Cantaloupe
A long season of warm days and nights along with plenty of moisture are
necessary for a good cantaloupe (or muskmelon) crop. Cantaloupe is a
warm-season crop and should not be planted until all danger of frost has
passed.
-Planting: Sow 5 seeds in a hill cluster about 1 inch deep, with hills
spaced 4-6 feet apart. A pile of compost or manure placed in each hill
before planting will speed early growth.
-Growing: After the seedlings have developed their third set of leaves
they should be thinned to three plants per hill. Remove weeds as they
grow, and hoe lightly to avoid disturbing the shallow root system of the
plant. Layer the ground around the plants with black plastic to cut back
on weed growth, increase soil moisture, and keep the soil continuously
warm. When fruits begin to appear, a board or shingle should be placed
under the fruit to hasten ripening and prevent rot.
-Harvesting: Ripe cantaloupes will slip easily from their stem. Smaller
fruits should be pinched off the stem as the season closes to encourage
the ripening of the larger fruits. The growing points of all the vines
should also be pinched off at this time.
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