen

Prefer the Charentais melon in good time

Since almost all melon varieties thrive better in warmer climates than in Europe, the young plants must be brought out early if the fruits are to ripen in time by autumn. You can buy the seeds of the Charentais melon in specialist shops or from the fruits you buy in shops. However, seed kernels from fruits should be thoroughly cleaned of pulp so that there is no mold formation during the germination phase. You should also know that the seeds of cultivated hybrid varieties are usually not suitable for further propagation. From the beginning of April, put two seeds in a pot on the windowsill so that you can plant the young plants in the greenhouse or on the balcony or terrace from May.Since the Charentais melon forms long tendrils and the fruits can also grow hanging in the air due to their smaller size, the variety is also known and valued as the so-called “balcony melon”.

Tips for a successful harvest

The roots of young melon plants are very sensitive, which is why they should only be pricked out with extreme caution or planted directly in a rotting pot. Especially when growing melons in pots, you have to water the plants almost every day in summer. With sufficient early sowing and good care, Charentais melons usually produce fist-sized fruits in August.