A true crown jewel of French horticulture, the Charentais Superprecoce Du Roc is a gourmet heirloom cantaloupe prized for its "super early" maturity, making it a dream for gardeners in cooler climates or those eager for an early summer harvest. These petite, 2-to-3-pound melons feature smooth, light gray-green skin accented by elegant dark green stripes. Inside, you’ll find dense, succulent salmon-orange flesh that delivers an intense tropical fragrance and a sugar-sweet flavor often described as a blend of peach and honey.

To enjoy these divine fruits at their peak, start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost or direct-sow into warm, fertile soil in a full sun location. The vigorous vines typically reach maturity in just 70–80 days, roughly one to two weeks earlier than standard Charentais varieties. For the best flavor, harvest when the tendril closet to the fruit turns brown and the skin begins to take on a subtle golden hue; unlike many muskmelons, these do not "slip" from the vine and should be carefully clipped.