Read all label instructions to make sure the treatment is safe for use on edible harvests and will not kill pollinating insects. The soil surrounding your plant should always be moist, but not standing in water. Would this promote better yield of melons? How do you know when cantaloupes are ready to be picked? There are many delicious varieties of melon that all require similar conditions for planting and growing, including watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe and muskmelon. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in rows, or in hills spaced 6 feet apart. My experience is that on each vine, the male flowers come in a series first, and then the female blossoms. % of people told us that this article helped them. It's a common misconception and fear that cantaloupes will cross with other members of the same family, including cucumbers, other melons, squash, and pumpkins. My cantaloupes are really producing, but the larger ones are sitting on my concrete. Varieties Cantaloupes. How long does it take to produce melons from blossoms? On the seed package, pay particular attention to planting advice and information about keeping them safe, and pay particularly close attention to the length of time to maturation. A cantaloupe plant—also known as a muskmelon—is a common sight in many summer gardens. Pay particular attention to the time to maturity listed on the seed package. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 320,002 times. Should I snip the end of each vine to stop it from growing? ", "First time growing cantaloupe. Reading this article helped me to plant and, "Very in depth and well written. Should I pick the blossoms off the vine while the plant is fruiting? Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. Black plastic will have your melons ripen prematurely and that'll spoil it. The oldest leaves on my cantaloupe plants have developed powdery mildew. ". If your melon plants struggle to produce, but you're doing everything by the book, try tilling some cereal rye in plots you plan on growing in for next season about a month before putting your plants in the ground. Growing melons (Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus) inside poses some difficulties, but it is not impossible. Melons will take a while to set on the vine, but most of the sugary flavor in a melon can be determined from the leaves. If you're growing cantaloupe in a greenhouse, or live somewhere that bees are scarce, you might need to. Cantaloupes, also known as muskmelons, are available in dozens of cultivated and heirloom varieties, and grow best in hot weather, at least 2-3 months of consistent warmth. This way the vine can concentrate on the one fruit, making it sweeter. One of the difficult things about growing cantaloupe directly from seed is that the budding cantaloupe plant looks an awful lot like clover, a weed that you'll want to pick. Rich soil with plenty of compost added. Mix in a thick layer of manure and a smaller layer of compost on top, replacing the earth you excavated. It's important to remove the matting after the threat of frost has dissipated and blooms have started to form, so that pollinating insects can reach the blossoms. Fresh picked melons also last for several days in the refrigerator. Ensure that the leaves of the vines are in good condition. Sow seeds only when temperatures reliably stay above 50 to 60 degrees F. Plant in groups of two or three seeds spaced 2 feet apart. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1400342-v4-728px-Grow-Cantaloupe-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"