All melons grow best in light, sandy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. In regions where minimum night temperatures average above 550 for less than three months, sow seeds of all types of melons indoors or in a hotbed about one month before night temperatures can be depended upon to stay above 55 and daytime temperatures above 80, then set them into the garden when the required temperatures are reached. Elsewhere, sow seeds of all types directly outdoors when the temperatures reach 55 at night and 80 in the daytime.
Melons can be grown successfully in regions where minimum night temperatures average no lower than 55 and minimum daytime temperatures are no lower than 80 throughout the growing seasons. The length of the growing seasons, from the time the seeds are sown until the plants are harvested, is listed for each recommended variety. Because long growing seasons are required for most casaba, Crenshaw, Persian and honeydew melons, all but a few of the varieties that are listed in these categories are generally grown only in the southwestern, south-central and southern parts of the U.S.
Most cantaloupes have orange flesh, but some have lime-green flesh even when ripe. Some excellent varieties are Burpee's Fordhook Gem, green flesh, and Burpee Hybrid, orange flesh, both 82 days; Delicious 51, orange flesh, 86 days; and Mainerock Hybrid, orange flesh, 75 days. Two hills of cantaloupe yield a harvest of about eight fruit over a period of three weeks.
When the seedlings are 1 inch tall, cut off the weaker one in each pot. When night temperatures no longer fall below 50, set the plants, pots and all, into the garden, spacing them 18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. In frost-free regions, sow seeds directly in the garden when night temperatures are expected to stay above 50. Group three or four seeds in a spot, setting each group 1/2 inch deep and 18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.
Three good varieties that succeed in shorter growing seasons are Burpee's Early Hybrid Crenshaw, pink flesh, 90 days; Honey Mist, green flesh, 92 days; and Sungold Casaba, white flesh, 85 days. Two hills planted with these types yield six fruit over a period of four weeks.
Cantaloupes should be picked at what is called the "slip" stage, when a slight pressure at the point where the stem joins the melon causes the melon to slip off the vine. All other melons are still firmly attached to their vines at harvesttime, so other yardsticks must be used: casaba and honeydew melons are ripe when the skin turns yellow; Crenshaw and Persian melons when they develop a fruity scent; watermelons when a rap on the fruit creates a dull rather than a sharp sound. Fruits that start to grow after midsummer will not have time to mature and should be removed; this thinning will direct nourishment toward fruits that are developing. Unused melon seeds keep for about five years.
Melons can be grown successfully in regions where minimum night temperatures average no lower than 55 and minimum daytime temperatures are no lower than 80 throughout the growing seasons. The length of the growing seasons, from the time the seeds are sown until the plants are harvested, is listed for each recommended variety. Because long growing seasons are required for most casaba, Crenshaw, Persian and honeydew melons, all but a few of the varieties that are listed in these categories are generally grown only in the southwestern, south-central and southern parts of the U.S.
Most cantaloupes have orange flesh, but some have lime-green flesh even when ripe. Some excellent varieties are Burpee's Fordhook Gem, green flesh, and Burpee Hybrid, orange flesh, both 82 days; Delicious 51, orange flesh, 86 days; and Mainerock Hybrid, orange flesh, 75 days. Two hills of cantaloupe yield a harvest of about eight fruit over a period of three weeks.
When the seedlings are 1 inch tall, cut off the weaker one in each pot. When night temperatures no longer fall below 50, set the plants, pots and all, into the garden, spacing them 18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. In frost-free regions, sow seeds directly in the garden when night temperatures are expected to stay above 50. Group three or four seeds in a spot, setting each group 1/2 inch deep and 18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.
Three good varieties that succeed in shorter growing seasons are Burpee's Early Hybrid Crenshaw, pink flesh, 90 days; Honey Mist, green flesh, 92 days; and Sungold Casaba, white flesh, 85 days. Two hills planted with these types yield six fruit over a period of four weeks.
Cantaloupes should be picked at what is called the "slip" stage, when a slight pressure at the point where the stem joins the melon causes the melon to slip off the vine. All other melons are still firmly attached to their vines at harvesttime, so other yardsticks must be used: casaba and honeydew melons are ripe when the skin turns yellow; Crenshaw and Persian melons when they develop a fruity scent; watermelons when a rap on the fruit creates a dull rather than a sharp sound. Fruits that start to grow after midsummer will not have time to mature and should be removed; this thinning will direct nourishment toward fruits that are developing. Unused melon seeds keep for about five years.
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One gardening tips is to water the vegetables in your vegetable garden deeply and thoroughly whenever it show signs of wilting during the midday heat.
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