Who’s ready for a sweet cantaloupe for your summertime fruit salad???
For growing cantaloupe I’m going to discuss soil, location, ranges, caring for your growing melons, harvesting and storage.
Growing Cantaloupe Everything You Need to Know
Tip 1– Place
Cantaloupes thrive in warm, bright locations. If you’re in a colder area you can begin your cantaloupes inside; but you’ll want to transfer them prior to they get too huge for best results. You can grow cantaloupe in containers as well, again with a trellis for vertical growth.
Idea 2– Prepare Your Soil
Keep in mind that your cantaloupe yearn for WARM soil so don’t plant too early! Cantaloupes are heavy feeding so the soil you plant them in requirements to be prepared with that in mind. You’ll require to modify your soil with natural compost, aged manure or an organic fertilizer; this should be included to the very first 6 inches of soil for best results.
Suggestion 2– Planting
Plant your cantaloupe at least 36 inches apart in traditional gardening. If you’re going to utilize a trellis the suggest spacing is 12 inches or in Square Foot Gardening
1 plant per square. I do not plant mine in mounds utilizing raised beds however I have actually seen this suggestions for traditional planting.
After you’ve included transplants or seeds you should put mulch down. Mulch will keep the brand-new plant warm, assist to include wetness and avoid weeds from chocking out the new plant.
Pointer 3– Pests and Companion Planting
Cantaloupe do have some bugs of concern: squash bugs attack the foliage and squash vine borers will munch your vine and typically eliminate the entire plant. You may also discover cucumber beetles will assault all parts of the plant. And of course your friendly (ha) aphids are understood to attack the leaves from time to time. Your finest defense is offering your melons companions from the start that help them fight bugs. Both Nasturtium and Tansy flowers can assist to ward off bugs along with Dill. See more on. .
Buddy Plants.
Keep a close on your vines, leaves and flowers and handle any bugs before they multiply! I advise examining them a couple times each week.
Tip 4– Water & & Care.
Watering is the most vital part of keeping your cantaloupe growing strong. The requirement a constantly wet soil, however not soaked; you do not want your soil to dry out! Do your finest to deliver water to the base of the plant and prevent soaking the leaves which can cause fungus and spread illness. You’ll desire to use drip watering or a soaker pipe for best outcomes, it is not suggested to utilize a sprinkler. I prefer to water my melons early in the morning, giving it plenty of time to take in the wetness before the afternoon sun dries it up.
Don’t fret if your leaves appear to wilt every afternoon, this is completely regular.
I like to include more garden compost or a natural fruit fertilizer as a see the first fruits establishing. You may likewise wish to do this as the plant’s growth boosts, if you see it’s production or growth stall.
Idea 5– Fruit.
Protect your newbie fruit as it develops. If it is on the ground you’ll wish to carefully put a piece of cardboard or melon cradle under the fruit. This will assist to avoid pests getting to it and help to promote even ripening.
Tip 6– Ranges to Think about if you are going to grow in containers you might want to think about a smaller sized variety of melon.. I had great success with the. Minnesota Midget, though I didn’t find it as sweet as larger ranges. This cantaloupe is ideal for a single person to take pleasure in and fits right in the palm of your hand.
Other Varieties to Consider:. Hale’s Finest Jumbo.
— sweeter than most. Honey Rock.
— another small, sweet variety. Planter’s Jumbo.
— very heat and drought tolerant.
Idea 7– Collecting and Storage. The key to excellent, sweet melons is letting them fully establish on their vine; picked melons do not ripen much after they are chosen. To make certain your fruit is all set to be selected you’ll wish to make certain the skin has altered from green to the tan/yellow you anticipate of a cantaloupe. Provide the baby a sniff. Does is odor ripe and sweet? , if it does you must be safe to choose.. To maximize your melon’s sweet taste you’ll wish to leave it on the counter for a day or more before consuming. You can keep your melons for a week or 2 in the refrigerator. 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 actually heard that pickled cantaloupe is rather good, however I haven’t attempted it myself.
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
Article source: http://imperfectlyhappy.com/growing-cantaloupe/
