Cole's Early

Rather small fruit is round, light green with dark green striping. Fruit is 7.5-8.5 inches long, 6-7.5 inches in diameter and weigh up to 9.5 pounds. Pink flesh and thin rind up to 0.65 inches. Brix reading 5.2. Seeds are brown with black dots. Cole's Early appears in turn of the 20th century catalogs, but this version is not an exact match as the rind is not as brittle as descriptions say. Also old catalogs mention the flesh is red and not pink. This variety was difficult to get to maturity when grown at Heritage Farm in 2016. This accession matches the description of Cole's Early listed in Henderson's 1893 catalogue. Donated to SSE in 1999 by Fredrick Vanek (NY VA F) who obtained this variety in 1994 from the Abundant Life Seed Foundation. A variety by this name was offered by the Peter Henderson & Co seed catalog in 1893. SSE Accession # 127955