Delicious Canaloupes, anybody tried these?

[country lady]

I planted Petit Gris De Rennes and Charentais cantaloupe seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and these melons are so juicy and delicious. And I've never cared much for melons. I lost some melons because they split. The chickens loved them though. The best melon I grew came from a plant that was scrawny and slow growing. The melon was in a shady spot; one day it was green and the next day ripe. I'm going to share the seeds with neighbors. Hope you all had great gardens this year. I had successes and a few failures.

 

[vfem]

Maybe next year I will try these!? I did Hale's Best this year, and though the flesh was juicy and wonderfully colored, they had no sweetness to them at all. I don't know what would affect a melon like that?!

 

[obsessed]

I had hales best this year also. I posted about it that it was bland but very aromatic. I think it had to do with the watering?

 

[lesa]

I have never had much luck with melons- I did pick up one transplant (don't even know what kind) and son of a gun- I grew one cantaloupe! It was small, but oh so delicious! Now, I am motivated to try again next year...My growing season is short, but it obviously can be done....onward and upward!

 

[ams3651]

the rabbits thoroughly enjoyed my cantaloupe seedlings

 

[digitS']

The Charentais that I've grown is Burpee's Honey Girl. After about 6 successful seasons, it failed last year because of lingering coolness and rain in June. The plants died.

This year, we are back to hot and dry. June had about 2 weeks of rain, wind and overcast. Why oh why, didn't I plant the Honey Girls??

Charentais have a checkered reputation. At first, I had a real problem with knowing when they were ripe and I think that's a common experience. If picked too early, they have little flavor and no sweetness. Pick them too late . . . they split and, well, they go bad, just like that!! (sound of snapping fingers ) These melons are definitely NOT for shipping.

I learned to harvest them as much by fragrance as anything.

The Honey Girls are a "quick" Charentais variety but I see that Harris Seed has a little and quick Charentais called Riviera Sweet. And, Johnny's sells seed for an Edonis Charentais melon.

Steve

 

[davaroo]

I had hales best this year also. I posted about it that it was bland but very aromatic. I think it had to do with the watering?

Most musk and honeydew type melons require some timing to get just right. You have to withhold water about 2 weeks before they are to start ripening, so they'll "sugar up."
I never get it right, though.

 

[davaroo]

The Charentais that I've grown is Burpee's Honey Girl. After about 6 successful seasons, it failed last year because of lingering coolness and rain in June. The plants died.

This year, we are back to hot and dry. June had about 2 weeks of rain, wind and overcast. Why oh why, didn't I plant the Honey Girls??

Charentais have a checkered reputation. At first, I had a real problem with knowing when they were ripe and I think that's a common experience. If picked too early, they have little flavor and no sweetness. Pick them too late . . . they split and, well, they go bad, just like that!! (sound of snapping fingers ) These melons are definitely NOT for shipping.

I learned to harvest them as much by fragrance as anything.

The Honey Girls are a "quick" Charentais variety but I see that Harris Seed has a little and quick Charentais called Riviera Sweet. And, Johnny's sells seed for an Edonis Charentais melon.

Steve

This is why they are not well known outside of France, supposedly. In France they are very much "local," with many varieties of the type, since they don't transport well.

Ive got some Charentais for next season and some Fond Blanc, which are supposed to be more resilient. We shall see how they compare.