50+ Organic Hale's Best Cantaloupe Seeds- Hales Best Jumbo strain- Sweet Cucumis Melo- Non GMO--A046
50+ Seeds-Organic Hale's Best Cantaloupe Seeds- Hales Best Jumbo strain- Sweet Cucumis Melo- Non GMO-A046
Cantaloupes thrive in warm, sunny locations. Ground temps should be at least 70 degrees F (21 C) before you plant your seeds. If you’re in a colder region you can start your cantaloupes indoors; but you’ll want to transfer them before they get too big for best results. Be sure when you’re planting that you leave room for the growing vines to come. If space is limited considering building a trellis for the vines to grow on vertically. You can grow cantaloupe in containers as well, again with a trellis for vertical growth. Make sure to use a large pot and consider using a smaller variety of melons. If you do trellis make sure you choose a heavy-duty material for your melons or it is likely to break under their weight. You may want to consider using a cow or cattle panel. Prepare Your Soil Remember that your cantaloupe crave WARM soil so don’t plant too early!
Cantaloupes are heavy feeding so the soil you plant them in needs to be prepared with that in mind. You’ll need to amend your soil with organic compost, aged manure or a organic fertilizer; this should be added to the first 6 inches of soil for best results.
Planting :Plant your cantaloupe at least 36 inches apart in traditional gardening. If you’re going to use a trellis the recommend spacing is 12 inches or in Square Foot gardening 1 plant per square. I do not plant mine in mounds using raised beds but I have seen this advice for traditional planting. After you’ve added seeds or transplants you should put mulch down. Mulch will keep the new plant warm, help to contain moisture and prevent weeds from chocking out the new plant. Pests and Companion Planting Cantaloupe do have some pests of concern: squash bugs attack the foliage and squash vine borers will munch your vine and often kill the entire plant. You may also find cucumber beetles will attack all parts of the plant. And of course your friendly (ha) aphids are known to attack the leaves from time to time. Your best defense is giving your melons companions from the start that help them fight pests. Both Nasturtium and Tansy flowers can help to ward off pests as well as Dill. Keep a close on your vines, leaves and flowers and deal with any pests before they multiply! I recommend inspecting them a couple times per week. Water & Care Watering is the most important part of keeping your cantaloupe growing strong.
To maximize your melon’s sweetness you’ll want to leave it on the counter for a day or two before eating. You can store your melons for a week or 2 in the fridge. For longer storage you can freeze cantaloupe or make preserves (it is not recommended to can them, though I know people that do). I have heard that pickled cantaloupe is quite good, but I haven’t tried it myself. Germination: 10-20 Days Days to Maturity: 65-86 Sunlight: Full Sun Soil: High Fertility