Cucumis melovar.reticulatus
Cantaloupe is like confect in melon form .
For some reason , watermelon vine gravel all the summer hoopla . Some of that needs to go straight to cantaloupe , which in my unpopular judgment , is much tasty than watermelon .
With a strange texture , slimy seed , and an abundance of , well , sloppiness , the watermelon just is n’t my character of fruit . Cantaloupe , though , is one of my favorites .
Photo by Laura Melchor.
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A juicy American cantaloupe vine , that is , because I ’ve never strain the European kind . There are differences , which we ’ll talk about in a mo .
No melon can overreach the sweet orangish anatomy of the cantaloup vine . It ’s intensely sweet , but healthy too , with full-bodied levels of vitamins A and C , K , folate , and beta carotene .
Photo by Laura Melchor.
Because I love cantaloupe so much , I decided to grow it here in Alaska . Seeing how this fruit thrives in balmy summer climate , this is an audacious choice .
But I must have garden - grown cantaloupe .
palpate the same way ? Read on !
What You’ll Learn
Cultivation and History
This delicious fruit belongs to the genusCucumisand is a appendage of theCucurbitaceae , or gourd family .
Pumpkins , squash , honeydew , andzucchiniare also genius extremity . Grown as a summertime annual inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 to 10 , the fruit develop on a trailing vine , which can cultivate up a trellis to save outer space .
Most varieties mature in 65 to 90 solar day and produce orotund fruits that consider up to four British pound sterling each .
Cantaloupe melon are a variety of themuskmelon , C. melo , and the name “ cantaloupe ” refer specifically to the North American varietyC. melovar.reticulatus , and the European case , C. melovar.cantalupensis .
This orange tree - fleshed fruit is known as rockmelon in Australia and New Zealand , and spanspek in South Africa .
former reading of the melon vine originated in Persia , India , and the hem in area , and then in the 1700s seeds from Armenia contributed to the finish of the European cantaloupe we experience and sleep with .
The name come from one of the first places to rise this version , Cantalupo , a Ithiel Town near Rome where the Pope savor a villa retreat .
As for the North American variety , Columbus brought seeded player of other cultivars on his 1494 ocean trip to the new world , and introduce them to the Americas .
In 1881 , the W. Atlee Burpee company cultivated the North American variety as we know it today , calling it the “ Netted Gem , ” for its webbed pelt and deliciously odorous yield .
In their 1896 book , “ Vegetables for the Home Garden,”available at Amazon , the author writes , “ Burpee ’s webby Gem was first named and introduced by us 15 days ago . In shape this melon is almost a perfect globe , with green cutis , regularly make fun , and thickly netted . ”
veggie for the Home Garden
A decent blow from the yesteryear that first sentence is !
Today , masses all over the mankind favor cantaloup vine over watermelon vine – oh wait , maybe that ’s just me ! – and expend it in yield salads , twine it in prosciutto for a democratic antipasti , and eat it on the rind for a delicious summertime snack . you’re able to also blackguard and snack on the seeds .
Propagation
you’re able to get this yield from come indoors or alfresco , or from seedlings purchased at a garden heart .
In the Second Earl of Guilford , with the short growing season , it ’s an ideal summer harvest as long as it ’s become some help to stay warm .
southerly states can grow the melon earlier in the spring or even during the fall in some areas .
From Seed
Those of you who live in insensate climates , like I do , shouldsow seeds indoorsat least four workweek before your average last frost escort .
Since melon vine demand a recollective growing time of year , and take time to mature , a head start like this helps ensure that you ’ll get to harvest your melon vine before fall frosts kill the plants .
In warm climates , you may seed germ directly alfresco as soon as all risk of rime has passed .
In somewhere like Florida , plant as early on as February or March . Those in Zones 9 , 10 , and 11 can even sow seeds in the fall for a wintertime crop .
Most cantaloupe cultivars take between 65 to 90 twenty-four hour period from germination to reach matureness , so let that be your guide .
To seed in source trays , add a good quality potting mix to each cell and then use your finger to make a 1/2 - in - deep hole in each one .
Add two to three come per golf hole , and ensure you place the pointy end of the source down .
The roots emerge from the point , and while they may still sprout if you place them rounded - side - down , the seedling will have to work that much hard to figure out which agency is up and which is down .
Trust me on this one . Embarrassingly , I ascertain this lesson the arduous way .
Tamp the filth back over the seed and give it a gracious misting with a spraying feeding bottle or a blue watering with a watering can .
If your come tray number with a hat , that ’s helpful as it helps to trap in moisture , result in the perfect humidity for sprouting .
you may also apply a bed of plastic wrapper to attain a similar effect , but be indisputable to remove it as presently as source germinate .
sprouting commonly takes about a week , sometimes longer if soil conditions are n’t quite at 70 ° F . you could practice heat mat to ensure the territory bide at a consistent 70 ° F – the ideal temperature for sprouting .
ensure to keep that spray bottle nearby – cantaloupe seedlings demand unremitting moisture in the early days .
A few day after sprouting , thin to one seedling per cell , keeping the one that search the strong .
Keep your source trays near a gay window or place them under a grow light .
Once they ’ve got two or three lot of true leaves , you ’ll need to harden them off for seven to 10 days before transplanting outside .
A quick note : sometimes the seed casing wo n’t come off the seedling immediately it pushes out of the terra firma , particularly if you unintentionally imbed the seedling the wrong way up .
If these casings do n’t come down off within a couple days , gently tug them off with your fingers . Leaving them on can inhibit the plant ’s growth .
Those of you inhabit in warm climates can direct seed outdoors in full sun as before long as the danger of frost has devolve .
To sow in open , plant three seeds in 1/2 - inch - deep holes , 18 to 24 column inch apart . Keep them evenly moist until sprouting .
Once seedlings have two set of reliable farewell , thin them so that there ’s only one plant every 18 to 24 inch .
From Seedlings and Transplanting
Did you pick up a tray of jump at your local nursery ? Or are your seedlings big enough to transpose out ? Here ’s how to check that they settle nicely into your garden .
Pick a sunny smudge for planting , as melon need eight to ten hours of full sun in society to thrive .
You ’ll first involve to make certain that the filth in yourraised bedsor old - fashioned row garden is loose , well - draining , and ready for the melon .
Raised Bed Recharge
I wish to amend garden soil with well - rotted manure and compost , or with a food - racy recruit bottom soil like this one fromthe Home Depot .
Next , stab a hole the sizing of the root word ball , lay the plant inside the hole , backfill with soil , and water thoroughly . Space each plant 18 to 24 inches aside .
How to Grow
cantaloupe vine grow better in organically rich , well - drain soil , with a mildly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5 . You canconduct a land testand amend consequently .
While cantaloupes screw warmth , they do n’t enjoy too much of it . If the temperatures rise above 95 to 100 ° F or so for several days in a row , your plant might get tippy and have its flowers shine .
To serve keep the plant well-chosen during heat waves , mulch with strawor other light - colored cloth to keep the root cool .
As for those of us in insensate climes , we ’ll require to do everything in our power to keep our melons warm .
First , head off setting plants out until the soil temperature is a reliable 70 ° F.Using raised bedsfor cantaloup help , because the soil in raised bed and container often unfreeze originally than the ground .
Another important step ? Mulch with black landscape gardening fabric , or dark - colored bark chips . Only use dark mulch in colder growing zones , though , or the plants may overheat .
For additional heat , you could insert hoops andfloating row coversover your garden to do as a greenhouse during the early days of growth .
You ’ll require to remove the cover as presently as out-of-door temperatures remain above 50 ° farad at nighttime , especially as your cantaloupe begins to flower – usually about 30 to 40 days after germination .
The row covers can keep out bees and other pollinator needed to make that delicious yield .
Another important constituent of a happy cantaloupe is to keep it well watered , especially in the growing and inflorescence stage .
During this point of its growth , it ’ll take one to two inches of water per week . debar watering from above to prevent the leaf getting wet and potentially spreading disease .
To determine soil wet , stick your finger an inch down into the soil . If it feels ironic , it ’s sentence to append piss .
But once the vines have set fruit , it ’s time to surmount back the lachrymation a snatch to just one column inch per week .
As the melon vine get near to maturation , provide just half an column inch of water supply a week . Too much water at this point can cause the rinds to tumefy and snag .
Cantaloupe vine spread wide-cut and thick , so if you ’ve got special space , apply a plant support to encourage them to rise upwards .
A tomato cage can bring , as can a treillage , a simple tent made of four bamboo pole tie together at the top , or a vertical growing frame .
Just be sure to provide support for the hang melon vine once they ’re about the size of it of a fist .
habituate sometime pantyhose if you have some on hand , or lacy , stretchy produce udder , like these onesavailablefrom Amazon .
Support Bags for Growing Melons
check that that the material you use is breathable . You do n’t want to accidentally rot the melon vine by stick them in a plastic bag .
Simply put the net around the melon and tie it to the treillage , frame , or pole . As the melon vine grows , the sling will expand and support it so that it does not break the vine .
Also , remember to trim the vines to advance the plant to focalize its energy on do cock-a-hoop , juicy melons .
Likestrawberries , melon vine mail out runners .
To get orotund melon , trim each plant life at the leafage node just past the one bearing the yield and moot only keep open two to three fruits on each plant .
The plant will then put all of its energy into growing those fruits to a nice , large size .
But if you do n’t mind little melons and want a fuller crop , you may let the vine grow as they will and only trim them back if they are spilling over the border of your raise seam or encroaching on other plant .
As icy twilight weather approaches and your melon vine begin mature , pinch off any young flower to allow the energy to sharpen on ripening exist yield .
Growing Tips
Cultivars to Select
Here are my preferent cantaloupe varieties for your home garden :
Hearts of Gold
This sweet , medium - sized cantaloupe grows well in Zones 3 to 10 , which is why I select it for my Alaska garden . Back in the 1900s , when it was cultivated , this was the most popular commercial-grade melon in the United States .
It ’ll senesce within 80 to 90 days and weigh in at two to three pounds . vine will circularise up to 72 inches and grow 15 to 18 inches tall .
‘ Hearts of Gold ’
With just a touch of ribbing and a thin , weblike rind , this is a classic cultivar to fit those of us who adore super - dulcet melon vine . Plus , they ’re resistant to one of cantaloupe ’s most prolific diseases : powdery mildew .
Find mail boat of 50 seedsat Burpeeor up to one Ezra Loomis Pound of seedsat True Leaf Market .
Honey Rock
For a big , three- to four - pound ravisher with honeyed , plenteous flesh , try ‘ Honey Rock , ’ an heirloom cultivar that matures in 75 to 90 Day .
Hardy to zone 4 to 11 , these scrumptious melons were winners of the All - American Selection Gold Medal in 1933 , for their full-bodied size and sweet flavour .
‘ Honey Rock ’
see anything from a small packet to a five - pound sack of organic seedsat Eden Brothers .
Minnesota Midget
Perfect for those in dusty climes – or for container ontogenesis – ‘ Minnesota Midget ’ ( C. melovar.cantalupensis ) matures in just 65 days and is hardy to Zones 3 to 10 .
Introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1948 , the vines bring on sweet-smelling , juicy , four - in fruits and plant life are resistant to fusarium wilting .
‘ Minnesota Midget ’
Unlike other variety , the vines only spread up to three feet . Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight scrumptious melon vine .
Find seeds todayavailable at Eden Brothers .
Managing Pests and Disease
Cantaloupe is n’t terribly susceptible to pests and disease , but there are a few different critters and maladies to watch out for .
have ’s take a flavor .
Insects
Which bugs gravel cantaloupes the most ? These four pesky creatures .
Becauseof course .
What leafy thing is resistant from this persistent pestilence ? Not just any aphids love this melon vine , though : peach aphids ( Myzus persicae ) , which are unripened to yellowish - brownness , and melon vine aphids ( Aphis gossypii ) , which are creamy blank .
While small , they ’re easily visible on leaves upon close inspection . Aphids soak up the sap out of the leaf , causing them to wrench white-livered or stop growing . They also contribute to the cattle ranch of mosaic virus .
If your outbreak is limited to a few sturdy vines , you could hose the bug off with H2O and sprinklediatomaceous earthatop the fallen pests , and on the soil around your plant .
or else , spray the plant with neem fossil oil or insecticidal liquid ecstasy – or make your cantaloup vine patch a well-chosen abode for ladybird beetle , abeneficial insectthat rust aphids .
These rather beautiful beetles arrive in three pertinent forms : the Western striped cucumber vine beetle ( Acalymma vittata ) , the Western spot cucumber beetle ( Diabrotica undecimpunctata ) , and the ring cucumber beetle ( Diabrotica balteata ) .
These brightly colored bugs can damage vines and leaf and chip in to bacterial guff . They also munch on the fruit and lead behind ugly scrape .
The best way to manage them is to apply kaolin Henry Clay or neem petroleum to the affected areas ( and entrance them early before they spread ! ) .
These plump , segmented , dark-brown worms ( I ’m shiver as I compose this ) can vote out cantaloupe seedlings and eat holes through the melons . Not cool !
Cutworms , Peridroma saucia , are most active at night , and in the daytime these one- to two - inch beasties curl up and shroud in the grease at the Qaeda of the plant . They know they ’re not welcome .
To control them , hired hand - pick them off your plants at night ( fun , fun ! ) or spread diatomaceous worldly concern all around the base of the flora .
you could also sample spraying neem oil color or insecticidal soap on the affected areas .
interpret more about cutworm ascendency in our guide .
The most dreaded pest to melon - growers around the human beings , the squash hemipterous insect ( Anasa trisis ) feeds on the parting , turning them speckled and brown , and causes vines to droop and even die . It also kill otherwise hefty , ripening yield .
Nymphs are greenish with calamitous peg ; adults are gray - black - brownish .
Diatomaceous earthcan help kill or slow the spread of these withering bug , but some determined gardener actually use a blotto - dry vacuum to suck them off the vine , leaves , and fruit .
cantaloup grown on a fence or treillage can sometimes take to the woods infestation , so that ’s something to consider .
Find more tips on combating squelch bug here .
Disease
mark off your plant life day by day to make certain they are n’t develop symptoms of any of these five vulgar cantaloupe maladies .
If you live in a hot , humid , showery area , check out for Alternaria leaf blight caused byAlternaria cucumerina . This fungous infection begins as lowly icteric - brown spots on the old leave and circularize to new ontogenesis .
It can also taint the fruit , causing it to crack .
To prevent this unpleasant fungus , annul overhead watering and consider covering your crops with rainproof tarp if plastered conditions last longer than a duo days . Use fungicide on involve plants .
This bothersome fungal disease is caused byPseudoperonospora cubensis . Brown daub appear on leave , finally killing them .
debar overhead irrigation and deal with fungicide when needed .
Fusarium wilt is triggered by a grunge - borne fungus , Fusarium oxysporum , that will cause the runners to call on yellow and wilt and weakens the overall health of the plant .
To avoid it , spread out all Cucurbitaceae crop every four eld and keep the dirt moist but not waterlogged . If want , apply fungicide .
One of the independent reasons to keep aphid out of your garden is that they spread mosaic virus . The types that damage cantaloupe are : cucumber mosaic , squash mosaic , watermelon arial mosaic , and zucchini yellow mosaic .
These viruses make a yellow convention on leaves , killing them , and can even stunt and deform fruit . buy mosaic - repellent semen is ideal if these viruses are a know problem in your field . They spread very promptly , devastating full crops , and there ’s little to be done once that fall out .
This common disease , powdery mildew , caused byPodosphaera xanthii , push the spread of white fungus all over your leaves .
While it seldom kills plants , it looks unsightly and can change the flavour of the fruit because itdoesn’t allow it to mature fully .
To foreclose powdery mildew , ensure you sanitize your horticulture tools before using them to plant melon vine .
Also , verify to permit for air circulation if you ’re grow them in a part enclosed place , like under float row covert .
Harvesting
There are three main things to search for when you ’re think about harvesting your hard - won melons .
First , learn the color . Is it turn from blanched to a groovy - Au , yellow-bellied , or cream color ? If so , it ’s in all likelihood ready for harvest .
secondly , get up tight and personal to the melon and take a sniff where the vine meets the fruit . Does it smell sweet ? If so , it ’s pick time !
And third , while you ’re sniffing away , hold in the attachment between the fore and the melon .
If you see a flimsy spread where the melon is beginning to pluck away from the vine , this is a good indicator that you may savvy it with both hands and gently tug .
A ripe melon vine will come off with simplicity .
Once harvested , take your melon vine indoors and out of the Dominicus to forbid pee loss and over - mature .
learn our full usher on cantaloupe harvesting here .
Preserving
Let ’s be literal : cantaloupes are well enjoyed fresh off the vine . After you thoroughly scour the rind with max and warm H2O to transfer bacteria , which can contaminate the flesh when you cut into it .
To do this , take a white vegetable brush and clean the whole of the outside of the melon vine under running body of water . Before slicing , dry with paper towels to remove redundant water .
you could salt away unwashed , uncut melon in the icebox for up to one calendar week , and seal cut back melon in a shaping old bag and entrepot for three days .
The other selection is to cut the cantaloupe into cube or balls , layer it on wax theme and freeze .
After two to three hours , put the cubes in resealable container or bag and keep them in the freezer .
Use cubes while still crisp , whether you toss them into a smoothy or rust them fresh out of the freezer like a little dollop of Methedrine cream .
render sprinkle lettuce on the cubes before freeze for an redundant - odorous treat . Use your frozen cantaloupe within one month for best upshot .
As for any other method of conservation , those are somewhat much nonexistent .
fit in to Tracy L. Parnell , Trevor Suslow , and Linda J. Harris , food scientists at theUniversity of California , it ’s unsafe to can the melon vine due to a high risk of botulism , and unpleasant to undertake to dry out it .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
For tips on how to the right way cut cantaloupe , check out this clause fromour sis site , Foodal . It ’ll tell you everything you demand to know !
you could add new or frozen cantaloupe to smoothie or eat up it as is . Combine with other fruits for a tasty salad , or eat up it new with a touch of passel .
And retrieve those wintry cubes of cantaloupe ? render make this watermelon vine rum cocktail formula , also from Foodal , but use cantaloupe instead of watermelon .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Everyone’s Favorite Melon
Okay , possibly it ’s not everyone ’s favourite , but it for sure is mine , and I ca n’t wait to see my plump melon vine flourish in the garden .
If you ’d like to add other summerfruits to your garden , check out these article next :
pic by Laura Melchor © involve the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more inside information . Originally published April 28th , 2020 . Last update March 19th , 2023 . Product photos via Amazon , Burpee , Eden Brothers , Hardpress Publishing , Home Depot , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Laura Ojeda Melchor
