Don’t plant cantaloupe before the weather warms up in the spring. When sown directly, cantaloupe does best. When soil temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees F, sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date. Plant in well-drained soil and allow the soil to dry out about a week before transplanting into the garden.
Table of Contents
How deep should cantaloupe be planted?
In the hills, sow and plant seeds are 1 inch deep in rows. Thin to two plants per hill after 2 weeks. If you want to prevent insect problems and encourage early growth, cover the seedlings with row cover until they are at least 6 inches tall.
Plant in well-drained soil and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Do not water more than once or twice a week. Keep soil moist, but not soggy, and do not overwater. If soil is too dry, the plants will not be able to take up water and will die.
Are cantaloupes easy to grow?
After all the danger of frost, cantaloupes are an easy growing specialty melon that can be sown after 3-4 weeks before setting out. cantaloupe plants occupy a fair bit of space, so be sure to leave enough room for the plants to spread out and grow The best way to get started is to start with a small amount of seed, then add more as you see fit.
If you have a large garden, you may want to consider starting with more than one plant, as each plant will need to be watered more often than the one before it. It’s also a good idea to keep the soil slightly moist during the growing season, to help prevent root rot.
Should I pinch off cantaloupe flowers?
A small upside-down flower pot will work well. Avoid pinching off shoots because an abundance of healthy leaves will produce sweeter fruit. If you want the best flavor, leave the largest fruit growing on the vine and pinch off any young fruits.
How often do you water cantaloupe?
It takes about 1 to 2 inches of water per week for cantaloupes to grow. To reach that amount, if you don’t receive that much rain weekly, you have to water deeply. Too much water can cause fruit to rot, so gradually reduce and stop watering as the fruit matures.
Will cantaloupe climb a trellis?
The good news is that with a dash of creativity and a dash of careful setup, anyone can train cantaloupe to grow vertically on a trellis of nearly any type.
What can you not plant with cantaloupe?
cantaloupes. Avoid planting cucumbers, watermelons or squash near cantaloupes, as they are susceptible to the disease. Cantaloupe plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. If you choose to grow your own plants, be sure to plant them in a well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter, such as peat moss or compost. You can also plant your plants in containers, but be careful not to over-water them.
Do cantaloupe plants climb?
The tendrils produced by melons will coil around anything they come in contact with. Help the cantaloupe grow vertically by orienting new vines up onto the trellis and twisting these tendrils around the wire or string. Cantaloupes can also be grown from seed, but they are more difficult to grow and require a lot more care.
Seedlings can be planted directly into the ground and will take about a year to reach full size. After that, they will need to be pruned back to about half their original size to prevent them from growing too tall.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female cantaloupe flower?
A stamen is a pollen covered stalk that sticks up in the center of a male melon flower. The sticky knob inside the flower is called a stigma, and the female flower will sit on it. Melons can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seeds are available at most garden centers, or you can make your own seed.
Melons are easy to grow, but they require a lot of care. They need to be kept in a cool, dark place, and they need lots of water. If you are growing melons in containers, make sure they are well-drained to prevent root rot.
