
If growing melons on a trellis, support fruit with slings made from netting, fabric, or pantyhose. To prevent insect damage to developing fruits, place melons on pots or pieces of wood. Once fruits are about the size of a tennis ball, only water if soil is dry and leaves show signs of wilting. Plants require consistent moisture until pollination. Good pollination is critical to fruit set. If using fabric row covers, remove at flowering to allow pollination by bees. Mulch plants after soil has warmed to help maintain consistent moisture and suppress weeds. Keep soil intact around plant when transplanting. Transplants are delicate and roots are sensitive to disturbance. Transplant at same spacings as direct-seeded crops - 2 to 3 plants per hill in hills spaced 4 to 6 feet apart, or 1 to 2 feet apart in rows 5 feet apart. Plants should have one or two true leaves when transplanted. In many areas, successful crops require starting plants indoors, using plastic mulch to warm soil, and fabric row covers to protect young transplants.įor transplanting, sow seeds indoors ¼ inch deep in peat pots (2-inch square or bigger), 2 to 4 weeks before setting out. Sandy or light-textured soils that warm quickly in spring are best. Consider using black plastic and fabric row covers to speed soil warming. Soil temperatures below 50 F slow growth. Consistent, plentiful moisture needed until fruit is about the size of a tennis ball. Prefers warm, well-drained, soil, high in organic matter with pH 6.5 to 7.5. Can plant at closer spacings if trellised. Plant ½ inch deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills 4 to 6 feet apart or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. To ensure ripening in areas with shorter growing seasons and cooler weather, choose fast-maturing varieties, start plants inside, use black or IRT plastic mulch to warm soil and use fabric row covers to protect plants.ĭirect-seed 1 to 2 weeks after average last frost when soil is 70 F or warmer.

If you have long, hot growing seasons, melons can direct-seed into garden. If possible, transplant on an overcast day to minimize wilting and create a more amenable environment for your young plant. Transplant to permanent site in late spring after the last frost has passed. Harden plant by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions. Once the first set of true leaves has developed, reduce waterings once more, but do not allow plant to become desiccated. Once seeds start to germinate, lower soil temp slightly to the mid 70s, for 1-2 weeks, also decreasing water. Keep the soil between 80-90 degrees, using a heat mat if necessary. Additionally, melon seeds will show better germination rates with heat. Keep medium moist while awaiting germination. Sow seeds ½" deep in flats or small pots, sowing 3 seeds per pot. Have you ever thought about growing your own tea garden? How about your own home-grown, tax-free tobacco? Heirloom Organics makes gardening easy.Īs they require a long growing season, melons are best started indoors approximately 3 weeks prior to the last frost of the season. Have a high nutrient vegetable garden on your windowsill this week! Want to grow culinary and medicinal herbs? Click those links to buy seeds and this link to learn to grow them! It’s that simple. Getting cabin fever? Can't wait to get to that Spring gardening? Grow indoors right now with the Complete Micro Greens Growing Kit or the Micro Greens Seed Pack. Did you know that many vegetables can be sprouted or grown as micro-greens for high-nutrient super-foods? Try our sprouts packs here with the 3-Day Independence Sprouts Pack.

Growing fruit is easy and fun! Buy heirloom fruit seeds here and start today! See our complete fruit growing guide here.

Cantaloupe melons often range between 1-11 pounds in weight, and share many of the same growing preferences as other melons.

As orange-fleshed melon began to increase in popularity, 'cantaloupe' came to be used somewhat interchangeably with other terms, among them muskmelon, rockmelon and others. In times past, it referred only to those smooth, non-netted varieties native to Europe. Varieties: Crenshaw, Hales Best, Imperial 45, Iroquois, Mushmelon, Muskmelon, Persian, Rockmelon, Top MarkĬantaloupe generally refers to any melon with the familiar orange, juicy flesh.
#Cantaloupe seedlings how to#
How to Grow Cantaloupe | Guide to Growing Cantaloupe
