What Temperature Does Cantaloupe Grow Best In?

between 65 and 75 °F..
Cantaloupe and honeydew are warm-season crops that grow best at average air temperatures between 65 and 75 °F. It is best to plant when the soil temperature is at least 60 to 65 °F. These melons are very tender and should be planted after the last chance of frost.

What temperature does cantaloupe like?

Cantaloupe, a warm-season annual plant, is sensitive to freezing temperatures at any growth stage. Slow growth occurs below 15.6°C (60°F), and optimal growth occurs from 29.4-35°C (85-95°F), yet cantaloupe can tolerate temperatures greater than 40°C (104°F).

Where do cantaloupe grow the best?

Plant cantaloupe in an area with warm soil (70°F+) and plenty of sun. Cantaloupes are sprawlers, so plant them 36 to 42 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil. Growing cantaloupes require a lot of nutrients, so it’s best to improve your soil by mixing in several inches of compost or other rich organic matter.

What is the best month to plant cantaloupe?

spring
Cantaloupe prefers warm weather, so don’t plant it before temperatures have warmed in the spring. Cantaloupe does best when direct sown. Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65℉.

What is the lowest temperature cantaloupe can tolerate?

In general, a frost (31-33 degrees F.) will kill beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peas, pepper, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon. Colder temperatures (26-31 degrees F.)

How often do you water a cantaloupe?

Cantaloupes need plenty of water, but not enough to make a soggy garden. Give your crops one to two inches of water per week, watering the soil directly to avoid wetting the leaves and promoting powdery mildew. Once fruit begins to grow, reduce your watering, as dry weather is best for sweeter melons.

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.

How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?

Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.

How do you grow a big cantaloupe?

Plant cantaloupe seeds in full sun in well-drained soil. They’ll need about 85 days to mature, but don’t rush things. Sow seeds only when temperatures reliably stay above 50°F to 60°F. Plant in groups of two or three seeds spaced 2 feet apart.

How deep do cantaloupe roots grow?

Soil Depth Requirements for Common Garden Vegetables

Shallow Rooting 12″ – 18″	Medium Rooting 18″ – 24″	Deep Rooting 24″ – 36″+
Cauliflower	Cantaloupe	Parsnips
Celery	Carrots	Pumpkins
Chinese cabbage	Chard	Rhubarb
Corn	Cucumber	Squash, winter

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.

Do cantaloupes need a trellis?

Also, growing a cantaloupe on a trellis will keep the fruit clean and resistant to chewing pests, as well as keeping the foliage dry, thus less susceptible to disease. Lastly, have you ever tried to weed a sprawling melon patch? It’s nearly impossible but it’s easy to weed beneath trellised cantaloupes.

What is the sweetest cantaloupe?

Crenshaws also have peachy flesh, similar to a cantaloupe’s, which is juicy and sweet to taste. In fact, it is known to be one of the sweetest melons there is.

What state grows the most cantaloupe?

California
The largest producing States are California (58 percent) and Arizona (26 percent). The United States imports over one-third of the cantaloupes consumed in the country.

Can honeydew and cantaloupe be planted together?

This sweet, juicy fruit is tasty choice to add into your garden! Honeydew melons are very similar to cantaloupe, but have a pale-flesh.
Companion Plants:

Good	Bad
Acorn Squash	Mustard Greens	Cantaloupe
Basil	Nasturtiums	Cucumbers
Broccoli	Okra	Potatoes
Butternut Squash	Onions	Watermelon

What temperature is too hot for melons?

Watermelons grow best in air temperatures ranging from 70° to 90°F (21-32°C). Avoid growing watermelon where night temperatures dip below 50°F (10°C); this will cause the fruit to lose flavor. If temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C).

Is Epsom salt good for cantaloupe?

The cantaloupes will ripen faster and the fruit is protected from insects and rot. For sweeter watermelons and cantaloupes when the plant starts vining and again when small 1-inch melons appear, spray with 6 1/2 tablespoons Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons borax in 5 gallons of water.

Can you water cantaloupe too much?

Regular, deep waterings for your growing cantaloupe fruits is essential. Uneven watering practices or watering that occurs too frequently can lead to fruit cracking and splitting. Cantaloupe is grown in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones.

How long do cantaloupes take to grow?

Growing cantaloupe plants occupy a fair bit of space, so be sure to leave enough room for the vines to spread out. Cantaloupe plants take around 80 days to mature on average and is the most hardy when grown in zones 4-10 as a summer annual.

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.

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!