Cantaloupes need a lot of water, so keep soil moist and avoid wetting the leaves—soaker hoses and drip irrigation are best. Mulch well and eliminate weeds early so vines can run freely. Protect young fruits by getting them off the ground. A small upside-down flower pot will work well.
Should cantaloupe plants be pruned?
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.
How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?
Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.
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.
What is the best fertilizer for cantaloupe?
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.
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.
Do cantaloupe come back every year?
A: Unfortunately, cantaloupes are an annual and will die off once the vine has finished producing its melons.
How long does it take for a cantaloupe to mature?
Cantaloupe Planting Basics
They’ll need about 85 days to mature, but don’t rush things. Sow seeds only when temperatures reliably stay above 50°F to 60°F. Plant in groups of two or three seeds spaced 2 feet apart.
How much room does a cantaloupe plant need?
Grow cantaloupe in rows spaced 3 to 4 feet apart or in “hills” with groups of 2 or 3 plants per “hill”. Cantaloupes can also be trained on a trellis or fence to save space.
How often do you water a cantaloupe?
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.
What is the best fertilizer for melons?
When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
How do you grow a big cantaloupe?
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.
Are coffee grounds good for cantaloupe?
Coffee Grinds as Melon Fertilizer? Old coffee grinds really do enhance the flavor of many crops, cantaloupe, tomatoes, melons.
When should I fertilize my cantaloupe plants?
You should not be fertilizing cantaloupe until after the plant is at least 4 inches tall. At this point, you can apply a dose of balanced fertilizer. If you want to use granule type fertilizer, choose one with a 10-10-10 or 5-5-5.
Why are the leaves on my cantaloupe plants turning yellow?
The most common cause of yellowing cantaloupe leaves is overwatering. When the plant’s soil is saturated with water, it cannot receive as much oxygen as it needs. The roots will become ineffective at absorbing water and nutrients from the soil, and thus the plant’s ability to produce chlorophyll is impaired.
What can you not plant near cantaloupe?
Some of the best companion plants for cantaloupes include marigolds, nasturtiums, radishes, and lettuce. Avoid planting cucumbers, watermelons or squash near cantaloupes, as they are susceptible to the same pests!
What is eating my cantaloupe at night?
Animals such as squirrels, chipmunks, deer and woodchucks enjoy puncturing and eating melon crops. Coyotes and domesticated dogs also enjoy biting into sweet melons. Raccoons and birds make holes in the tops of melons and scoop or suck juices from the fruit’s inside.
How do I keep bugs off my cantaloupe?
- Thwarting bugs from reaching your melons in the first place is just as much a part of organic gardening as natural killing methods.
- A spray made from kaolin clay is another effective, nonchemical repellant, as is a homemade spray water spray infused with chopped garlic or chili peppers.
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.
Where do cantaloupes grow best?
To produce the best melons, the plants need all the light they can get. Plus, afternoon sun will dry off leaves, reducing the risk of fungal diseases that comes with wet foliage. Cantaloupes do best in well-draining soil that’s a mix between loamy and sandy.
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.