Petit Gris de Rennes is an extremely sweet, juicy small Charentais-type melon with bright orange flesh. Its name translates to “little gray” for the dark green appearance of its skin before ripening. Originally grown almost four hundred years ago in the garden of the Bishop of Rennes, it is now included in Slow Food's Ark of Taste. Their amazing survival to this day is undoubtedly due to their brown sugar sweetness and intense flavor, which make them the crème de la crème of French melons. This easy-to-grow heirloom variety is an early grower, making it a good choice for northern gardens with short seasons. It is perfect for smaller gardens and containers, with compact vines that only grow to 90cm tall and produce good yields.

Latin name Cucumis melo seeds 10 seeds Name Cantaloupe melon Variety Petit gris de Rennes Short description The crème de la crème of French heirloom melons Plant size Height 30cm Width 90-120cm Container size Height 30cm Width 30cm Companion plant Nasturtium, marigold, lavender, snapdragon, Borage, catnip, mint, carrot, aniseed How to grow Open tab Sowing Indoor March-April Outdoor April-June Timing of germination 5-10 days Harvest 60-80 days Sowing spacing 10-15 cm; Depth 3 cm When thinning Not required Cultivation Sunlight Full sun Soil Well-drained, light, moist soil Watering Regular, abundant watering Fertilizing Strong fertilizer Care Expert tip Allow the melons to grow from the ground in a trellis fashion to prevent the fruit from bruising and cracking. Excessive watering before harvest can cause the fruit to taste bland. Supporting pollinators Pollinators increase fruit set. Pests resistant to Fusarium wilt.

Harvest when the fruit is a pale orange color and has a pleasant, fruity aroma. Slightly twisting should release the fruit from the vine. For fruits with particularly good flavor, stop watering a week before harvest. Food: Medicinal Properties Melon, which is 90% water, contributes to the body's overall hydration. How to Eat Cantaloupe is usually eaten raw alone or in salads. For a simple yet sophisticated taste, try the well-known Italian antipasto ham and melon dish: aromatic, dry-sliced ​​ham is the perfect wrapper for the sweet juiciness of the melon.