By Jennifer Poindexter
Are you interested in growing cantaloupe in your base garden ? Are you concerned that you might make a few mistakes along the way ?
First of all , mistake are n’t a bad thing . They ’re a great manner to watch how to be a good nurseryman in the future .
However , there are a few common error many masses make when they first begin growing cantaloupe .
I ’m run to cover up these with you , so hopefully you may avoid a few unnecessary scholarship curves through this process .
Here are some common misunderstanding you ’ll want to ward off when spring up cantaloup :
1. Sowing Seeds When It’s Too Cold
Some people get ahead of themselves whenplanting cantaloupe . These are warm conditions crops that should n’t be embed until the threat of frost is over .
If you ’re plant cantaloup vine from semen , be sure that the dirt is approximately 70 - degree Fahrenheit or above . This should be warm enough to boost sprouting . If not , this could reduce the sprouting pace importantly .
2. Planting in the Shade
Along with cantaloupe being a warm atmospheric condition crop , it love the sunlight . When planting cantaloupe , select a growing fix with full sunshine .
This equates to the plant life have around eight hours of direct sunlight each twenty-four hour period . Without this amount of light , it could lead to sickly industrial plant and invite potential result with pests and disease .
3. Using the Wrong Soil to Grow Cantaloupe
The next thing to avoid is the wrong type of soil . Cantaloupe plants need well - debilitate , fertile soil . It ’s important that the soil can retain necessary moisture .
However , you do n’t require the basis around the plants to stay miry . This could cause the root word of the plant to suffocate . Whengrowing cantaloup vine , see the roots have the wet they need while supernumerary moisture chop-chop run out away .
4. You Don’t Provide Support for Your Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe plants give rise vines and round fruits . Both of which can be impacted if the plants are n’t provided the right support .
When growing cantaloupe , ensure you either supply three feet of space between each plant or supply a sturdy trellis . This will keep your garden neat and also keep the yield off the earth to avoid rot .
5. You Forget to Fertilize Your Cantaloupe
It ’s authoritative to remediate your dirt prior to planting Cucumis melo cantalupensis . This is to supply a boost of nutrients that will extend the plants through until they begin producing vines .
At this gunpoint , it ’s prison term to add a balanced fertilizer to your plants . The type of fertilizer will determine how frequently it must be apply .
Water soluble fertilizers should be applied twice per month . gritty fertilizers only involve to be applied once every two months .
Once you resolve on the type of fertilizer you ’ll employ , you may create a schedule which will help to check the plants have what they ask throughout the raise season .
6. Watering the Cantaloupe Wrong
Cucumis melo cantalupensis demand water , but it must be go for the correct way and at the right times . When watering cantaloupe , it ’s secure to irrigate the plant deeply .
This means you ’ll irrigate the plants for longer periods of time , few day of the week . They ’ll need approximately one to two inches of water each calendar week from you or nature .
Should you water the plant deeply , this allows the pee to reach the roots while also saturating the basis around them .
As the days progress and the plant life necessitate more water , they ’ll dig their roots into the soil to remember it . In turn , this creates a stronger ascendant system and should liken to levelheaded plants overall .
However , it ’s vital that you intercept watering cantaloupe one to two weeks prior to crop as this can lead to the melons rive before they ’re harvested .
7. Ignoring Pests and Diseases
Cantaloupe are prone to a few blighter and disease . The most rough-cut are typically fusarium wilt , powdery mildew , and aphids .
Do n’t ignore these topic as they ’ll only grow worse without treatment . Should you spot fusarium wilt in your Cucumis melo cantalupensis plant , immediately pull them up and demolish them .
These plant should n’t be compost as this will only transpose the disease to other plants , and there is no cure for fusarium wilting at this time .
Powdery mould is another plebeian disease . Should you spot this outlet , be sure to regale your plants with a fungicide .
You should also ensure the cantaloupes are grow in an area with ample sunlight and well - enfeeble dirt as fungal diseases form in pure , cold areas .
Also , be indisputable to water your plant earlier in the day . This will allow the leaves to dry before the cool night air sets in .
Last , if you spot aphid , be sure to plow your plant with an insecticide . You may also spray them with soapy water as another mode to bump off the pests from the area .
These are a few of the most mutual issues cantaloupes human face . Should you notice any issue with your plants , take legal action quickly to catch things before they grow out of hand .
8. Pruning Your Cantaloupe Plants
Cantaloupe is one plant which does n’t flourish from pruning . The leaf of these plant are where the simoleons are made for the melons .
By trim back the leaves , you ’re reducing the amount of sugar in the plant which could have a negative impact on the flavor of your crop .
Therefore , if your cantaloupe works are getting out of ascendency , consider using a treillage to contain them . You may also chalk this up to a learning experience and sleep with to either provide more blank between plants the next yr or to plant less .
9. Allowing Each Cantaloupe to Grow
You might think more is better when growing cantaloup , but this is n’t the case . Each plant should only be able to produce five or fewer fruits .
It ’s almost like yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . You should n’t permit all the fruit ripen as this decreases the overall timber of your harvest .
Therefore , pick the five best cantaloupe on the plant life and slay the rest . This allow the flora to stream all of its energy into the remaining yield .
Should you allow for all the fruit to develop , it can impact the flavor of your harvest . Less is more when develop cantaloup .
10. Harvesting Cantaloupe Too Soon
The last misapprehension you’re able to make when growing cantaloupe is harvesting the melons too soon . Cantaloupe smack best when it ’s countenance to ripen on the vine .
When the melons set out to turn a wan yellow , you ’ll know they are close to reap . Most variety grown today will slip from the vine easily when they ’re quick to harvest .
Should you beak a cantaloupe and realize it is n’t fully ripe , reserve it to sit at room temperature for 48 60 minutes . If you place it inside a report bagful , it will accelerate up the ripening cognitive process .
If all of your melon vine are perfectly advanced , post them in your refrigerator for up to five twenty-four hours . This provides the right temperature and humidity for the fruit to last longer .
Take these tips into circumstance when decide when the correct clip should be to harvest your homegrown cantaloup .
You now have ten fault you should strain to invalidate when raise cantaloupe vine . Hopefully , these tips will help you avoid some defeat .
It ’s hard when growing something novel because you put forth a lot of effort and sometimes small thing impact your harvesting . continue alert to these likely pitfall and hopefully you ’ll have a delicious harvest to love .
Learn More About Growing Cantaloupe
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/cantaloupe-production.html
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-melons-home-garden
