What's round, sweet and related to cucumbers? Melons! Here's just about everything you need to know to grow one of summer's favorite fruits: cantaloupe. Just remember to give yourself plenty of room: Most growing cantaloupes need between 8 to 10 feet of space for their vines (although the cantaloupes you can grow in containers may not need quite as much). So, unless you want to spend your summer yellin' for melon, leave plenty of space and put out plenty of fertilizer to grow this sweet, tropical treat in your garden.
Growing Cantaloupe (Melons / Muskmelons)
Sowing Guide |
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| When to sow indoors | 3 – 4 weeks before last frost |
| When to sow outdoors | When soil is at least 70° F |
| Seed depth | 1/2" |
| Germination soil temperature | 80° – 90°F |
| Germination length | 3 – 5 days (longer for cooler soil) |
| When melon seedlings have 2 – 3 mature leaves | |
| Varieties |
Hale's Best Jumbo (a favorite) Halona (resistant to disease and powdery mildew) Lil' Loupe' (container cultivar) |
Growing Guide |
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| pH range | 6.0 – 7.0 (6.0 minimum) |
| Soil temperature | 70° – 85°F |
| Spacing | Varies by size |
| Watering | Moderate from germination to fruit development; low or none during fruit ripening. |
| Light | Full sun |
| Nutrient requirements |
N = low P = high K = high |
| Fertilizer schedule | Every 6 weeks or so |
| When to harvest | When stem starts to crack and fruit smells sweet |
Looking for more information and inspiration?
Check out these tips for growing cantaloupe melons.
