Planting

Cantaloupe

Planting Time Cantaloupe loves warm soil and lots of sunshine. Plant after all danger of frost has skedaddled, and soil temperatures reach at least sixty five degrees. These vines take their sweet time waking up but once they get going, they grow like a cowboy eating a large slice of pie. Starting seeds indoors two to three weeks early helps jump start the season.

Depth & Spacing Sow seeds one inch deep in hills spaced three to four feet apart, or plant in rows with two feet between plants. Cantaloupe vines wander like a curious cowpoke, so give them plenty of room. Crowding leads to tangled vines and small melons-kind of like trying to grow watermelons in a teacup.

Soil & Fertilization These melons thrive in rich, well drained soil boosted with compost. Avoid excessive nitrogen or you will grow lavish, green vines and barely any fruit worth bragging about. Balanced feeding creates sweet, fragrant melons that taste like summer sunshine mixed with a little bit of heaven.

Watering Needs Cantaloupe needs steady moisture early on, especially while vines and fruit are forming. Reduce watering once melons begin to ripen, or the fruit may turn bland. Letting the soil dry slightly between waterings boosts sweetness. Think of it like raising kids-give them a little tough love and they turn out sweeter.

Sunlight Requirements Cantaloupe demands full sun, soaking up six to eight hours each day. Sunshine powers the vines and builds that incomparable sweet flavor. Shade produces weak melons that taste like disappointment. Give them all the sun they want and they will reward you generously.

Harvesting Harvest cantaloupe when the skin turns tan and netted, and the fruit slips off the vine with gentle pressure. A ripe cantaloupe smells sweet at the blossom end, like a natural perfume. Only melons can make. Pick at peak ripeness and enjoy within a day or two for maximum flavor.

Captain Greenhouse Tip Place straw or boards under developing melons to keep them clean and dry. Prune secondary vines to direct energy into fruit production. And remember-cantaloupe is a showoff. The more sun and space you give it, the sweeter it becomes. Grow a few and you will be the undisputed melon master of the neighborhood.