Growing Cantaloupes

Cantaloupes refer to two varieties of muskmelon, which belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. This fruit, packed with many health benefits, originated in India and Africa. It is believed that the fruit was named after the Italian papal village of Cantalupo, where the fruit was first cultivated in 1700 A.D. There are two basic types of cantaloupes - the European cantaloupe and the North American cantaloupe. The former has gray-green skin and is lightly ribbed, whereas the skin of the other resembles net and is light brown in color. It is said that North American cantaloupe was brought to the United States by Christopher Columbus, after his second voyage in 1494. This variety is also known as rock melon in some parts of the world. Let us go through the techniques of growing cantaloupes.

Cantaloupes are very popular plants for home gardens. It requires more space, as it has vines and needs plenty of sunlight. If you have a limited space then the best option is the bush cantaloupe, which have compact vines. You can grow cantaloupes in your home garden with the help of the following tips.

• Sunlight and heat are necessary for the growth of cantaloupes. Hence, it should be planted and grown in frost-free season with low humidity. The ideal climate to start planting is spring, when the soil turns warm.
• Three weeks before planting, the soil should be turned and buried with the remains of the previously planted crop. Three weeks time is sufficient for the decomposition of the plant remains.
• The common practice is to sow the seeds in hills of soil. Four to six seeds can be planted on one hill, and there should be a gap of a minimum four feet between the hills. The seeds should be placed half to one inch deep into the soil.
• If you are planting the seeds in rows, then three to six seeds should be placed in a foot and the distance between rows should be five feet. After the emergence of plants, you have to follow the ratio of one plant per foot.
• When the third set of leaves appear, the plants should be thinned to three healthy ones per hill. If you are opting for the compact bush type, the plant density can be higher.
• Remove the weeds and hoe lightly. Don't disturb the shallow root system of the plant, while hoeing.
• Use mulch (compost and other decomposable material like hay, shredded newspaper, sawdust, etc.) to cover the soil near the plants. This helps in retaining moisture and warmth of the soil. Adding mulch adds to the health and fast growth of plants.
• Irrigation is mandatory before and after the planting of seeds. Irrigation before planting ensures germination of seeds, and after germination it ensures good growth of the plant. Drip irrigation is more beneficial as it reduces the risk of diseases in leaves and fruits. It does not interrupt insects, who are responsible for pollination and fertilization of the plant. It also ensures uniform dispersal of water in small amounts.
• Some people prefer to use transplants for faster production of cantaloupes. The seeds must be planted before three weeks from the transplanting date, and the transplant containers should have a diameter of 2 to 4 inches. A starter solution of 20-20-20 can be applied. Medium-textured soil or loams are preferred, as it can help in yielding better quality fruits. The soil must have good drainage and a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0.
• Pruning is done to curtail unnecessary growth and undesirable cantaloupes, and to increase the fruit weight. Pruning is needed only if you are using a trellis to grow the plants. Otherwise, you can do away with pruning. Pruning can be done by retaining the primary stem and the secondary stems above the seventh node. This method helps in easy trellising of the plant.
• Generally, it takes around 75 to 95 days (depending on the variety) for the fruits to mature. On ripening, the stem of the fruit becomes dry and the end of the fruit becomes soft. Don't allow the fruit to turn overripe, which can be identified by softening of the whole fruit. Cantaloupes can be harvested just before ripening.
• Among the pests, the most common insects, which are attracted to this plant are cucumber beetle and the squash vine borer and you can prevent them by applying insecticides. You should also protect your plant from mice, moles and fungi. If the weather is humid, use fungicides.

Growing cantaloupes is not a tedious or fussy task. You can enjoy the benefits of this tasty and healthy fruit with a homely touch.