Petit Gris de Rennes melon: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant Petit Gris de Rennes melons?
If you raise your own plants, sow in spring in individual pots with drainage holes, using seed compost. Keep them warm and in good light, with light moisture but no waterlogging. Match the sowing date to your planned planting time.
Plant your young melons once the risk of frost has passed and nights are consistently mild. Acclimatise indoor-grown plants gradually before planting outside. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil; in cooler regions, a greenhouse or tunnel is often more suitable. Water the root ball before planting, handle it gently and keep its surface level with the surrounding soil, leaving any graft union above ground. Do not use the sowing depth for a young plant.
Follow the spacing recommended for your variety and growing method; trailing plants often need about a metre between them. Water after planting and check the soil regularly, keeping it moist without waterlogging it. Once the ground is warm, mulch around the plants, leaving space around the stems. If you grow melons vertically, install a sturdy support and support the developing fruits too. For fruits resting on the ground, a tile or board can reduce contact with damp soil.
Should you prune 'Petit Gris de Rennes' melon, and how?
How to care for this plant
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Keep fruits off the soil
As your melons swell, check any resting on the soil. If it stays damp, slip a tile or small board beneath each fruit without pulling its stalk. This does not apply to fruit hanging from a support.
How do you harvest Petit Gris de Rennes melons?
