Zatta: at least 2 fruits (1"X 1 1/2"). I have only one hill of these
Prescott Fond Blanc: at least one fruit (1")
Petit Gris De Rennes: no fruit observed
Tigger: no fruit observed
Golden Gopher: at least 4 fruits (3")
Charentais: at least 2 fruits (1")
Collective Farm Woman: at least 4 fruits (2 1/2"X 3")
Edens Gem: at least 8 fruits (2"x 3")
Schoon's Hardshell: at least 10 fruits (3")
Noir Des Carmes: at least 6 fruits (3")
Ali Baba(watermelon): no fruits observed

These are all new to me except Golden Gopher which I grew last year, and found it very good in flavor.
I have about 10 plants of various varieties(some of those mentioned above) on another garden. Unfortunately I lost the list of names for them, so I can't say much about them. Although I can tell a few by fruit characteristics.
Douglas

Where did you get Noire Des Carmes? I tried Baker Creek, but they are not carrying it this year. Hoping to try it next year.

Mary

I'm also very interested in everything you're growing. Last year, I grew Vedranteis and Charenteis and both did very well. Also grew a SuperDew hybrid honeydew and though it tasted good, I wanted to "go heirloom" 100% this year.

This year, I'm growing:

Prescott Fond Blanc - 6 plants, 3 fruits so far
Blacktail Mountain Watermelon - 3 plants, 5 fruits, several large ones, maybe ripe in time for the NY State Fair :)
Petit Gris de Rennes - 9 plants in pots, maybe a few fruits
Ananas Amerique a Chair Verte - 5 plants, no fruits yet
Charanteis - 2 plants no fruits

I think the Charanteis and the Petit Gris have a virus, because the leaves have brown edges and are yellowing slightly. Fortunately, they're pretty far away from everything else.

Thanks,
Jim

P.S. Like Mary, I'm also envious of your growing space.

Of the varieties you mentioned, I also grew Collective Farm Woman - it is really interesting, crunchy, un-melony but very sweet taste. Wait to harvest until they turn orangeish. You'll enjoy it!

Also Amarillo Oro - wow, the sweetness! But I don't see that on your list...

friendly mama,
Thanks for your thoughts on Collective Farm Woman.
I think my growing season may normally be too short for Amarillo Oro. Maybe if I used black plastic and some season extention I could succeed with it. It does sound good.

Regards, Douglas

One variety is growing like crazy and covered with blossoms, but no fruit.

The other one is not as vigorous, but has 4 or 5 baseball size fruits on it. I have added a link to a picture of how these look today.

I suspect that the one without fruit is the Tigger .... I was really hoping to get at least a couple of melons from it, but I think it is getting to late in the season for that to happen.

Thanks so much for identifying my melon plants.

I am going to go take a look at the vines that must be Tigger and see if there are any hiding on me. I'm glad to hear that there may still be hope for them yet.

Thanks, Douglas

Speaking of melons, does anyone have problems with rabbits and/or voles gnawing on your melons? I've had serious damage on my Prescott Fond Blancs and Ananas d'Amerique. I tried using nylon stockings around several and bird netting and suspending them above the black plastic, and the only thing that seems to work is suspending them, but it's still early.

Thanks,
Jim

You're lucky. Ever since the coyotes moved out of the overgrown orchard two streets over a year ago(amazingly, I'm in suburbia), the vole and rabbit population has just skyrocketed. The NY State fair is Thursday, so I need to figure something out.

Thanks,
Jim

My first ripe one was about the size of an orange, and not a large one at that. The 2nd ripe one was about the size of a fairly large grapefruit. So there can be a fair amount of size variation. Keep a close eye on them, they seem to ripen overnight. As soon as you notice the slightest color change in one, check it daily. You will also find that they tend to slip from the vine when ripe.

Golden Gopher- The only variety that I'm growing this year, that I grew before. I picked one about 5 or 6 days ago. I may have picked it a little early, as it wasn't as juicy as those I remember eating last year. It had a nice sweet flavor. My dad really liked it. I was very pleased with their taste last year.

Noir Des Carmes- I picked it yesterday. It looks nothing like a typical muskmelon on the outside. But had the orange coloring of one inside and it tasted sort of like one too. It has a nice sweet flavor, with maybe a hint of muskiness. It wasn't especially juicy. It has a nice taste, but didn't overly impress me. It turned mostly yellow on the outside and had a nice sweet smell, to indicate ripeness. A few of my fruits have sunscald, but it shouldn't affect the insides. I have two other fruits turning color(ripening).

A few of my Collective Farm Woman melons are gradually turning yellowish-orange. This is a slow process though.

I've had more ripe Eden's Gems(about 5 total). This variety has been impressive. It is very juicy and delicious.

Best regards until next time, Douglas

My melons this year are a total bust. Sigh

But, hint, hint, can we talk privately about German Non-acid and Non-acid? Very good varieties and I'd like to offer them at SSE if it's OK with you, but we need better names.

Shall I e-mail you, or you me?

Carolyn

Like Carolyn, most of mine are a bust too - the Ananas d'Amerique a Chair Verte were quickly cut down by powdery mildew, with 9 left on the plants. The same was true for the Petit Gris and the Charanteis. The only cantaloupe-type that might produce something is the Prescott Fond Blanc. I have three huge melons that will hopefully ripen before powdery mildew takes the plants. Also fighting a battle with voles (they're winning).

The big positive was the Blacktail Mountain Watermelon. I had two so far, and one was very sweet.

Jim

Jim,
I'm still waiting for My Prescott Fond Blancs to ripen. I think they turn yellowish? They have stayed pretty much the same color for a while now.

winnjoe,
I don't know if your Petit Gris De Rennes will still ripen or not. I'd wait and see. Mine are doing well, with a gradual lightening of background color on a few. This is probably my most anticipated variety. I hope yours and mine ripen:-)

I picked 3 more Noir Des Carmes and an Eden's Gem today. I have a Charentais and Golden Gopher very close to ripe.

Regards, Douglas

From what I've seen in Amy Goldman's book and a few other pix I've seen on the web, the Prescott Fond Blancs are supposed to turn a cream color when they get ripe. Right now, they're my last hope for cantaloupe. Boy, they sure are ugly, aren't they? I'm currently at war with some voles and I think if I can keep them about a foot above the ground on the trellis, with bird netting and some Rabbit-No-More (basically cat litter and castor oil, going to make it myself next year), I might be able to save the last three - I lost 3 others already to these little buggers.

Hey, cross your fingers for my Petit Gris also. I'm going to give them another week, but I don't have much hope. The powdery mildew is pretty bad and it sounds like a few other people are in the same boat.

My Ananas are a total bust - 9 melons left on dead vines (powdery mildew). I think I'm going to try Eden's Gem next year.

Later,
Jim

I just ate my first Charentais melon of the year and another Golden Gopher. My dad thought the Golden Gopher would be hard to beat, but thinks the Charentais did it. My mom preferred it too(she thought it had a winey flavor to it). We all liked the Golden Gopher muskmelon very much as well. It's very sweet, with a smooth firm texture.
I've tasted a couple more Noir Des Carmes, and am liking them more than my initial reaction. They have a nice sweet taste and a wonderful aroma at the stem end. I've been eating my melons chilled mostly, but ate a Noir Des Carmes warm from the garden, and it was very good.

Regards, Douglas

Sounds like you got a winner! You have more patience than I do. Powdery mildew was hitting my PGdR pretty bad, and they were in pots, so I said, "Screw it!" and stopped watering them (I had to water every other day, since we haven't had any significant rain in a while.)

The only other French Melon experience I have is with Charanteis or Vedranteis, and they were both good last year. I'm thinking about Eden's Gem next year, might try PGdR again, but this time in a raised, irrigated bed with barbed wire, pellet guns and spot lights for the varmints. :)

Doug - I finally harvested a huge Prescott Fond Blanc and put it in the fridge yesterday - it's a perfect cream color and it's the only one the voles didn't get. I couldn't have waited any longer or else they would have gotten this one too. It smelled pretty good, I hope it's good. I'm going to cut it up tonight or tomorrow and I'll report back. My wife wants to take pictures so we can send one to Bruno DeFay, who also sold me my seeds - small world, isn't it? I bought Ananas d'Amerique a Chair Verte from him, but the powdery mildew took those also. Maybe I'll get lucky like Joe.

I'll post photos as soon as I get them developed.

Hey, is anyone here going to list melon seeds in the Seed Savers Exchange catalog for 2004?

Brooster

I know it's a bit off topic but there is no email contact on your members page so I have to ask here. Do you trade seeds? I would really like to try growing some of the varieties of melon that you are growing. Please do let me know.

Brooster,
Thanks for letting us know how the Old Time Tennessee melon
did. I hope your watermelons were a success.
Jim,
I hope you enjoyed your Prescott Fond Blanc. I've only eaten one. I thought it had a firm flesh with a nice sweet flavor. I have two ripe ones in the garden I'll be tasting soon. I am an unlisted member of SSE and didn't save any seed this year, so I won't be offering any.
Joe,
I was thinking that maybe when the melon plant is stressed it may ripen the fruit quicker. I have gotten about 5 ripe Petit Gris De Rennes melons after the plants were nipped by frost. Or maybe the were ready to ripen anyway. They are a very good tasting melon(smooth and sweet). I had to protect them about three nights, due to hard frosts. I may get a few more ripe ones yet. We've had very warm weather lately.

ChouCream- I'll send you an email soon regarding your question.

PPennypacker- I don't have experience with container growing. Your may want to see if there is a container gardening forum in GardenWeb, or maybe ask in the Vegetable Forum(there are likely container growers there).

I hope to post an end of season melon report here soon.

Regards, Douglas

Eden's Gem- the first to ripen for me. They were smaller than expected, at about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. They had a green flesh that was very juicy and sweet. They produced very well for me. I'd guess 20 ripe fruits out of two hills.

Noir Des Carmes- also a high producer. One of the earlier ripeners. The orange flesh had a very pleasant, somewhat unique, sweet flavor.

Golden Gopher- Muskmelon type. I didn't weigh them, but I'd guess they averaged around 3 1/2 pounds or so. It had a nice texture and a wonderful sweet muskmelon flavor.

Schoon's Hardshell- considerably larger than Golden Gopher, but ripened later. I thought the flavor was on the mild side, and mentioned before that I detected a hint of banana in the flavor. I wasn't overly impressed by it. I may give it another chance next year. I tried a couple, and several went to waste in the garden.

Collective Farm Woman- had a sweet white flesh. Not one of my favorites, but maybe the taste would grow on me. I only tried a couple of them, several went to waste(the yellow jackets, or whatever they were, enjoyed them).

Charentias- outstanding, sweet, winey flavor and good production. One of my favorites.

Petit Gris De Gris De Rennes- These were the last to ripen for me. I protected them during a few nights of frost, and eventually got about 5 ripe fruits(most ripened when the vines were dead, probably from frost damage). They had a great smooth texture and a wonderful sweet flavor. I don't know if I liked them better than the Charentais or not. It's a close call. I'd like to try them side-by-side. They looked like they could be related to the Charentais. Petit Gris De Rennes was noticeably larger in avg. size compared to the Charentais I grew.

Prescott Fond Blanc- Only one ripened before frost. I recall the firm orange flesh having a good sweet flavor. It's good tasting, but not excellent in my opinion.

Zatta- I would put it in the category of Prescott Fond Blanc, in that they look more like a ribbed squash of some sort. Zatta wasn't flattened like Prescott Fond Blanc was.
I would categorize the Zatta's sweet, orange flrech in the good category as well. It seemed to have a softer flesh though(maybe I picked it at a riper stage???).

Tigger- a pretty little melon, that has a flesh that I'd describe as the color of a pear's flesh. It's firm and moderately sweet. Not exciting in flavor to me, but different.

Ali Baba- The only watermelon for me this year. I like watermelon, but certainly not as well as a good muskmelon or cantelope. It's difficult for me to rate it's flavor, as I didn't have any others to compare it to. I thought it was merely good, but my brother tasted one that he commented was the best he ever tasted(he's used to store bought ones).

The following 5 I'd pick as my taste favorites for the year: Charentais, Petit Gris De Rennes, Golden Gopher, Eden's Gem, and Noir Des Carmes.

Currently my plans are to grow the Charentais and Petit Gris De Rennes again next year. I may grow a few others again, that I grew this year.
Others I'm thinking of trying are Honey Rock, Haogen, Early Frame Prescott, and Crane(anyone have thoughts on these). I've got plenty of time to decide. To prevent all the waste I had this year, I'll probably grow only one hill, instead of two, for each variety. Three plants per hill worked fine for me.
Thanks to all for your interest and comments. Any questions or sharing of your own experiences are welcomed.

Regards, Douglas

Again, this worked very very well for us. I guess that it's too late for this year, but try it next year as soon as you notice symptoms.

After fatal bouts in previous years with powdery mildew, bacterial wilt & anthracnose, I employed protective stratagems: floating row cover material against the cucumber beetle (vector for bacterial wilt); and Soap Shield, an "organic", copper-based spray for the mildew & anthracnose. These products are both available from GardensAlive!.com. They worked for me--at least as long as I used them. I few sprayings of the Soap Shield abruptly and permanently ended an incipient anthracnose outbreak, and prevented the mildew which, come August, is endemic around here on cucurbits.

In early August, with melon vines taking over twice the area I had anticipated, I thought they'd be robust enough to withstand the cuke beetles. In 10 days, I started to see wilt in the crenshaw vine, so I quickly recovered the bed with the row cover. I ended up being able to save the Charentais vine, which produced 15 3-inch melons. While that doesn't sound like a colossal size, I think it's normal for that type of melon. And the harvest has encouraged me that I've gotten a handle on what it takes to grow melons here.

Douglas

Where in Minnesota are you located? I am in Northern Wisconsin by Lake Superior and I hope to try melons for the first time. I'm just wondering since you had success how I might do.

Jamie

Douglas

I was looking at either Crane, Prescott Fond Blanc, or Noir Des Carmes. Haven't yet decided though.

While we do have a cooler climate sometimes, we usually don't get frost until the end of October, so I am hoping that will even things out.

Jamie

Regards, Douglas

Douglas

The Charentais melon you grew this year...were they the orginal Charentais or were they a hybrid type?

I've thought of a few melons to choose from to plant this year (probably only plant 2 kinds), and now I'm thinking of this. Reason I ask which you planted is because I figure if you had success in MN, I might have similar success.

Jamie

Douglas

Douglas

I wrote this in my SSE Yearbook posting, but incase you don't read it. I noticed that someone is offering cantalun melon this year and has it listed as HAS. I remember on one posting you were looking for this particular one (I think :-)

Jamie

There are many more melons that should ripen in the next few weeks, namely Haogen, Galia, and hopefully charentais.

Here where I am, it was a warm March and April, where most of the days averaged about 72-76 degree highs, a few times hit 80. In June, we have constant morning cloud cover, averaging 68-70 degree high, so the melons stopped growing much larger.

A few fell victim to Early Blight or some some other virus. And I am out of garden space. Fortunately for me, I was able to rent space at the community gardens to plant
a few more melons, namely Montreal melons. Soon, I will pull up the spend melon plants and grow the second wave. The second wave, planted in July and ripening in early October, are the usually sweeter cause they grow in the hottest months from July through October.

One thing that frustrates me is that the local nurseries opt to sell varieties that don't work in our microclimates (OP honeydew maturing at 120 days, etc). Or, the varieties that are available as seedlings and seeds often are the same one sold in the grocery stores. Hales Best, and similar "western" type melons, are great bought from the store. They are grown commercially. They demand low humidity and temps that AVERAGE 80 deg grees F. They are grown in optimal conditions in the Central Valley. So why should I or anyone try growing something that will usually be better purchase from the store?

Thank God we have farmers markets, and now people are starting to try different, delicious melons. We have about 4 distinct microclimates with 50 miles of downtown LA. So they should try to push varities with shorter days till maturity or can tolerate cooler conditions, and tastes great if grown in our climates.

Douglas

Yes, we are fortunate to have no winter usually, though our four seasons are reportedly Santa Ana winds (50MPH plus winds), earthquakes, flash fires, and flash floods. It's usually the winds that do the worst damage, entire trees can be uprooted, and we have to water some seedlings two times a day if it's a really hot Santa Ana.

In a good year, we can have two seasons of summer prouduce, though a little bit of luck is needed. This year, March and April were 5-10 degrees above normal most days. I planted my first melons April 1 and harvested my first melon (butterscotch)in late June, and tomatoes were ready in late May. In cool summers, like last year, some melons taste like cucumber with no sugar.

As the other melons mature, I plant the seeds for the second round. We have to plant earlier varieties, with Ambrosias being the latest, though I am trying Montreal Melon this year. Galia, Haogen, Butterscotch and Charentais will probably round out the remaining varieties.

Our fall season start out hot, but night humidity and less days of sun around mid-November usually ends the melon season. Early tomatoes (Stupice, Siberia, Early Girl, and cherries) if healthy will bear through the New Year.

Douglas

You are pretty much in the same zone as me (I'm in zone 4). Have you been getting much this year? I planted yellow doll and blacktail mountain this year and my plants are just now starting to grow...no flowers at all yet. I'm not sure if I should give up on them.

Jamie

Carrie,
Last year I couldn't keep up with all the ripe fruit and many went to waste. We did eat a lot as well. If it gets to be too much again this year, I hope to give the excess away.

Douglas

Jamie

I was in NYC Auguest 6 and went to Union Square Farmer's Market, and one grower had Yellow Doll melon, and large muskmelons (looked like Burpee Hybrid). I was on my way to walking to Times Square, so I didn't want to buy whole melons. I was surprised, though, based on what I read on this board that anyone could have melons so early. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out where they grew them, but someone said they're near the city. I hope by now you're getting some fruit. My second batch of Haogens and Charentais are doing well, so far.

Jamie

Jamie,
Sorry to hear of your crop failure. I hope next year brings us a bumper melon crop.

Douglas

Douglas

Eat your heart out for Amy Goldman had someone drive 2 1/2 hours one way yesterday to deliver to me a huge basket of her heirloom melons.

So I'm going on a melon diet, although I will confess that in the half of Ha-Ogen that I ate last night I put a dollop of Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk. LOL

Carolyn, who has finally given up on being able to grow melons at her new home area.

Douglas

So far the Butterscotch Melons have been the sweetest. They have been my best melons this year and the most productive by far. I think the smaller fruited varieites are less affected by excess rainfall. It seems to be true with my tomatoes.

Today I pulled my first Piel de Sapo (frogskin) melon. It was slipping from the vine, which I didn't think they were supposed to do, but the vine seemed to be dying. They can be extremely sweet, but I'm afraid with this year's weather these will also prove disappointing. I'm almost afraid to cut into it. I have one more that is still maturing and an Amarillo Oro, that is very small but seems to be turning yellow.

Douglas

Douglas

I have another 12 hills of Petit gris de Rennes, 3 plants per hill, outside of town at another isolated spot (thanks to a friend), and I was hoping to have lots of seed to share. I did not put black plastic down. They have set zero fruit.

Joe, Winnipeg