There is nothing better than cutting into a fresh cantaloupe and scooping out pinnace , odoriferous , and juicy chunk of melon on a gay summer day . The flavor of these fruit is plainly irresistible , and a perfectly ripe melon seems to melt in your mouth . read how to plant cantaloupe in your backyard garden and give melon plants the care they need to produce the sweetest , tastiest fruit .
Cantaloupes are pertain to honeydew , watermelon , and ambrosia melons , and mass often confuse them for sweet melon , but they are not quite the same . While all cantaloupes are muskmelon , not all muskmelons are cantaloupes .
There are differenttypes of cantaloupe , including North American , European , Asian , Japanese , Galia , and Charentais cantaloup . Melons are a cucurbit and the stark nature food without all the calories if you have a cherubic tooth , and cantaloupe vine are one of our favorites .
Planting, Growing and Enjoying Cantaloupe
cantaloupe vine are ample in vitamin Bc , K , vitamin A and C , and beta carotene and have zero cholesterol . A garden full of these yummy fruits takes 65 to 90 days to grow , and there are many path to store them short and recollective full term .
produce melons may seem intimidate , but they are easygoing to produce than you consider , whether you develop them in a garden or raised seam .
How do cantaloupe grow ? memorize how to start them from seeds and the precondition cantaloupe works require to thrive and get a harvest of healthy melons . find out a fun way to groom them at the end of the growing season .
How to Prepare for Planting Cantaloupe
There are a few thing to do before planting cantaloup vine , including preparing the garden bed . There is nomuskmelon vs cantaloup vine differencein this respect . The same applies to thedifference between cantaloup and honeydew melon – they all produce the same . These plant life prefer the correct ground and sunlight to produce , and understanding their needs goes a long agency in the gardening procedure .
The first footfall in garden preparation is to test the ground . Garden cantaloupe ( Cucumis melo var . Cantalupensis ) love free , well draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 , so amend the garden with compost or nutrient - rich organic matter before implant .
carry to get four to eight melon vine per plant . Plan the garden space accordingly so that you do n’t end up with more melons than you have elbow room for , and put it in an surface area where they get eight to ten hours of full sun day by day .
How Far Apart to Plant Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe vines reach up to 72 inch in length and 18 in grandiloquent and take up quite a lot of space . Find out how recondite to seed seeds and how far asunder to plant cantaloupe to ensure they have enough room to stretch their vines without overcrowding .
Cantaloupe plant spacing is all-important for sound ontogenesis and proper atmosphere circulation , and different types have vary blank requirements , so mark your seed packet before planting .
As a general rule of quarter round , sow seeds a half - inch abstruse and space the industrial plant 18 to 24 inches aside . If you are planting row of cantaloupe plant , make the row 36 inches apart .
How to Plant Cantaloupe from Seeds
The best agency to institute cantaloupe vine is to set about them from source . However , it ’s a good estimation to start them indoors about a calendar month before the last frost , especially if you repose in a cooler realm since thecantaloupe growing seasonis a prospicient one .
Here is how to seed cantaloupe seeds indoors and transplant them in the garden . Germinate watermelon seedsthe same way .
For this simpleway to grow cantaloupe from seed , fill a germ - start up tray with grunge and press a seed down a half - inch deep into each section . Cover the come with stain and spray them with water until softly moist .
Keep the seminal fluid tray in a warm orbit where the temperature is consistently above 70 ° atomic number 9 . After planting cantaloupe seeds and during germination , keep the dirt damp and quick until the seedlings are quick to move outdoors .
Once the danger of rime is gone and the filth temperature reaches 70 ° F , harden off your plant life outdoors by taking them outside a couple of hour each twenty-four hour period for a week .
How far aside to plant cantaloupe outside ? When transplanting cantaloup vine in the garden , make certain to space them about 24 inches asunder with rows 36 inches aside .
compass holes slightly larger than the plant ’s base , carefully remove the seedlings and set them in the land . Pat the dirt around them and irrigate the plants right away to help the roots settle in their raw home .
If you are growing small cantaloup cultivars , set a trellis beside the plants . grow cantaloupe in containersis also potential if you plant some of the smaller multifariousness .
If the soil temperature is still not strong enough , consider using floating quarrel top or spreading black plastic or mulch over the garden to keep back warmth .
Cantaloupes have both female and male bloom for pollination . If you do not have enough beneficial insects and pollinators , consider hand pollinate the female flowers by using a Q - tip or modest paintbrush to move pollen from the male flower to the distaff flowers .
Give your plants one to two inches of water each week without getting the folio fuddled to prevent bacterial and fungal disease like powdery mould , or use a trickle irrigation system .
Wilting leaf are a sign that your plant needs urine . It ’s not necessary to fecundate the garden if you part with good soil . alternatively , consider a monthly treatment of fish emulsion , compost teatime , or kelp to give your plants a hike .
Keep an heart out for common melon pests , such as squash hemipteran , aphid , and cucumber beetle that damage melon plant ’ base , leaves , and prime .
Remove these insects by helping hand right off and utilise an insecticidal soap that is not harmful to pollinators . In 75 to 80 days , the fruits are the pure ripeness for harvesting .
Since cantaloupe and Citrullus vulgaris do n’t mature off the vine , learn when to clean watermelon and cantaloupe by giving the fruit a close examination . harvest home cantaloupeis the good part . Ripe cantaloup easily commit right off the vine .
How to Make Sorbet with Cantaloupes
When we think of cantaloupe , we call back of summer , and what better mode to enjoy this yield than to make a afters ? This cantaloupe water ice is delicious and novel , take 15 second to prepare , and contain zero fatty tissue .
flux the sugar and water in a saucepot and institute it to a boil . melt off the heat and simmer it for ten minutes to make a simple syrup . Set the pot away to cool down as you make the melons .
snub the rind off the Cucumis melo cantalupensis , murder the seeds , and slit the flesh into cube . Puree them in a food central processor , then add the sugar syrup , and blend them .
pelt the sorbet into a bowl and refrigerate it for an hour before remove it to an ice pick maker . Churn the sorbet according to instructions on your unit and delight .
If you have a successful harvesting , learn topreserve abbreviate watermelon and cantaloupein the fridge and freezer to enjoy it during the cooler months of the year . you could even pickle these fruits .
How long does uncut Citrullus vulgaris or cantaloup vine last ? Refrigerate the yield for up to ten days .
Growing cantaloup vine is just as easy as raise any other veggie or yield . The key is to offer them with the right soil and originate experimental condition . Nurture your works throughout the season , and each works reward you with up to eight luscious melons .
Now that you know how to set cantaloupe and care for your plants for a healthy craw of sweet melon , why not divvy up our cantaloupe arise guide and tip with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook ?