See more
How do you identify a cantaloupe plant?
Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo, Reticulatus) Fruit is round to oval, sometimes ribbed, sometimes with a netted surface and has interior seed cavity. The edible flesh is orange. Flowers are bright yellow. The female flower is identified by the ovary below the petals.
What do the leaves on a cantaloupe plant look like?
A cantaloupe leaf looks like a blend of a maple and grape leaf, but with dull rounder edges. Once a vine produces mature melon fruits, or drought or chilly weather occurs, the green leaves turn yellow and droop, eventually dying.
What does a cantaloupe plant look like when it starts to grow?
2:045:17Growing Cantaloupes From Seed, Episode 2 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it turns yellow and dies. When they get pollinated. They'll close up and they'll start to lookMoreSo it turns yellow and dies. When they get pollinated. They'll close up and they'll start to look kind of like this. Right here and you can see it's just the beginning of a cantaloupe.
How can you tell the difference between a cantaloupe and a cucumber plant?
Cantaloupe leaves are rough and lobed, similar to cucumber, but not as angular. Cucumber leaves are lobed, triangular, with bristly leaves. If you do an internet search for cantaloupe seedlings and cucumber seedlings images you will definitely see the differences.Apr 19, 2019
What do muskmelon leaves look like?
The Muskmelon Leaf Young muskmelon leaves are oval in shape with a slight lobe on each side and distinct serrated edges. As they grow they become more lobed and tend toward a heart shape with smooth edges. Leaf shape can vary slightly depending on variety.
Why is there white spots on my cantaloupe?
Sometimes, the fruit is simply bruised or has developed a few patches but is perfectly safe to eat. Other times, patches that appear on fruit, and specifically white patches on cantaloupe, can mean that the fruit is growing mold and probably shouldn't be eaten.Feb 17, 2022
How many cantaloupes does a plant produce?
Unlike other varieties, the vines only spread up to three feet. Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.Apr 28, 2020
How big do cantaloupe plants get?
How to Grow Cantaloupe PlantsBotanical NameCucumis. melo var. reticulatusMature SizeVine grows up to 18 in. tall and spreads up to 6 ft. The fruit usually weighs around 4 lbs.Sun ExposureFull sunSoil TypeLoamy, sandy, well drainingSoil pHSlightly acidic, neutral (6.0 to 6.5)6 more rows•Jul 7, 2021
How long does it take for a cantaloupe seed to sprout?
3-5 daysHow long do cantaloupe seeds take to germinate? In warm soil (above 75°F), cantaloupe seeds will pop up quickly—within 3-5 days. In cooler soils, it might take as long as a week to 10 days before they germinate.Sep 24, 2021
How do you identify melon leaves?
0:402:12How to Tell the Difference Between Watermelon & Cucumber PlantsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDo have small yellow flowers. And they both have vining habit but obviously a cucumber is differentMoreDo have small yellow flowers. And they both have vining habit but obviously a cucumber is different than a watermelon. And one of the things about watermelon is that you'll notice that the leaves.
How do you identify a melon plant?
Cucumber and melon flowers will be small, about the size of a nickel, whereas squash flowers are large, several inches across. The flowers open in the morning, and there are male and female flowers. The female flowers will be the ones that form the fruit. Check the stem to see if it is somewhat spiny.Jul 21, 2017
How do you identify cucumber leaves?
Cucumbers. The oval seed leaves of emerging cucumber and squash plants look very much alike, but the cucumber's true leaves will be triangular and lobed with a fuzzy surface and serrated (toothy) edges. As the cucumber vine develops, its delicate-looking but tenacious tendrils will grip and climb anything in their path ...
Cantaloupe vs. Muskmelon
The only way to differentiate true cantaloupes from muskmelons is to compare the ripened melon fruit features. Cantaloupe fruits are round and have warty skin. Muskmelons are round and ribbed or grooved and display a netlike matrix on the skin.
Growth Habit
Cantaloupes grow as an annual vine that is sensitive to frost. It sprouts, grows, flowers, set fruit and dies within one growing season. Depending on the cultivar grown, the stems grow and mature at a length between 5 and 12 feet.
Foliage
Cantaloupe plant leaves are medium to dark green in color, with lighter green undersides. The upper side is mildly glossy but coarse and sandpapery in texture. Each leaf generally looks like an abstract heart, but vary in having slightly wavy edges or shallow lobes.
Flowering and Fruiting
Cantaloupe vines produce trumpet-shaped yellow male and female flowers separately on the plant. The first flowers to appear are male blossoms, which hold only pollen-shedding stamens. About a week later, both male and female flowers are produced on a plant. Only pollinated female flowers become melons.
Cantaloupe Varieties
Bush Star: Ideal for growing cantaloupe in containers or in small spaces. It matures in approximately 90 days.
Planting Cantaloupe
These plants are sun lovers, so be sure to pick a well-lit spot in full sun to grow them.
Problems and Solutions to Growing Cantaloupe
This wilting disease will eventually kill off your cantaloupe plants. Prevent it by keeping pests like cucumber beetles away from your plants since they transmit this disease.
Companion Planting for Cantaloupe
When planting cantaloupe, consider putting flowering plants nearby to attract pollinators: cantaloupe plants produce both male and female flowers and insects like bees help to pollinate and increase fruit production.
Harvesting and Storing Cantaloupe
You’ll know it’s time to pick the fruit when the color of the rind changes. Yellowing signals that the plants are ripening. A ripe melon should easily dislodge from its vine. Be gentle when harvesting, piercing the flesh will cause the fruit to spoil quickly.
Cultivation and Care
It is important to ensure consistent watering for your cantaloupe fruits to thrive.
Popular Cantaloupe Varieties
There are a number of varieties of cantaloupe you can grow in your garden.
Pest and Disease Prevention
The best way to prevent pests and diseases is by carefully scouting your plant for insects like cucumber beetles and aphids, clearing the area of weeds that may host viruses and/or insects, removing diseased leaves, and plant material, and planting disease-resistant varieties.
Plant Uses
Often served as a sweet fruit, cantaloupe is a delicious addition to any meal, especially when it’s hot!
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, cantaloupe does not ripen much once picked. It will soften, but not sweeten. This is why you may have encountered some very flavorless cantaloupe when you’ve purchased from the grocery store in the past.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a relatively easy melon to grow in your new garden, why not try your hand at growing cantaloupe? These vining plants are simple to grow as long as you provide them with sandy or light well-draining soil and lots of sun!
