As you have discovered, many crops including melons such as honeydew, Crenshaw and cantaloupe melons may be susceptible to sunburn. Ideally, the plant will produce leaves large and dense enough to protect the fruit from sunscald.
Do cantaloupes like the sun?
From Seedlings and Transplanting
Pick a sunny spot for planting, as melons need eight to ten hours of full sun in order to thrive. You’ll first need to make sure that the soil in your raised beds or old-fashioned row garden is loose, well-draining, and ready for the melons.
Are cantaloupes heat tolerant?
Slow growth occurs below 15.6°C (60°F), and optimal growth occurs from 29.4-35°C (85-95°F), yet cantaloupe can tolerate temperatures greater than 40°C (104°F).
Can cantaloupe get sunburned?
Sunburn is a significant problem in melons, particularly if the area of the melon which is in contact with the soil is left exposed to sunlight.
Is cantaloupe full sun?
Cantaloupe Planting Basics
Plant cantaloupe seeds in full sun in well-drained soil. They’ll need about 85 days to mature, but don’t rush things.
Do cantaloupes need a lot of water?
Water cantaloupe deeply and infrequently, 1-2 inches per week. Use drip irrigation if possible. Mulch around the plants will help conserve soil moisture and reduce weed growth. Irrigate so that moisture goes deeply into the soil.
Why are my cantaloupe leaves turning yellow?
If the yellowing is on leaf edges it most commonly is due to salt effects and fungicides. Copper fungicides are often the culprit in this leaf yellowing, causing a phytotoxic reaction. Foliar fertilizer applications can often worsen the yellowing by increasing salt levels on the leaves.
What is the maximum temp for cantaloupe?
Store cantaloupes ideally at 36 to 41 °F with a relative humidity of 95%. Under these conditions, cantaloupes are acceptable for up to 3 weeks. Cantaloupes stored at refrigeration temperatures below 41 °F will have approximate shelf life of up to 5 days.
Where does cantaloupe grow best?
Plant cantaloupe in an area with warm soil (70°F+) and plenty of sun. Cantaloupes are sprawlers, so plant them 36 to 42 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil. 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.
How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?
Melons are closely related to cucumbers and require similar growing conditions to thrive. To grow them successfully you need to provide them with warmth, water and food. They can be quite vigorous, so regular pruning is needed to keep them under control. Each plant should produce two to four melons.
What fruit can get sunburned?
Sunburn is most prevalent on days with high temperatures, clear skies and high light radiation. We commonly see sunburn in watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, apples, strawberries, and brambles (raspberries and blackberries). There are three types of sunburn which may have effects on the fruits.
How do you protect cantaloupe?
The optimal relative humidity is 95 to 100 percent, which prevents drying. If possible, place cantaloupe in the refrigerator crisper, where the humidity tends to be higher. Under these conditions, freshly harvested cantaloupe, picked at full slip, lasts about 5 to 15 days, depending on variety and growing conditions.
How do I protect my plants from sunburn?
Try applying a “sunblock,” like mulch, that will prevent moisture from escaping the ground around your plants. Mulch will also help protect your plants by absorbing sunlight before it can hit the soil. Some fertilizers can serve a similar purpose.
How do you make cantaloupe sweeter when growing?
8 Tips for Growing The Sweetest Melons
- Start with the Sweetest Varieties.
- Sow Seeds Early.
- Find Your Warmest Microclimate.
- Accentuate the Sun’s Rays.
- Don’t Crowd Your Melons.
- Sweetness Starts in the Soil.
- Water Heavily – But not During Ripening.
- Pick at the Pinnacle of Ripeness.
Should you prune cantaloupe plants?
As mentioned, pruning cantaloupe plants isn’t absolutely necessary and, in fact, the more leaves that remain on the vine the sweeter the fruit. That said, cutting back cantaloupe plants results in fewer fruit which enables the plant to put all of its energy into a scant few, resulting in larger melons.
Why are my cantaloupe plants not producing fruit?
The most likely cause of such fruit problems on squash, muskmelons (cantaloupe), cucumbers, watermelons and other cucurbit vegetables is a lack of pollination. These plants have separate male flowers (bloom attached by a small, thin stalk) and female flowers (small fruit at base of bloom).
What is best fertilizer for cantaloupes?
For seeded or transplanted cantaloupes, apply 100 to 150 pounds per acre of a pop-up fertilizer such as 10-34-0 to enhance early growth, especially in cool/cold soils early in the spring. Pop-up fertilizer should be banded 2 to 3 inches to the side of the row and 2 to 3 inches below the seeds or roots.
Do cantaloupes like coffee grounds?
Coffee grounds increase the taste of Cantaloupes. Nutrients in the coffee grounds are phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper.
How often should you fertilize cantaloupe?
Apply a Fertilizer
Fertilize once every two weeks with half-strength fish emulsion fertilizer when the first two or three leaves have developed on the seedlings.
What is killing my cantaloupe?
Several types of bugs, like whiteflies, cucumber beetle and squash bugs, can kill cantaloupe plants if uncontrolled.
What do you put under cantaloupe?
Mulch not only keeps the soil warm, which these plants enjoy, but it helps retain moisture, minimizes weed growth, and keeps fruit off the soil (of course, you can set them on small pieces of board too). While many people prefer to use plastic mulch when they grow cantaloupes, you can use straw as well.