Growing Guide: Cantaloupe Melons | gardenswag

What's round, sweet and related to cucumbers? Melons! Here's just about everything you need to know to grow one of summer's favorite fruit: cantaloupes. Just remember to give yourself plenty of room: Most growing cantaloupes need between 8 to 10 feet of space for their vines (although the cantaloupes you can grow in containers may not need quite as much). So, unless you want to spend your summer yellin' for melon, leave plenty of space and put out plenty of fertilizer to grow this sweet, tropical treat in your garden.

Sowing Guide
When to sow indoors	3 – 4 weeks before last frost
When to sow outdoors	When soil is at least 70° F
Seed depth	1/2"
Germination soil temperature	80° – 90°F
Germination length	3 – 5 days (longer for cooler soil)
When to transplant	When melon seedlings have 2 – 3 mature leaves
Varieties	Hale's Best Jumbo (a favorite) Halona (resistant to disease and powdery mildew) Lil' Loupe' (container cultivar)

Growing Guide
pH range	6.0 – 7.0 (6.0 minimum)
Soil temperature	70° – 85°F
Spacing	Varies by size
Watering	Moderate from germination to fruit development; low or none during fruit ripening.
Light	Full sun
Nutrient requirements	N = low P = high K = high
Fertilizer schedule	Every 6 weeks or so
When to harvest	When stem starts to crack and fruit smells sweet

Looking for more information and inspiration?
Check out these tips for growing cantaloupe melons.

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