Before the vines begin running from the fruit, weed the area and fertilize the plants periodically. If they are in full sun, they could be getting too hot sitting on the concrete. If you live in an area where summers are shorter, consider growing them in a greenhouse. So if you are considering shortening the vines, DON'T. Although not required, I like to plant them in small hill or mounds as I do with other cucurbit members. Both types of cantaloupe have a sweet-tasting orange flesh, which is commonly consumed as a … Pay attention to the quality and vigor of the leaves: they should be dark green, with stiff structure and a healthy color. Covers just about everything thing and explains the reasons for doing things. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. 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. After 2 weeks, thin to 2 plants per hill. How many times do you water a cantaloupe plant in a day? Should I re-dust them when dry? Protect your newbie fruit as it develops. Grow cantaloupe in rows spaced 3 to 4 feet apart or in "hills" with groups of 2 or 3 plants per "hill". 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. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Most varieties of cantaloupe will ripen within 4 weeks of appearing on the vine, though pay attention to the guidelines of the particular variety you're cultivating for more specific instructions. So, plant the seeds as soon as you believe the fear of any cold weather is gone for the year. Most of the time, you won't buy cantaloupe starts, you'll purchase seeds and start them yourself. Grow them in your garden. Read all label instructions to make sure the treatment is safe for use on edible harvests and will not kill pollinating insects. I'm going to put mulch under and try to pollinate. When a cantaloupe is ready to pick, the stem will start cracking slightly where it meets the stem. 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. 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. Last Updated: December 5, 2019 This isn't necessarily a sign that you need to water the cantaloupe more, however, so look at the quality of the leaves, not the limpness. After all, his dad was the first farmer to try growing cantaloupes in Canada back in the 1980s. ", "I have many flowers and no fruit. If you're growing cantaloupe in a greenhouse, or live somewhere that bees are scarce, you might need to. Thank you. Often grown in widely spaced enriched hills, or in well-aged compost heaps that include some soil. (Once a fruit is selected, leave it on the plant, so you end up with one fruit from each two week period.). ", "Very helpful for someone planting melons. Fresh picked melons also last for several days in the refrigerator. Cantaloupes are sprawlers, so plant them 36 to 42 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil. My cantaloupes are really producing, but the larger ones are sitting on my concrete. 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. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 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. ", "I just wasn't sure how much to water, and this cleared it up for me. Try smelling them up close and you'll notice a difference when they are ripe. Cantaloupes love very sandy and loamy soil with good drainage, and a pH of around 6. If your melon plants struggle to produce, but you're doing everything by the book, try tilling some cereal rye in plots you plan on growing in for next season about a month before putting your plants in the ground. How to Grow Melons in Canada Grow Your Own Food is an information series on Gardening in Canada that covers every aspect of growing your own food at home. Rows: 2' 11" (90cm) with 2' 11" (90cm) row gap (minimum). Cantaloupe plants need about 85 days to mature, but don't rush planting. 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. This article has been viewed 320,002 times. As they ripen, cantaloupes will start to smell sweeter. When both your soil and seedlings have been prepared, dig holes in the plant bed 3 … How long does it take to produce melons from blossoms? The North American Cantaloupe is now grown in warm regions across Mexico, Canada, and the US. Small melons mature quickly and take up less space compared to varieties that produce huge fruits. You can find everything you want to find out how to do here! Made mistakes, but next year will be better. So I selected the location in my garden where I get the most sun. You can protect the fruit from insects and keep them warm by covering them with chicken wire and netting. You’ll know it’s time to pick the fruit when the color of the rind … Has, "This article gives me a good basis for at least a "fighting chance" to produce some cantaloupe this, "I am a novice gardener and this article was very informative to me in my first attempt at growing cantaloupes. 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. Melons that do not “slip” often sound hollow when tapped, and the skin color takes on a yellowish cast. One of the difficult things about growing cantaloupe directly from seed is that the budding cantaloupe plant looks an awful lot like clover, a weed that you'll want to pick. Is there a way to make my cantaloupe plant self-pollinate? Growing location is very important when growing melons. Today I dusted them with diatomaceous earth and then it rained. For more tips from our Gardener reviewer, including how to recognize pests, read on! ", "Everything! Make sure you wait to put your plants in when the soil is around 65 °F (18 °C). According to William Woys Weaver, author of Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, the Montreal melon was more widely grown in New England, Canada, and the Upper Midwest than honeydew, cantaloupes, or any other muskmelon, “not only because of its large size but because it yielded the best-flavored melons for short-season gardens.” Yellowish or spotted leaves may be a sign of dryness or disease. Is this a problem? Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Pick it when it's mostly yellow but still has some green. Rich soil with plenty of compost added. ". Growing these beauties is fairly easy with the right conditions and a warm, sunny location, and the fruit makes a perfect summertime treat. Some of that needs to go straight to cantaloupe, which in my unpopular opinion, is much tastier than watermelon. If you have some old towels or clothes, just fold them a few times and put them under the melons. Your article taught me when cantaloupes would be ripe, but I also learned much more. 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. Summertime brings too much rain and too much warmth for cantaloupes. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Only pick them off if you don't want any fruit. This way the vine can concentrate on the one fruit, making it sweeter. Melons will take a while to set on the vine, but most of the sugary flavor in a melon can be determined from the leaves. Rich soil with plenty of compost added. 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. Cantaloupes, also known as muskmelons, are available in dozens of cultivated and heirloom varieties, and grow best in hot weather, at least 2-3 months of consistent warmth. Warm up the seedlings for growing in-ground by gradually exposing them outdoors in 10 days. You want to … Growing melons (Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus) inside poses some difficulties, but it is not impossible. Often grown in widely spaced enriched hills, or in well-aged compost heaps that include some soil. Pay particular attention to the time to maturity listed on the seed package. It has a netted skin and is the most widely produced cantaloupe in North America. Single Plants: 2' 11" (90cm) each way (minimum) ", "I thought it was very helpful, and before reading I had no idea how they grew. This article received 18 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This is my first time growing cantaloupes, and I didn't know if I'd have to dig them up like, "I had no information about planting cantaloupes before I read this tutorial. My experience has been the plant thinks it's dying when the vines are clipped, and so things start to ripen rather than grow bigger. Trellising typically only works for smaller melon varieties. Growing Cantaloupe Seedlings In Plant Beds Prepare a soil bed of sandy and loamy soil in the sunniest area in the garden. Do not weed after the fruits have set. Cantaloupes can also be trained on a trellis or fence to save space. A freshly ripened cantaloupe straight from your own garden is one of the summer's greatest pleasures. Approved. Touch the inside of every blossom with a tiny brush. Line organic matter like compost or manure around the root system if they're lagging. Cantaloupe is like candy in melon form. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Ensure that the leaves of the vines are in good condition. Melons grow best in warm weather, with plenty of sunshine and generously-watered soil. I have about 30 growing cantaloupe on about 8 mounds. For some reason, watermelon gets all the summertime hype. Thank you! If you want to save cantaloupe seeds from a particularly-delicious melon for planting, scoop them from the flesh and soak them for two days in cool water, then dry them thoroughly on a paper towel. Fresh melons from you garden taste much better than those found in the grocery store. Use weed killers and chemical pest controls only as a last resort. Whatever variety you choose, you can learn to prep the ground for planting, care for your budding melons, and identify common problems throughout the growing process to give you the best chance for success. This variety takes 80-90 days to mature. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. potatoes, or if they'd come out of the ground. It’s Here! He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The plant needs about 45 to 60 days to grow fruit and about 90 to 115 days for it to blossom. This month, Redawna tells you everything you need to know to grow melons in Canada. Pick up the pollen and transfer it to every flower. With more and more people on the planet, space is at a premium in the garden and out. Should I remove the infected leaves or just hope for the best? A juicy American cantaloupe, that is, becaus… How long does it take for cantaloupe to be ready to harvest? Sow seeds 1 inch deep in rows, or in hills spaced 6 feet apart. How can I stop my vines from dying as soon as the melons start to get ripe? I get asked all the time if growing cantaloupe in a container is possible, and let me tell you, it absolutely is possible. Fruit. The plant needs all of its leaves to create sugars for the melons. Bill says a Canadian-grown cantaloupe is much sweeter than the variety grown in the U.S., but they don’t last as long on the shelf (they’re picked at a much riper stage than melons that have to travel from warmer climes). He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. How do I keep small black ants from burrowing into the fruit? The small sweet fruits of the compact cultivars generally require 60 to 90 days from seed to harvest. They won't. Also, would trimming excessive runners help in making fruit?
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