Charentais Melon Seed Bag

Charentais Melon Seed Bag Vilmorin (reference: 3662041) represents the excellence of French vegetable seed. This traditional variety, selected by Vilmorin, the historic seed leader since 1743, guarantees authentic Charentais melons with incomparable flavour. Every packet contains seed of high germination quality, tested and certified to ensure your vegetable garden succeeds.

Uses and benefits of the Charentais melon

The Vilmorin Charentais melon fits family vegetable gardens and professional growing alike. This traditional variety produces smooth-skinned fruit of medium to large size, with thick, remarkably fragrant flesh. Its melting texture and intense sweetness make it a fruit of choice in French cooking.

In the kitchen this melon lends itself to many preparations: the classic melon with Parma ham or port as a starter, refreshing fruit salad, smoothies and sorbets for dessert. Restaurateurs and caterers value its colourful flesh, which adds a decorative touch to their plating. For home gardeners, it is the pleasure of eating melons from the garden, full of sunshine and genuine flavour.

Technical features and Vilmorin quality

Vilmorin Charentais melon seed benefits from rigorous selection that guarantees excellent varietal uniformity. This determinate variety produces regularly shaped fruit with the smooth rind typical of the Charentais melon. The bright orange flesh, dense and juicy, develops a powerful aroma at full ripeness.

The growing cycle runs for roughly 90 to 100 days from germination to harvest. This variety shows good tolerance of variable weather and adapts to different soil types, provided they are well drained and rich in organic matter. The high germination rate of Vilmorin seed ensures even emergence and optimises the yield per plant.

Sowing techniques and crop management

Sow from May to June, once the soil temperature stays above 15°C. Choose a position in full sun, which is essential for the fruit to develop its aroma. Sow 5 to 6 seeds per station in shallow holes (2-3 cm), spaced 80 cm to 1 metre apart in every direction to allow the trailing stems to spread.

After emergence, keep only the 2-3 strongest plants per station. Regular but moderate watering is essential, avoiding wetting the foliage to prevent fungal disease. An organic mulch keeps moisture in the soil and limits weeds. Pruning means pinching out the main stem above the 4th leaf, then the side shoots two leaves after each set fruit, keeping only 3 to 4 melons per plant so they reach a good size.

Expert advice and better harvests

For the best eating quality, harvest the melons at perfect ripeness, when they come away easily from the stalk and give off their characteristic scent. A slight softening opposite the stalk also indicates ripeness. Pair your melons with radishes or lettuces, which will benefit from the shade cast by the foliage early in the season.

Applying a potassium-rich fertiliser while the fruit is forming improves its eating quality considerably. Avoid excess nitrogen, which encourages foliage at the expense of fruiting. In a wet summer, raise the fruit on tiles or boards to avoid direct contact with damp soil. This traditional technique preserves fruit health and encourages even colouring. Round out your cucurbit range with our watermelon, courgette and cucumber seed to vary your summer harvests.

Technical specifications