Most of the time, you won't buy cantaloupe starts, you'll purchase seeds and start them yourself. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. Often grown in widely spaced enriched hills, or in well-aged compost heaps that include some soil. I'm going to put mulch under and try to pollinate. If you want to grow cantaloupe on trellis poles or wires, space hills in the same row about 12 inches (30.5 cm) apart. If you're growing cantaloupe in a greenhouse, or live somewhere that bees are scarce, you might need to. The plants usually take 75-100 days … Seeds are usually planted anywhere from ½ to 1 inch (1 to 2.5 cm.) The plant needs about 45 to 60 days to grow fruit and about 90 to 115 days for it to blossom. Reading this article helped me to plant and, "Very in depth and well written. It's a common misconception and fear that cantaloupes will cross with other members of the same family, including cucumbers, other melons, squash, and pumpkins. When to Plant Cantaloupes. So, plant the seeds as soon as you believe the fear of any cold weather is gone for the year. Do not weed after the fruits have set. Sow seeds only when temperatures reliably stay above 50 to 60 degrees F. Plant in groups of two or three seeds spaced 2 feet apart. Give plants a fabulous start to the growing season by improving native soil with several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Ensure that the leaves of the vines are in good condition. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Grow cantaloupe in rows spaced 3 to 4 feet apart or in "hills" with groups of 2 or 3 plants per "hill". Most strange or bland-flavored cantaloupe is not the result of accidental cross-breeding, but the result of environmental factors or other problems. Today I dusted them with diatomaceous earth and then it rained. To start from seed: If you are in a colder region, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Black plastic will have your melons ripen prematurely and that'll spoil it. Many muskmelons and cantaloupes separate naturally from the stem when the melons are ripe, so they come away from the vine with only a gentle tug. It's also common to fertilize cantaloupe with a higher potassium and phosphorus fertilizer after the blossoms have opened, though long time deposits of phosphorus fertilization can be environmentally hazardous. For more tips from our Gardener reviewer, including how to recognize pests, read on! Thanks. If you live in a colder climate, start your cantaloupe indoors about a month before planting. How long does it take for cantaloupe to be ready to harvest? Should I re-dust them when dry? ", pertains to my area, as I live in Florida, I now have the knowledge I need to try to grow my own fruit! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Some of that needs to go straight to cantaloupe, which in my unpopular opinion, is much tastier than watermelon. Growing cantaloupes in pots only requires a tote-sized container, and from there you can decide if you want you want to grow it up or out. If you plan to grow the cantaloupe on the ground, space the hills 36 to 42 inches (91 to 107 cm) apart. Thank you! Cantaloupes love very sandy and loamy soil with good drainage, and a pH of around 6. Also, would trimming excessive runners help in making fruit? Protect your newbie fruit as it develops. Growing cantaloupes require a lot of nutrients, so it’s best to improve your soil by mixing in several inches of compost or other rich organic matter. Cantaloupes may be started from seed or purchased as young plants. ", "Very helpful for someone planting melons. It's important to remove the matting after the threat of frost has dissipated and blooms have started to form, so that pollinating insects can reach the blossoms. ". (Once a fruit is selected, leave it on the plant, so you end up with one fruit from each two week period.). Growing location is very important when growing melons. Pay particular attention to the time to maturity listed on the seed package. While not all of the information, "The time for the various fertilizers to be applied and well as watering and the cracking of the stems when ready, "I like the trellis idea, maybe next year. This way the vine can concentrate on the one fruit, making it sweeter. Last Updated: December 5, 2019 ", "I love wikiHow! After 2 weeks, thin to 2 plants per hill. Cantaloupe is like candy in melon form. Cantaloupe vine leaves can be attacked by insects and fungus. Most cantaloupe diseases develop late in the growing season and during high-humidity periods. Rich soil with plenty of compost added. Mix in a thick layer of manure and a smaller layer of compost on top, replacing the earth you excavated. Don't worry about planting your vining fruits in the same area of your garden plot. Male and female flowers depend on each other for fertilization. Pay attention to the quality and vigor of the leaves: they should be dark green, with stiff structure and a healthy color. How can I stop my vines from dying as soon as the melons start to get ripe? My experience is that on each vine, the male flowers come in a series first, and then the female blossoms. Should I remove the infected leaves or just hope for the best? I was looking to see if I needed to pull extra blooms off once I had, "It's very thorough and gives a lot of useful suggestions. Wipe harvested melons clean and store indoors in a cool place, or in the refrigerator. In the US, melons are at high risk for damage from squash bugs, squash vine borers, cucumber beetles and bacterial wilt, so using row cover is a wise preventive strategy. You can cover the plants again once the fruits have set. Because it would be a tragedy to pull your budding plant, try to mark your start with a plant card, or wait until it distinguishes itself from the clover to start pulling weeds. The small sweet fruits of the compact cultivars generally require 60 to 90 days from seed to harvest. Fast-growing muskmelons often do best where summers are cool and rainy, while warm, dry climates favor smooth-skinned honeydews. Fresh melons from you garden taste much better than those found in the grocery store. ", "First time growing cantaloupe. Pick it when it's mostly yellow but still has some green. ", "I just wasn't sure how much to water, and this cleared it up for me. If you started your cantaloupe indoors, plant your biodegradable pot in the middle of each mound, as close to the center as possible. As they ripen, cantaloupes will start to smell sweeter. The North American Cantaloupe is now grown in warm regions across Mexico, Canada, and the US. Cantaloupe plants need about 85 days to mature, but don't rush planting. Grow them in your garden. The oldest leaves on my cantaloupe plants have developed powdery mildew. How do you know when cantaloupes are ready to be picked? He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. You’ll know it’s time to pick the fruit when the color of the rind … Improper ground temperature will force the plant to only produce male flowers, which makes it difficult to fruit, even if pollinating insects are very present. This variety takes 80-90 days to mature. Could the runners be cut off without any harm to the plant? There are hundreds of varieties of cantaloupe to choose from, but the classic Hale's Best, a popular melon with old-time growers, is one of the best. On the seed package, pay particular attention to planting advice and information about keeping them safe, and pay particularly close attention to the length of time to maturation. The more sun the plant gets the better chance we will have of harvesting at the end of the season. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. How many marketable fruits does one cantaloupe pant normally produce? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Although not required, I like to plant them in small hill or mounds as I do with other cucurbit members. You can find everything you want to find out how to do here! A freshly ripened cantaloupe straight from your own garden is one of the summer's greatest pleasures. Read all label instructions to make sure the treatment is safe for use on edible harvests and will not kill pollinating insects. When growing season arrives, melons are a favorite fruit to grow and eat. However, these diseases can be contained through a combination of precautionary and control measures. It's typical for melon leaves to wilt significantly in the midday and stay wilted looking until the evening in extremely hot weather. Thanks a billion. Before the vines begin running from the fruit, weed the area and fertilize the plants periodically. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. My plants are 8-10 weeks old and have lots of blossoms but no melons yet. This article received 18 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Melons need a minimum of 80 hot summer days. How long does it take to produce melons from blossoms? Melons grow best in warm weather, with plenty of sunshine and generously-watered soil. This month, Redawna tells you everything you need to know to grow melons in Canada. Each month Redawna Kalynchuk draws on her extensive gardening experience to guide you through Growing Your Own Food in Canada. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. If you want to produce better or more fruit, I wouldn't twist, pinch or clip the vines. I can say that next year I will have amazing cantaloupe! Store them in a clean, dry jar in a cool, dark environment until you're ready to start your melons. Select a hardy variety appropriate for your climate. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1400342-v4-728px-Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"