Using pruning shears, cut lateral vines that grow from the primary up to the eighth leaf node. Take care not to damage the main stem when cutting back the cantaloupe plants. Leave 1-2 lateral vines untouched. Once the melons begin to form, remove all but a single fruit per vine.
When should cantaloupe be cut?
In fact, most cantaloupes are ready to be picked once they’re fully ripened, changing from green to a tan or yellowish-gray color between the netting. A ripe melon will also exhibit a sweet and pleasant aroma. One way to tell if a melon is overripe is by looking at the rind, which will appear quite yellow and soft.
Should I pinch off cantaloupe flowers?
Avoid pinching off shoots because an abundance of healthy leaves will produce sweeter fruit.
Do you prune melon vines?
Pruning watermelons promotes healthier vines and increases fruit size. Look for irregular or rotting fruit to prune from the plant. Removing the less than perfect melons will enable the plant to focus energy towards growing bigger, healthier, juicier melons.
How many cantaloupes do you get off of one plant?
Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.
How can you tell when a cantaloupe is ripe and sweet?
Smell the fruit.
When shopping at the grocery store for cantaloupe, smell the cantaloupe to determine if it is ripe. A ripe melon has a sweet smell that’s fruity and a little musky.
Will cantaloupe ripen off the vine?
Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Therefore, flavor will not improve nor will they become sweeter—t is what it is at harvest. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest.
Should I prune cantaloupe vines?
Try to avoid pruning your cantaloupe vines unless you absolutely have to. If you’ve provided plenty of space for them to grow, the only times you should need to prune are when there is pest or disease damage to remove. If you can manage it, only allow one fruit per stem, and no more than 5-6 per plant in total.
How can you tell if a cantaloupe flower is male or female?
The male flower on the cantaloupe plant has an open stalk in the center of the flower called a stamen. The stamen is where the pollen resides. The female flower on the cantaloupe plant will be on the top of a very small melon. It will have a knob called a stigma inside.
How often should you water cantaloupe plants?
Cantaloupes need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week. If you don’t receive that much rain weekly, water deeply, but infrequently, to reach that amount. As fruits mature, gradually reduce and stop watering, since too much moisture can cause the rinds to split.
Do cantaloupe come back every year?
They grow best in warm climates and the plants will need a longer growing season than watermelons. Cantaloupes are part of the same plant family as cucumbers, pumpkins and squash and they’re annuals so you’ll need to plant new seeds every year.
How do you know when a melon is done growing?
The spot where the fruit touches the ground becomes more prominent and changes color (typically yellow). The tendril closest to the fruit becomes brown and dries up. Ripe melons have a hollow, dull sound. The sheen of the rind tends to change slightly with maturity, but this is variety dependent.
What do you put under cantaloupe?
Before planting your cantaloupe, use a loamy soil enriched with well-rotted compost or aged manure to make sure your melon has plenty of nutrients to feed on throughout its growing season. Cantaloupes prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil, between 6.0 and 6.8 pH.
Can you plant cantaloupe in the same spot every year?
1 Don’t Plant Cantaloupes in the Same Place Two Years in a Row. Not only should you avoid consistently planting cantaloupes in the same location of your garden each year, but you should also avoid planting pumpkins, squash, and any other member of the cucumber family in the same location each year.
Why are my cantaloupe plants not producing fruit?
The most common reason why cantaloupes will flower but not fruit is that they aren’t getting pollinated. While perfect flowers don’t need external pollination, the other female flowers on the plant do. Of course, there’s no substitute for bees when it comes to pollination.
What’s the best month to plant cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe does best when direct sown. Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65℉. In the low desert of Arizona, the best time to plant cantaloupe is from February 15 through July.
How do you make cantaloupe sweeter?
Heat brings out melons’ sweetness, so make sure to plant them in a location that warms up early in spring and stays hot through the end of September. The south side of a fence or wall is ideal as the structure will absorb heat and light from the sun and reflect it back onto the melons.
How can you tell a good cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.
Why are my cantaloupes not sweet?
According to Penn Live, cantaloupes grow without ripening much at all until they are almost ready to pick. The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they won’t have that sweet, summery flavor you expect.
Can dogs eat cantaloupe?
So, can dogs eat cantaloupe? Yes, in moderation. The tasty melon is safe for pups and can be a healthy alternative to traditional treats, especially if your dog is overweight. Even the seeds are harmless, but you should avoid feeding them to your dog intentionally, as they can be a choking hazard.
What does a yellow cantaloupe mean?
Meanwhile, yellow is a sign indicating that cantaloupes are ripe. However, you may notice that some melons’ rind remains green after ripen, or even after being spoiled. This is more often related to the U.S cantaloupe since some new species have been created to prevent discoloration.