Melon
Charentais melon
Charentais melon: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Charentais melons belong to Cucumis melo, in the squash family, Cucurbitaceae. The name describes a melon type prized for orange, sweet, fragrant flesh rather than guaranteeing a geographical origin for every fruit. Different Charentais-type varieties vary in earliness, appearance and keeping quality. This diversity explains why fruits carrying the name do not all have exactly the same rind or show identical signs as they ripen.The fruit is generally rounded, with divisions or ribs that may be more or less prominent. Its rind can be smooth or show a network of markings according to selection. External colours change with maturity, although colour alone does not describe the fruit’s whole quality. Inside, orange flesh surrounds a cavity containing the seeds. Juiciness and aroma are part of its character, while sweetness also depends on variety and the conditions in which the fruit developed.The plant is a herbaceous annual with flexible stems bearing tendrils.…
