Planting cantaloupe seedlings install#

With good growing conditions and regular care, one melon plant should produce several sweet, juicy, aromatic fruits by late summer, giving you not only delicious rewards but a big sense of achievement too. Honeydew melons, smooth-skinned, with firm yellow flesh – best grown in a greenhouse Two main types of sweet melons can be grown in the UK:Ĭantaloupe melons, with aromatic orange flesh – these are the best choice for growing outdoors and will do even better in a greenhouse In a greenhouse they are usually grown up supports to save space. Melons ( Cucumis melo) are closely related to cucumbers and have a similar style of growth, with vigorous scrambling stems, large leaves, yellow flowers and clinging tendrils. Growing them outdoors is much more risky, even in a really warm, sheltered spot, although protective cloches should help. Growing in a greenhouse or polytunnel is the best option and, if you look after them well, you may get up to six sweet juicy melons per plant. Melons are not the easiest fruits to grow in the UK, especially outdoors, as these tender plants need heat, humidity and consistent moisture.

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Depending on the kind of soil this can be done with 2 or 3 applications per week. A good average irrigation is between 25 and 35 mm per week.

Planting cantaloupe seedlings install#

If it is possible install soil moisture meters and if this is not possible check the soil of the root zone at least twice per week with a soil augur or spade. Make sure to minimize soil moisture stress. When planting seedlings this helps to minimize the stress on new seedlings.

Irrigate before and after planting for seeds or seedlings. Remember to irrigate after every fertilizer application.

At this late stage it is more important to fertilize for fruit quality rather than vegetative growth. If at this stage the growth is vigorous enough apply Potassium Chloride instead of the Potassium Nitrate. Monitor growth and set of fruit and if deemed necessary apply a third application of 350 kg per hectare of Potassium Nitrate to aid growth and boost fruit development. A pre-plant application of between 7 kg of 2:3:4 (27) fertilizer mix per hectare is spread over the plant rows and disc harrowed into the top 20 cm of soil prior to planting of seedlings.Ībout four to six weeks after planting apply a further 300 to 500 kg of 2:3:4 (27) per hectare to ensure good growth and set of fruit. A good guide to fertilizing is as follows: The compost, lime and manure are ploughed in during soil preparation four to six weeks before planting. It is always best to do proper soil analysis to ascertain the soil’s nutrient requirements and to fertilize accordingly.

Cantaloupe Growth PeriodThe growing period from seed to production is normally from 12 weeks in warm areas to 15 weeks in areas that the spring weather is slower to warm up. In warmer areas where the spring warmer weather arrives early planting can start in mid August. Planting TimeAs the cantaloupe is a warm weather crop planting is from early September to mid December. Seeds can be planted into seedling trays and planted in a greenhouse from early July to ready seedlings for planting by mid-August if the weather has started to warm by then. Sowing TimeDirect planting of seeds is from late August to November in South Africa. Access rows for implements and tractors must be left for spraying and harvesting. This is between 40 cantaloupe plants per hectare. SpacingĬantaloupe Plants are spaced 50 - 75 cm apart in rows that are 100 - 200 cm apart. Cantaloupe Planting MethodĬantaloupe Planting is done by direct sowing or planting of the cantaloupe seed or by first making seedlings in seed beds or seed trays and planting the plants out into the production area. PropagationCantaloupe propagation is from seed.