Mediterranean Charentais melon plantings set to fall

Charentais melon acreage is expected to decrease in France and Morocco, but rise slightly in Spain, with volatile weather creating difficult conditions for planting.

Plantings are yet to conclude but this appears to represent a “rebalancing” in Spain and France in 2026, following a general decline in plantings in 2025.

The report was compiled by France’s Association Interprofessionnelle Melon (AIM) and presented to the trade at Medfel on 28 April.

It forecasts that 2026 plantings will decrease by 200 hectares year on year to 1,015ha in Morocco and by 150ha to 10,120ha in France. Spain, by contrast, is expected to see a 35ha increase to 2,500ha.

This follows a steady downward trend in French melon production since 2012 when it reached 14,750ha.

The report concludes that plantings have been made difficult by more unpredictable winter weather (in Morocco and Spain) and spring weather (in France).

Planting strategies are becoming increasingly difficult to implement due to external political, economic (inputs, labour, land etc.), and weather disruptions.

France

The southeast of France, the country’s main growing region, is expected to see an 80ha decline to 5,720ha (including 480ha under glass). This represents the second year of stabilisation in acreage after several years of increase.

Planting schedules were severely disrupted by heavy rain in late February and early March, with uneven establishment and possible delays of 7 to 10 days for early varieties.

“The arrival of significant volumes will depend on the evolution of future weather conditions,” AIM said.

In France’s central west and southwest, which account for 2,330 ha and 1,970ha respectively, there was good soil preparation and planting conditions for early varieties, with planting schedules largely adhered to.

Nevertheless, plantings in the southwest fell by 100ha, a further decline, while in the central western region of Poitou there has been concern about a lack of water in the soil.

Here are the other key takeaways from the report:

Spain

Almeria:

• Production region for glasshouse-grown green Charentais for the Northern European market.

Murcia/Alicante and Seville:

• Stabilisation of planted areas despite difficult growing conditions, including
• pressure on land and access to water (despite winter rains).
• Shifts in land ownership between Seville, Murcia, Alicante, and Cartagena.
• Strategic focus on early varieties (initiated two years ago) confirmed this year.
• Seville region: significant delay in planting early varieties due to February floods. Partial recovery.
• Murcia region: less impacted by rain. Harvesting getting under way in greenhouses (~30 ha).
• Outdoor harvest set to begin around 10 May with the peak season delayed until after 15 May.
• Possible delay and extension of the harvest period, but still too early to be certain.

Morocco

• An increasingly difficult production environment.

Dakhla:

• Difficult planting conditions. Sandstorm in December casued damage to greenhouses. Harvesting underway since March.

Marrakech/Agadir:

• Under cover: planting from mid-December. Harvest from early April to May. Melon quality satisfactory.
• Open field: lack of heat and abundant rain have delayed planting and caused uneven development. Delayed production and reduced yield. Peak expected in mid-May.
• Uncertainty regarding the end of the season.
• Production gap expected between greenhouse and conventional production.

Kenitra:

• Production site shut down.

French watermelons

• Stabilisation of cultivated areas following strong growth in last two years.
• Approximately 600 hectares estimated across France, with the southeast accounting for 60 per cent of production.
• French production driven by the mini watermelons.