Melon, Charentais ‘Sultan’ F1 (Cucumis melo)

Charentais are the small sweet aromatic melons preferred by the French. During their season they can be found all over France. Heirloom varieties take too long to fruit to be of much use in the cooler southern half of Australia but ‘Sultan’ will fruit from early February until April if sown in succession.

Grow them in two ways:

1. Plant one seed per pot in October in a warm indoor spot. Plant out after the last frost in a spot protected from wind. A plastic tree guard may be used. Harvest in February.

or

2. Plant two seeds directly into the garden in November. Thin to one plant when the first leaves appear. Harvest these in March.