How to Germinate Cantaloupes
Cantaloupes are warm-season crops that have a sweet and orange flesh. Germinating the seeds indoors protects them from diseases and insects until they become established. Cantaloupes do not tolerate a disturbance to the root system, so they need to be germinated in biodegradable peat pots. Once the soil warms outdoors, the cantaloupe seedlings can be safely transplanted into a home garden. Cantaloupes grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness zones 4 through 10. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Place seed-starting soil into individual peat pots. Water the soil to make it damp, but not to the point of sogginess.
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Sow two cantaloupe seeds into each peat pot. Plant each seed 1/2-inch deep in the soil.
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Cover the peat pots with a clear plastic bag to help retain the moisture.
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Place the peat pots in a location with a temperature between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Water the soil so that it stays moist.
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Remove the plastic bag once the cantaloupe seeds sprout.
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Place the cantaloupe seedlings in a warm and sunny location. Continue to water the seedlings so that the soil remains moist.
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Plant the cantaloupe seedlings outdoors once the soil temperature reaches above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Tips & Warnings
Plant the cantaloupes in hills spaced 4 to 6 feet apart and in rows spaced 18 to 24 inches apart.
Avoid planting the cantaloupe seeds in soil temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, because it will promote root diseases.
References
- University of Minnesota Extension; Growing Melons; Karl Foord, et al.; 2009
- Oklahoma State University; Cantaloupe Production; Jim Motes, et al.
- North Carolina State University; Muskmelons (Cantaloupes); Jonathan R. Schultheis; March 1995
- Montana State University Extension; Planting a Successful Home Vegetable Garden; Cheryl Moore-Gough, et al.; June 2007
- Washington State University; Seed Germination; Holly S. Kennell
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
