What are the stages of growing cantaloupe?

What are the stages of growing cantaloupe?

Growth Stages of Cantaloupe

• Seedlings. Cantaloupe seedlings are sensitive and easily disturbed by weeding and thinning.
• Pollination and Vining. When cantaloupe plants begin vining, they will begin blossoming soon after.
• Harvest.

How long after flowering do cantaloupes appear?

35 to 45 days
Typically a cantaloupe will yield mature fruit 35 to 45 days after blossoming, according to the University of Minnesota, so time your planting to provide those 45 days while the weather is still warm.

How long does it take for a cantaloupe plant to produce fruit?

Cantaloupe plants take around 80 days to mature on average and is the most hardy when grown in zones 4-10 as a summer annual.

Why are my cantaloupes growing so slow?

There are three factors that will cause the growth of melons to come slow down (or stop): cool temperatures (below 60ºF), too much water or too little water. When melons don’t get enough water they stop growing. You can help prevent any further stress to your melons by keeping the vines free of weeds.

What is the best month to plant cantaloupe?

Cantaloupe does best when direct sown. Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65℉. In the low desert of Arizona, the best time to plant cantaloupe is from late February through July.

How do you tell the difference between a male and female cantaloupe flower?

The easiest way is looking at the flower stem. The male rises from the vine with a single plain stem of its own. The female has a cute little bulge that will become the fruit if pollinated.

How often do you water a cantaloupe?

Cantaloupes need plenty of water, but not enough to make a soggy garden. Give your crops one to two inches of water per week, watering the soil directly to avoid wetting the leaves and promoting powdery mildew. Once fruit begins to grow, reduce your watering, as dry weather is best for sweeter melons.

How do you know if your cantaloupe has been pollinated?

Cantaloupe Flower to Fruit You’ll know relatively soon if pollination was successful because the ovary at the base of the blossom will begin to grow into a melon.

How often should cantaloupe be watered?

Cantaloupes need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week. If you don’t receive that much rain weekly, water deeply but infrequently to reach that amount. As fruits mature, gradually reduce and stop watering because too much moisture can cause the rinds to split.

Why are there no female flowers on my cantaloupe?

A. Cantaloupes, like other vining crops such as cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and watermelons, require pollination for fruit set. This means pollen must be transferred from the male blooms to the female blooms. Nematodes can also cause small plants, profusion of blooms and no fruit.

How tall does a vine peach cantaloupe grow?

These heirloom melons were historically grown to be pickled or preserved, not eaten raw. Vine peach plants usually grow about 1 foot tall, with vines that extend up to 10 feet long. With preparation and planning, gardeners can easily grow vine peach cantaloupes from seed.

When is the best time to plant peach cantaloupes?

The ideal date for planting melons outside is anywhere from April through June. Because vine peach cantaloupes are a warm season crop, wait until the soil temperature has warmed up to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long does it take a cantaloupe to grow from seed?

The cantaloupe growth cycle is 80 to 120 days and at this stage of growth it requires warmth, soil nutrients and moisture protection. A layer of straw or chipped bark mulch is added as plants reach several inches in height and the soil warms to 75 degrees F or above.

When do you put mulch on a cantaloupe plant?

Young Plants. The cantaloupe growth cycle is 80 to 120 days and at this stage of growth it requires warmth, soil nutrients and moisture protection. A layer of straw or chipped bark mulch is added as plants reach several inches in height and the soil warms to 75 degrees F or above. Cantaloupe requires constant soil moisture until pollination occurs.