4th of July saw the first melon harvest of the year, with fruits from two different varieties. One of the two melons was a Petit Gris de Rennes, a medium size Charentais type melon.

Charentais are a type of French cantaloupe. They are smaller and rounder than standard cantaloupes. Unlike the rough, netted rind of cantaloupes, Charentais have a smooth rind. In terms of flavor, Charentais are intensely sweet and aromatic.

The Petit Gris de Rennes is a heirloom variety known for its distinctive sweet flavor and aromatic flesh. Originating from France, specifically the region around Rennes, this melon has a greenish-grey rind with a slight netting and orange flesh. It's prized for its high sugar content and juicy texture, making it a favorite among melon enthusiasts and chefs.

Petit Gris de Rennes is the #2 top-selling melon offered by Baker Creek Seeds. I'm growing it vertically on a trellis to make the most use of my garden space. When grown off the ground, its melons require support. While the melons can hang on their own during most of their development, when they reach ripeness they detach from the vine. Without support, the melons will drop to the ground and become damaged.

This first Petit Gris de Rennes of the season weighed in at 2.9 pounds. I started the plant from seed on 3/18 and transplanted it to the raised bed a month later. This first harvest came 76 days after planting. I harvest as soon as the melon detached from the stem on its own.

The Petit Gris de Rennes does indeed have a very sweet, aromatic flavor. I measured its sugar content with my Brix refractometer and it registered 13.4%. This is definitely on the high end of sweetness for melons.

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