1. Alvaro. This beautiful little melon is one of the first to mature each season. With only 65 days to maturity, this Charentais-type averages just 5 inches in diameter.
What is the easiest cantaloupe to grow?
Minnesota Midget an heirloom variety producing 4-inch melons on 3-4 foot vines. It’s relatively quick growing and matures in 60 to 70 days. Divergent is a favorite of many gardeners. It has a sweet flavor, performs well in short seasons and matures in 75 days.
How do you speed up cantaloupe growth?
Consider giving vines and fruit an extra magnesium boost with an epsom salt foliar spray. Use one tablespoon epsom salt in one gallon of water. Spray when leaves begin to vine and again when fruit is growing. Pick off additional fruit once several fruits have formed.
What’s the best cantaloupe to grow?
11 of the Best Cantaloupe Cultivars
- Aphrodite Hybrid.
- Athena Hybrid.
- Ball 2076 Hybrid.
- Charentais.
- El Gordo Hybrid.
- Hearts of Gold.
- Olympic Express Hybrid.
- Planters Jumbo.
How fast do cantaloupe plants grow?
about 80 to 90 days
How long does it have to grow? Cantaloupe matures in about 80 to 90 days. Melons are normally ready to harvest when they start turning yellow on the bottom and the stem starts turning brown.
What melon grows the fastest?
1. Alvaro. This beautiful little melon is one of the first to mature each season. With only 65 days to maturity, this Charentais-type averages just 5 inches in diameter.
What is the name of the sweetest cantaloupe?
From the outside, Ambrosia looks like a typical grocery store cantaloupe, but the fragrant, sweet interior tells another story. Not only does Ambrosia have a small seed cavity, the creamy, peach-colored flesh is extremely sweet right up to the rind.
What is the best fertilizer for cantaloupe?
For seeded or transplanted cantaloupes, apply 100 to 150 pounds per acre of a pop-up fertilizer such as 10-34-0 to enhance early growth, especially in cool/cold soils early in the spring. Pop-up fertilizer should be banded 2 to 3 inches to the side of the row and 2 to 3 inches below the seeds or roots.
Why is cantaloupe not good for you?
If there is too much potassium to process at once, you can develop a condition known as hyperkalemia. Having too much potassium in your blood increases your risk of a heart attack. Eating too much cantaloupe may also be hard on your intestines and cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other digestive problems.
Should I pinch off cantaloupe flowers?
As mentioned, pruning cantaloupe plants isn’t absolutely necessary and, in fact, the more leaves that remain on the vine the sweeter the fruit. That said, cutting back cantaloupe plants results in fewer fruit which enables the plant to put all of its energy into a scant few, resulting in larger melons.
What is the most expensive cantaloupe?
Yūbari Kings
If you’re a zillionaire lover of fruit, try a wedge of this cantaloupe. In 2018, a pair of Yūbari Kings was auctioned for ¥3.2 million ($29,000) in Sapporo, making it the world’s most expensive melon. The Yūbari King is actually a hybrid of two melon cultivars, called Earl’s Favorite and Burpee’s Spicy Cantaloupe.
How do you make cantaloupe sweeter when growing?
Sweetness Starts in the Soil
To encourage strong growth, blend 4 to 6 inches of composted manure into your melon beds prior to planting. Then add a balanced organic fertilizer (such as a mixed blood meal/bone meal product) every 3 to 4 weeks.
What is the best tasting melon?
Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon are the best known melons, but also be adventurous and try casaba, Crenshaw, Persian melons or other varieties. Some are grown in the United States. Others are imported from Central America and New Zealand. Enjoy the taste of summer with melons.
How many cantaloupes do you get from one plant?
Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.
How long does it take for a cantaloupe to grow after flowering?
Typically a cantaloupe will yield mature fruit 35 to 45 days after blossoming, according to the University of Minnesota, so time your planting to provide those 45 days while the weather is still warm.
What can you not plant with cantaloupe?
Some of the best companion plants for cantaloupes include marigolds, nasturtiums, radishes, and lettuce. Avoid planting cucumbers, watermelons or squash near cantaloupes, as they are susceptible to the same pests!
Where are the best cantaloupes grown?
Other states that produce cantaloupe commercially in limited volume include Texas, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. In our opinion, of course, the best place to grow cantaloupe is sunny California.
What’s the best fertilizer for watermelons and cantaloupes?
For watermelons, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet (60 to 90 feet of row). Make a trench on the planting bed 4 to 6 inches deep and 2 inches from the side of the row. Cover the fertilizer and plant so seeds do not touch the fertilizer.
Which grows faster watermelon or cantaloupe?
Cantaloupes are among the first melons to produce fruit — typically within 35 days of pollination. Early varieties, including “Earli-Sweet” and “Alaska,” produce fruit even sooner. Honeydew melons take between 45 to 60 days to bear fruit, while watermelons need a long, warm season.
What is the largest cantaloupe?
65.9 pounds
Doug’s cantaloupe weighed in at 71.6 pounds. The seed used to grow the giant fruit came from the 2018 world-record cantaloupe, which was 65.9 pounds. “Danny Vester from North Carolina was kind enough to share his seed,” said English, who has also grown some very large gourds.
Can you plant watermelons and cantaloupe near each other?
No, you shouldn’t plant watermelon and cantaloupe vines close to one another because of the space requirements and shared pest and disease concerns, but you can plant them in a larger bed in different areas with good cultural practices.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.