How to Take Care of Cantelopes after Planting Them
The sweet-tasting fruit of the cantaloupe makes it a prime candidate for home garden fruit production. Whether you started the melons from seed or purchased transplants, continual care throughout the growing season ensures your melons thrive and grow into well-formed fruit. Cantaloupes require a long, warm growing season to reach maturity, along without proper irrigation and soil nutrition. Taking the time to properly care for your cantaloupes after planting them is vital for a successful harvest. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Water once a week, providing a total of 1 to 2 inches of water to the cantaloupe bed. Use drip irrigation if available. Otherwise supply water directly to the roots of the plants with a hose instead of misting the leaves.
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Apply a 2-inch layer of organic mulch around the plants once the soil temperature reaches 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Mulching preserves soil moisture and prevents weeds. Organic mulch is not necessary in black plastic covered beds.
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Fertilize once plants produce runners with flower buds on them. Apply 1 to 2 tbsp. of nitrogen fertilizer per plant, digging it into the soil 6 inches away from the stem so the fertilizer doesn't burn the cantaloupe's roots.
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Remove weeds as you notice them to prevent them from competing with the cantaloupes for nutrients and water. Loosen the soil surface between the plants with a hoe or hand cultivator every two to three days so weed seeds can't become established.
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Check plants weekly for signs of insect or disease infection, such as damaged or discolored leaves. Use the proper chemical or organic control immediately for the pest type if one is detected.
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Harvest cantaloupes as they ripen. Pick once the background color of the fruit changes to yellow and the melon easily twists from the vine.
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Tips & Warnings
Cantaloupes can be grown on a sturdy trellis if you don't have a lot of garden space.
Cover the plants with a row cover or hot cap if a freeze is predicted early in the planting season.
