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Product Details
Product Details
Charentais' melons aren't found in your grocery store because they're too fragile to ship. A true cantaloupe, the 1 ½–2-pound fruits have smooth skin with light green stripes, maturing to creamy yellow. The delightfully scented, creamy orange flesh is filled with unsurpassed flavor. One of the sweetest rewards of home gardening!
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- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 90 days
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Type: Cantaloupe (Learn more)
Native: Africa, Asia, Australia, West Pacific Islands
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 4'–5' sprawling vines.
Variety Info: Charentais' is about 1½ pounds, and the size of a small grapefruit. The skin is smooth and light green, with bands of darker green from the stem to the bottom. 'Charentais' is a type of true cantaloupe bred in France around 1920. It has deep orange flesh and a spicy, delicate aroma. The fruits' tender fragility makes shipping difficult; this is why we don't see them in the local grocery stores.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–90°F.
When to Start Inside: Recommended for short-season areas. 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting within 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Sow into biodegradable pots that can be directly planted in the ground; roots are sensitive to disturbance.
Sprouts in: 5–10 days
Plant Seeds (Depth): ¼"
Space Seeds: 2–3 seeds per mound
Row Spacing: 4'–6' apart
Thinning: Thin to 1 plant per mound
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvesting at the right time is very important with melons. Commercial growers harvest before melons are ripe, forcing them to ripen off the vine. But, the last few days of ripening on the vine put a lot of sugars into the melon; bottom line is that melons taste significantly better when vine ripened. How do you know when melons are ripe? Several indicators. 1) The color of 'Charentais' changes from pale green to creamy yellow. 2) The blossom end (opposite the stem) yields slightly to gentle pressure. 3) Unlike muskmelons, 'Charentais' and other cantaloupes do not abscise, or slip from the vine when ripe; cut from vine, rather than pulling or twisting, to avoid damaging plant and fruit.
- Ashley C.Verified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 starsSep 16, 2026The Perfect Melon
I was very happy growing these! Had a good germination rate, the plants were strong despite my occasional neglect, and they really took off once in ground. The bees absolutely love the flowers and I didn’t have any issues with pests.
I have 4 plants all next to each other so it’s hard to trace which melons were attached to which vines, but in all I ended up with ~6 melons so far.
Also like that it’s very easy to tell when they’re ripe since they change to a much more yellow color.
Will definitely plant again next year!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningSep 18, 2026Hey Ashley,
We're so happy to hear that your Charentais Cantaloupe Melon Seeds were such a success! It's awesome that you had great germination and strong plants - and that they really thrived once in the ground. The fact that the bees loved the flowers and you didn't have any pest issues is seriously impressive! Plus, getting around 6 melons from your 4 plants is fantastic, and we love that the yellow color change makes it so easy to tell when they're ripe. Thanks so much for being part of the growing community! Keep on growing 🌻
- Rebecca L.Rated 5 out of 5 starsAug 20, 20235 Stars
We grew these about 10 years ago in zone 6a. They were amazing! Finally getting back to it this year and I'm excited to say that I have 5 plants that are all doing great, and many have baseball sized fruit on them now. I can't wait!
- Kelly P.AZ, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 starsSep 24, 2026Low germination
Planted 2. Hills with 3 seeds each. No germination. Replanted. One seed has germinated. I look forward to a healthy plant.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? ContainerEGEpic GardeningSep 24, 2026Hey Kelly,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Deborah B.MO, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsAug 4, 2026Great Germination
Too soon for a report on the taste but they sprouted easily and are growing well.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised Bed - Maureen B.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsJun 6, 2026Looking forward to melons!
The melon seeds are sprouted and growing beautifully! We are looking forward to enjoying the harvest later this summer.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningJun 13, 2026Hey Maureen,
What exciting news that your Charentais Cantaloupe Melon Seeds are sprouted and growing beautifully! We can practically taste those sweet, fragrant melons already. There's nothing quite like the anticipation of a homegrown cantaloupe harvest - you're in for such a treat this summer! Thanks for sharing your Charentais cantaloupe success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
