How to Know When French Melon Is Ripe?

French melon, a type of cantaloupe (Cucurmis melo var. cantaloupensis) also commonly called the Charentais melon or French Charentais, is an annual vine crop prized for its medium-sized fruits that feature very aromatic and sweet flesh. The French melon has a thin rind and reputation for being fussy to grow and handle, so it is not widely available for purchase and often the best way to obtain this delectable fruit is to grow it yourself. Unlike many other melons, the French melons do not abscise, or fall off of the vine easily when ripe, so you have to time when you cut the melon off the vine based on a handful of other indicators.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Look at the leaf nearest the fruit. When a French melon is ripe, the leaf nearest the fruit fades from green to pale yellow.

   • 2

     Smell the French melon. A ripe fruit has a strong, sweet smell.

   • 3

     Inspect the melon rind's color. The gray to gray-blue rind may begin to take on a tan, golden or creamy color when it is ripe.

   • 4

     Check the blossom end, or the end of the fruit opposite where it attaches to the vine. If there is a slight split in the rind, harvest the fruit immediately. If there is no split, use your thumbs to apply slight pressure to the rind at this end. A ripe melon will be slightly soft in this area.