However, be careful not to overdo it because too much nitrogen can lead to excessive leaf growth and poor fruit harvest. Lightly side-dress the plants with a high-nitrogen fertilizer a few weeks after planting and again just after the flowers bloom. Cut back on water about one week before maturity to improve flavor. Drip irrigation is best because overhead water can encourage mildew and damage fruit. Caring for Cantaloupe Plants WateringĬantaloupes need regular, deep watering of one to two inches per week, with the soil getting damp down to six inches. However, remove them when temperatures under the covers reach 80☏ to allow insects to pollinate the flowers. Row covers or tunnels can be highly beneficial for growing cantaloupes in cooler growing regions to get an earlier start on planting. Cut holes every two feet to transplant or direct sow the seeds. To do this, incorporate any needed fertilizer into the ground, install drip irrigation, and then cover the row with black plastic. You can plant in a plastic mulch for warmer soil, moisture retention, weed suppression, and less fruit rot. The vines will spread over the area fairly quickly, so make sure there's enough space! Plant melons 18 to 24 inches apart in rows with a minimum of 6 feet between rows. Take a soil test to determine fertilizer needs and apply 5-10-10 fertilizer as needed. Give cantaloupes the sunniest spot possible, but be sure the soil drains readily or amend it with compost or aged manure to achieve better drainage. Keep the seeds watered, and when the seedlings come up, thin to the best two plants per mound. Plant four to six seeds an inch or two apart and about 1 ½ inches deep across the top of the mound. Make mounds of soil about 3-4 feet in diameter. Wait until the daytime soil temperature reaches 65☏.
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