We can also grow the popular sugar melon. We show what you should pay attention to when planting and caring for cantaloupe melons.
Cantaloupe melons (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) belong to the cantaloupe family. Its sweet, orange flesh is reminiscent of summer, vacation and sun. If you want to bring that feeling of summer to your garden, you can also grow the melon yourself. In our article, we tell you what you need to know about growing cantaloupe melons. Here you will find everything about the origin, popular varieties, planting, care and harvesting of the delicious melon.
The cantaloupe melon is a variety of the cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo L.) and belongs to the cucumber genus (Cucumis) . The same genus also includes pumpkin (Cucurbita), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and zucchini ( Cucurbita pepo subsp. Pepo convar. giromontiina). Therefore, contrary to popular belief, it is officially a vegetable and not a fruit, although it is used as such in the kitchen and also commercially.
Other names for cantaloupe are cantaloupe or cantaloupe. The not so nice sounding name of the musk melon is due to the exterior of the melon. The light to dark green skin of the delicious fruit is criss-crossed by many furrows; to many these look like warts. Even if the shell of the melon seems wrinkled and unattractive, there is a real treasure inside: the orange-colored flesh is aromatic, sweet and also full of vitamins, fiber and beta-carotene.
Origins and characteristics of the cantaloupe melon
The cantaloupe originally comes from Iran. It was probably cultivated there around 5000 years ago. 1000 years later it also reached the eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Egypt. In 1700 AD, according to legend, the cantaloupe melon was first grown from a seed and planted on papal soil in Cantaloupo in Sabina (Italy). Hence the melonalso her name. Today, the delicious fruit is mainly grown in Asia, but also in Spain, Italy and France. Even in Germany, the cantaloupe is cultivated in areas with a mild climate, i.e. mainly in wine-growing areas, in the summer months.
The cantaloupe melon is an annual and forms long, creeping and creeping shoots. Dark green, hairy leaves, which can almost be prickly, sit on the shoots. Only the female flowers produce fruit. Although the male flowers are a striking yellow color, they do not produce any melons. The fruits themselves can weigh 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms and have a yellowish to light green skin covered with a kind of scab. Inside the melon is soft, orange flesh and numerous, medium-sized pips in the center.
The most popular varieties of cantaloupe melon
The cantaloupe has a long history as a crop. Accordingly, there are many different breeds and varieties worldwide. The choice of variety determines, among other things, the size and shelf life of the melon. We have put together some interesting varieties for you below.
Popular Cantaloupe Varieties:
- ˈCharentaisˈ: The variety forms round, small fruits with an intense aromatic taste. The melons can weigh from 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms.
- ˈInfinite Goldˈ: This variety is characterized by its long shelf life after harvest. The taste is less aromatic and intense.
- ˈStreits Freiland Grünnetnetzˈ: This variety is particularly suitable for cultivation in our latitudes. It forms rather small but aromatic fruits.
- ˈEden's Gemˈ: Although this variety is very wet on the outside, it produces fruits weighing around 1 kilogram.
- ˈDelicious from Pilnitzˈ: This variety is rather unsuitable for the field, but more for the greenhouse. However, it can also be grown outdoors in particularly warm areas.
- ˈSarah's Choiceˈ: This variety is also very well adapted to outdoor cultivation and produces fruits weighing up to 1.5 kilograms.
- ˈMurrmelˈ: This variety was bred in Baden-Württemberg and is therefore perfect for home gardens. The pulp tastes very aromatic and sweet.
- ˈHale's Bestˈ: This old variety can even produce 3 kg melons. The fruits taste good toostill very sweet and intense.
- ˈBari F1ˈ: This variety is very productive, the fruits are tasty and aromatic.
You can find many more interesting types of melons here in our special article on the subject.
Buying cantaloupe melon: You should pay attention to this
When buying cantaloupe melons, you have the choice between pre-cultivated young plants or seeds. Of course, preferring the melon plants yourself always involves a certain risk and involves work. Pre-grown young plants from the trade are considerably more expensive than seeds, but have the advantage that they are often grafted and therefore more resistant than self-grown plants.
If you decide to buy cantaloupe plants, you will find them in spring in hardware stores, garden centers, at weekly markets or on the Internet. When buying, first of all, pay attention to the choice of variety. This should be as appropriate as possible to the site conditions in your garden. In addition, you should only purchase he althy and strong young plants. Make sure that the leaves and shoots of the plant are undamaged. There should also be no signs of eating or other signs of disease or pests. The root ball should smell fresh and earthy, not foul.
What should you look out for when buying cantaloupe?
- Selection
- Strong plant
- Undamaged leaves and shoots
- Free from disease and pests
- No foul smell
Plant Cantaloupe
So that the delicious melons can also thrive in your garden, they must of course be planted there. In the next sections you will learn everything about the right time to plant, the best location for the cantaloupe and the procedure for planting.
When will the cantaloupe be planted?
Melons originally come from more southern climes and can't handle too cold weather. It is therefore advisable to prefer melon seedlings indoors and then plant them out. The ideal time to do this is four to six weeks before planting outdoors. The cantaloupe melons can only go into the greenhouse when no more frost is to be expected - that means best after the ice saints, i.e. mid-May. You can therefore prefer the young plants from the end of March to the beginning/mid-April. Should go outdoorsthe melons can only be planted from the beginning of June. Then they will find the ideal conditions to grow there as well.
The ideal planting time for cantaloupe melons:
- Preplant 4 - 6 weeks before planting out
- Sowing from the end of March to mid-April
- Planting in the greenhouse: From mid-May
- Planting outdoors: From the beginning of June
The perfect location for cantaloupe melons
To give the cantaloupe the best growing conditions in your garden, you should choose the site and soil for your melon carefully. Above all, the melons need a lot of space to grow. Therefore, choose a sufficiently large bed in the garden or in the greenhouse. When in full bloom, cantaloupe melons can cover up to four square meters per plant. A sheltered location is also important. The small young plants do not yet tolerate full sun and should therefore be in semi-shade.
Excessive light, especially at midday, can lead to burns on the still tender leaves. So make sure you have enough shade - you can also help with a sun protection film. If the melons are already bigger, the blazing midday sun doesn't bother them anymore. Warmth is then particularly important for maturing, so temperatures should never be below 12 °C for waxing. Temperatures between 25 and 35 °C are ideal in summer. The soil temperature also plays a role in the melon thriving. This is ideally between 20 and 25 °C. A black foil over the floor can help here, as it ensures a better warm-up.
What is the perfect location for cantaloupe?
- As much space as possible
- Sheltered
- Shade young plants
- Temperature of at least 12 °C
- Ideal temperatures in summer: 25 - 35 °C
- Ideal soil temperature: 20 - 25 °C
The ideal base for cantaloupe melons
Of course, the soil also plays an important role in the success of growing melons, so it should be prepared in good time. The melon does not tolerate waterlogging at all and therefore likes loose, well-drained soil. You can enrich soil that is too firm and wet with mineral material such as sand before planting. The ideal pH for the cantaloupe is 5.5 to 7. Cantaloupes therefore tolerate acidic soils. Our peat-free Plantura organic universal soil is there forexcellent example. In addition, the soil should be as nutrient-rich as possible. If this is not the case with your substrate, it is best to work a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect such as the Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the soil before planting. This ensures that the melon has enough nutrients available right from the start. Alternatively, you can use compost or well-rotted manure.
What is the ideal soil for cantaloupe?
- Loose and permeable
- No waterlogging
- Nutrient
- pH value: 5.5 - 7
Prefer cantaloupe melons
Prepare small pots with potting soil before growing. Here you always place three seeds one to two centimeters deep in the soil and press them in slightly. After that it is poured well. The seedlings feel particularly comfortable in a bright and warm location, for example on the windowsill above the heater. Optimal conditions for cultivation prevail in a self-built mini greenhouse. Otherwise, you can also put plastic bags over the pots and regularly use a spray bottle to ensure sufficient moisture. At temperatures between 25 and 30 °C, the seeds begin to sprout after just a few days. If two cotyledons can be seen on the seedlings, they can be pricked out carefully. To do this, select the strongest seedlings and separate them so that there is only one seedling in each pot. Now the plants can stand without a cover. Nevertheless, they are not yet ready for the field, because they can only be planted outside four to six weeks after sowing.
How do you prefer cantaloupe?
- Prepare pots with potting soil
- Seed depth: 1 - 2 cm
- Always sow 3 seeds together
- Cover with plastic bag or put in mini greenhouse
- Ensure sufficient moisture
- Germination temperature: 25 - 30 °C
- Germination time: a few days
- Prick out at dicot stage
- No more covering needed afterwards
- Plant out after 4 - 6 weeks
Plant cantaloupe melons
As soon as it is warm enough outside or in the greenhouse, you can plant out the seedlings you have brought forward or bought. Prepare the bed by fluffing it thoroughly and incorporating organic material such as compost, well-rotted manure, or a slow release organic fertilizer. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is well suited for the cantaloupe melon,which supplies the plant with sufficient nutrients and at the same time protects the environment. The melons grow ideally on small plant mounds, which should be about the size of an A4 sheet of paper and a hand’s breadth high. Leave enough space between each mound, at least 1.5 meters. Now dig a small hole in the middle of the plant mound and put the plants in there. However, they should not be used deeper than they were in the pot. Finally, the little plants are well watered and, if necessary, installed a shade. A black foil or a thick layer of dark compost as a mulch helps the soil to warm up properly.
Step-by-step instructions: planting cantaloupe melons
- Loosen up the bed well
- Incorporate organic matter into the soil
- Create plant mounds
- Dig a small hole in the middle of the hills
- Insert young plants
- Water well
- Shade young plants if necessary
- Lay out black foil or mulch with a thick layer of compost
Caring for cantaloupe melons
Even after planting, the work is not over with the cantaloupe melon, because it needs regular care in order to be able to delight you with beautiful fruits. Especially on hot and sunny days, the melons require sufficient water. It is best to water in the evening so as not to burn the leaves. As soon as the plant has formed fruit, the watering can be reduced. Too much water damages the delicious fruit, dilutes the sugar content and waters down the taste.
If you have already applied fertilizer in the form of compost or fertilizer with an organic long-term effect when planting, the next fertilization is only necessary again when the plant forms flowers. Then she is happy about another application of fertilizer with sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You will find the ideal composition of nutrients in our Plantura organic universal fertilizer with organic long-term effect. After the flowering period, another fertilization is advisable after eight weeks. Alternatively, you can also use a mineral fertilizer. However, this should be applied at shorter intervals, every four to six weeks.
How to care for cantaloupe melons?
- Water regularly and sufficiently
- Avoid waterlogging
- AfterFruit formation Reduce watering
- Fertilize regularly as soon as flowers have formed
- Remove weeds
Propagating Cantaloupe Melons
If you don't want to buy new seeds every year, you can also get seeds from your own melons, as long as they don't come from hybrid seeds. To do this, remove the seeds from the harvested melon and free them from the pulp. The seeds are then soaked in cold water for two days, after which they are spread out on a paper towel to dry. Once the seeds are completely dry they can be stored in a dry, dark and cool place until next year or the year after.
How are cantaloupe melons propagated?
- Take seeds from harvested melon
- Pulp Removal
- Soak in water for 2 days
- Dry completely on paper towel
- Store in a dry, cool and dark place
- Seeds have a shelf life of up to 2 years
Harvesting and storing cantaloupe melons
It's not that easy to get the right time to harvest the cantaloupe melon. But there are three clear signs that point to the right degree of ripeness of the melon.
When is the cantaloupe ripe?
- The stem breaks easily.
- The fruit gives off an intense, sweet scent.
- The skin is light green to slightly yellow in colour.
Melons grow very quickly and are usually ripe within four weeks. If the melons were planted in the garden bed in June, you can probably harvest the first fruits at the end of July or beginning of August. Use a sharp knife and cut through the stalk of the melon. Overripe melons fall off the stalk all by themselves. If the melons are already completely yellow, they are overripe. The sad news is that cantaloupe doesn't keep for very long. Overall, it can only be stored for a maximum of three weeks after harvesting at an ideal 3 to 5 °C. It is best to store a cantaloupe that has already been cut in the refrigerator and use it within two to three days.
Harvesting and storing cantaloupe melon:
- Start of harvest from the end of July
- Cut the stem with a knife
- Storage temperature: 3 - 5 °C
- Whole fruit can be kept for up to max. 3 weeks
- Use cut fruit within 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator
calories andCantaloupe Vitamins
Cantaloupe melons are said to be particularly he althy: They are said to ensure a strong immune system, shiny hair and good eyes. Due to its high water content, this melon also has very few calories, making it the perfect snack for hot summer days. In addition to water, the cantaloupe also has other valuable ingredients.
100 grams of fresh cantaloupe melon contain:
- 10 kcal
- 7.86 g sugar
- 0.9 g fiber
- 0.19 g fat
- 1.84g Protein
- 90.15 g water
- 9 mg Calcium
- 12mg Magnesium
- 15 mg Phosphorus
The cantaloupe melon also contains plenty of vitamin C and a lot of beta-carotene. This can be converted by the body into vitamin A, which, for example, strengthens the immune system.
To eat, the melon is divided in the middle and the seeds are easily removed from the middle with a spoon. Now the fruit is ready to eat and can be prepared in a variety of ways. In summer, of course, the melon tastes wonderfully refreshing when it comes cold from the fridge. It is also delicious in salads or in a bowl. Another option is the Italian classic with ham. Or try a cold soup made from cantaloupe melon in summer.
If you just can't get enough of melons right now, then maybe growing watermelons is something for you too. Here's everything you need to know about the red-fleshed melon.