Grow cantaloupe in full sun on warm hills that drain. Cantaloupe is Cucumis melo, the netted muskmelon in this catalog.
Give it full sun, warm hills, and even water until the fruit ripens
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun on a hot, open site | Do not plant cantaloupe in shade or a frost pocket |
| Soil | Warm hills or raised ground that drain after rain | Do not sow into cold, wet clay |
| Water | About one to two inches a week while vines run and fruit swell, at the soil | Do not let vines wilt at bloom, and do not flood the bed in the last week before harvest |
| Feed | Compost before planting, then a nitrogen side-dress when runners start | Do not overfeed nitrogen so you get vines and pale, bland fruit |
cantaloupe wants heat and a long stretch of sun. Keep moisture even while vines run and fruit swell, then ease off as the melons ripen so sugar can concentrate. Water at the base so the leaves stay dry. A week of extra irrigation at the end can split fruit and wash out flavor. [1] [2] The first flowers are male. Female flowers have a small swelling behind the bloom. Bees have to visit that flower the day it opens.
Does cantaloupe need full sun?
Yes. Give it a hot, open site with a full day of sun. Shade slows the vines and cuts sugar in the fruit.
Should I water less as cantaloupe ripens?
Yes. Water evenly while vines run and fruit swell, then ease off as the melons ripen. Do not flood the bed in the last week, and do not let the vines collapse from drought either.
Sow after frost in warm hills, about an inch deep
Wait until frost has passed and the soil is at least 65°F. Melon seed rots in cold, wet ground. Sow in hills, or set peat-pot transplants with the root ball intact.
- Sow four to six seeds about one inch deep in a mound, after the soil is warm.
- Thin to two strong plants once they have a couple of true leaves. Space mounds about four feet apart, with five to six feet between rows.
- If you start seed indoors, sow only three or four weeks ahead in peat pots, and move the whole pot so you do not tear roots.
- Black plastic can warm the soil. Pull row cover off when flowers open so bees can reach them.
How deep should I sow cantaloupe seed?
About one inch, in warm soil after frost. Thin the hill to two plants.
Wait until the melon slips from the vine
Cantaloupe sweetens on the vine. Once you pick it, the fruit may soften, but it will not add more sugar. Wait until the stem lets go. [3]
- Watch for coarse netting and a background color that turns from green to creamy yellow.
- Cup the melon and twist gently. At full slip the stem separates with little pressure. If it tears, wait a day and try again. [4]
- The flower end should feel slightly soft, and a ripe melon often smells musky.
- Do not wait until the fruit falls on its own. That melon is usually overripe.
How do I know a cantaloupe is ripe?
The netting is coarse, the background turns creamy yellow, and the stem slips with a gentle twist. Do not pick a green melon the way you pick a cucumber.
Not a watermelon — and not a garden cucumber
Watermelon is Citrullus, a different genus, and it does not slip the same way. cucumber is Cucumis sativus — see How to Grow Cucumber. Honeydew is the same species as cantaloupe, but you cut it when the rind yellows; the stem does not slip. Those harvest cues are not this netted muskmelon.
Will cantaloupe cross with cucumber?
No. Cantaloupe does not cross with cucumber, watermelon, or squash in a way that changes this year's fruit. Give the vines room so they do not smother each other.
If the stem still tears, leave the melon one more day and try the twist again — sugar is still moving in.
FAQ
Can I grow cantaloupe in a pot or on a trellis?
A large draining pot can hold a compact type, but most vines want ground. On a trellis, sling each swelling melon so the stem does not tear.
Does honeydew slip the same way?
No. Honeydew is cut from the vine when the rind turns yellowish-white and the blossom end softens. This catalog plant is the netted cantaloupe that slips.
Why did the first cantaloupe flowers fall off?
The first flowers are male. Female flowers open later and have a small swelling at the base. Bees have one day to pollinate each bloom.
Is Armenian cucumber a cantaloupe?
Armenian cucumber is Cucumis melo, the same species, but it is eaten like a long pale cucumber. The plant in this catalog is the netted dessert melon.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Iowa State Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-cantaloupe-muskmelon-and-other-melons-home-garden - [2] Utah State University Extension -
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/cantaloupe-in-the-garden - [3] University of Illinois Extension -
https://extension.illinois.edu/gardening/muskmelon - [4] University of Minnesota Extension -
https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/growing-melons-home-garden
This note is part of Cucumis Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors