Earl's Favourite

"Earl's Favourite" is a traditional British greenhouse cantaloupe cultivar that gained popularity during the Victorian era. It is classified as a hothouse melon, meaning it was specifically bred to be grown indoors in the UK's cooler climate.

This cultivar was highly favored in Victorian-era England because it was a reliable producer under glass, yielding highly aromatic and consistently sweet fruit. Growing such exotic fruits in heated greenhouses was a major status symbol for wealthy British estates during the 19th century.

Because it is a traditional British greenhouse cantaloupe, "Earl's Favourite" requires a warm, controlled environment to thrive. Gardeners should grow it in a heated greenhouse or polytunnel, training the vines vertically and providing ample support for the developing fruit.

While once a staple of Victorian kitchen gardens, "Earl's Favourite" is now considered a rare heirloom variety. Dedicated seed savers and specialty heirloom seed companies occasionally offer it to gardeners looking to cultivate historical fruits.