In our work we love to see gardeners also be seed savers! In this case of local seed stewardship, this variety has been saved by Sherri for 40 years in the foothill community of Manton, CA.
Meet Sherri's French Melon!
This melon crossed an ocean 40 years ago and has been saved locally by Sherri Graham ever since. Sherri's daughter, travelling as an exchange student in the mid 1980s, brought the packet home to her mother from France. The melon was labelled simply as 'French Melon'.
Sherri planted those seeds and fell in love with the variety. For four decades this melon has thrived and adapted in the hot summers and volcanic soil of Manton. It is a small melon, just right for two people to eat in a sitting. The fruits set early and keep producing into early fall. With intense sweetness and aroma the Graham family have enjoyed it for decades.
Sherri passed the seed to us this season and we grew it out on our seed farm. I was immediately impressed by its vigor and uniformity, which is a testament to Sherri's skill as a seed saver and her dedication to keeping the variety true to type all of these years. We believe it is a type of Charentais melon but have named it after its seed steward. Thank you Sherri for sharing this variety with us all!
