Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe grows best in warm, well-drained sandy loam at pH 6.0-6.8 enriched with compost. Supply moderate fertilizer before planting and steady moisture during fruit growth, keeping leaves dry to reduce disease.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Even moisture; about 1 in/week including rain

Spacing

36 in

First harvest

75–90 days

Tips

• Sow seeds 1 inch deep when soil reaches 70°F and thin to 2-3 feet apart.
• Water at the base and reduce irrigation as fruit ripens, but do not let plants wilt.
• Trellis only with sturdy supports and slings, or rest ground-grown fruit on dry mulch.
• Watch for cucumber beetles and powdery mildew and leave flowers open to pollinating bees.
• Harvest slip-type muskmelons when the rind beneath the netting turns tan and the fruit releases readily from the vine.

Hear about it on the show