How to Plant and Grow Muskmelons

Cucumis melo var. reticulatus

For those who’re a fan of muskmelons, you most likely suppose biting right into a slice is the perfect style of summer time.

Their juicy, nutritious, and generally brightly coloured flesh is the proper addition to the picnic desk, including flavors that make your mouth water if you’re craving a cool, candy deal with after a barbecue or alongside a buffet of grilled meals.

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Muskmelons are sometimes considered interchangeably with cantaloupe, and, despite the fact that cantaloupes are in actual fact muskmelons, not all muskmelons are cantaloupes. Some sorts look and style very totally different.

You would possibly ask what the true distinction is between these – so we’ll cowl that, in addition to the right way to plant, develop, and take care of these important summer time fruits.

Right here’s every part we’ll cowl up forward:

It appears opinions are a bit polarized amongst gardeners and customers – they both love muskmelons and develop them yearly, or don’t get pleasure from their taste – or supposed lack thereof – and need nothing to do with them.

In my own residence, we’re divided about this! However when you or others in your house get pleasure from them, they’re a number of the best vine fruits to develop, and you’ll find cultivars in a variety of sizes and flavors.

What Is a Muskmelon?

Muskmelons, Cucumis melo var. reticulatus, are a part of the Cucurbitaceae household, together with cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini, Mexican bitter gherkins, and even watermelons.

It’s an enormous household that encompasses hundreds of identified species and cultivars, the vast majority of which produce scrambling, trailing, or climbing vines.

The species Cucumis melo is split into seven botanical variants: cantalupensis, reticulatus, inodorus, flexuosus, conomon, chito, and dudaim.

Solely the indorus and reticulatus sorts are generally grown as a business meals supply in the US.

Though a broader class of melons are sometimes referred to generally as muskmelons, on this information we’ll give attention to those who technically qualify as muskmelons: the reticulatus group.

Muskmelons characteristic netted rinds and the inside flesh could also be pale inexperienced to white, orange, or pink.

They’re typically rounded or rectangular and vary in dimension from six to 9 inches in size with a weight of 4 to eight kilos on common.

Inside seeds are slim and off-white, and referred to in Hindi as kharbuja magaj. In components of India, it’s commonplace to eat them uncooked, roasted, or steamed very similar to pumpkin seeds.

Seeds are enclosed in a chamber contained in the melon, generally by the lots of. Whereas the leaves are additionally technically edible, most will not be most popular for consumption.

The fuzzy, vining, monoecious crops produce small, yellow blossoms which are both male or feminine. After pollination, particular person vines can produce as many as six to eight fruits every.

It’s typically believed that the names cantaloupe and muskmelon are interchangeable, however despite the fact that cantaloupes fall into this group, they’re solely one among many sorts of muskmelon.

The cantaloupes that we usually discover in American shops will not be true cantaloupes, however muskmelons.

American cantaloupes have netted rinds, a characteristic of all C. melo var. reticulatus fruits. They’ve considerably candy flesh that’s enhanced by lengthy durations of publicity to warmth, so the warmer the summer time, the sweeter the fruit.

They’re usually rounded or rectangular and the netted rind doesn’t often have ridges. They could or might not produce a musky aroma as they mature.

Yow will discover full particulars on the right way to develop cantaloupe in our information.

The true cantaloupe, the European C. melo var. cantalupensis, has thick, warty rind which will lack netting and sometimes have ridges. They generally have inexperienced vertical striping as effectively.

One instance of a real cantaloupe is the Charentais melon, bred in France within the early 1900s. It has the standard tough exterior, with vertical inexperienced ridges and a musky scent. The inside is commonly tinted pink, and the flesh has a agency texture and wealthy taste.

Let’s take a fast stroll via historical past earlier than discussing planting and caretaking, lets? It’s at all times attention-grabbing to learn the way our favourite meals have come to have a spot on our tables.

Cultivation and Historical past

Archeological proof from excavations and written information proves that these melons had been utilized in myriad methods as way back because the third century in historic Persia, Egypt, Rome, Greece, and Spain.

Within the late 1400s, muskmelons had been launched to North America by Columbus. In 1881, the W. Atlee Burpee firm started providing seeds on the market for a spread they dubbed ‘Netted Gem.’

Cultivars have been selectively bred for thicker, firmer flesh, higher illness resistance, and extra uniform dimension, form, colour, and taste. Their extremely nutritive flesh makes them a staple for house gardeners, containing massive quantities of nutritional vitamins A and C, and potassium.

Planting and rising muskmelons is simple. Crucial issues to remember are the size of the rising season and seasonal temperatures.

Propagation is finished by planting seed – we’ll cowl that subsequent.

Propagation

Seeds are greatest sown open air on the planting web site fairly than beginning them indoors and transplanting them out into the backyard.

But when your area doesn’t have a protracted sufficient season to accommodate the months-long interval of progress to succeed in maturity, you will have to begin them indoors and transfer them outdoors later.

Use biodegradable pots to keep away from disturbing the roots when it’s time to transplant them to their outside location if beginning seeds inside.

From Seed

Start about 4 to 6 weeks previous to the final predicted frost date to your space to begin seeds indoors.

Fill biodegradable pots with a potting combination of 1 half seed-starting combine to at least one half sand. I like these Coco Seed Cups which are obtainable in packs of 20 from Dwelling Depot.

Coco Seed Cups

Keep away from potting mixes that comprise peat as they’re dense and never your best option for propagating melon seeds.

Water the medium effectively and permit the surplus moisture to empty off.

Press one to 2 seeds into the soil per pot, pointed finish down, about three-quarters to at least one inch deep. Cowl them over with soil.

Place the pots in a propagator or cowl them with a chunk of plastic movie, and sit them in a heat place out of direct daylight.

This domed propagator with an included develop gentle that’s obtainable from Tremendous Sprouter by way of Amazon is a superb choice that may be reused.

Tremendous Sprouter Propagation Package

The sunshine might be switched on after germination happens.

Use a warmth mat to maintain soil temperature constantly at 80°F and provide a mild mist of water if the potting combine begins to really feel dry, however keep away from overwatering. Seedlings ought to emerge in a couple of week to 10 days and weaker seedlings must be thinned early on.

Direct sowing must be completed after the final frost date when the soil temperature is a minimum of 65°C. You’ll be able to add a layer of landscaping plastic or cloth to assist preserve temperatures constant and punch holes at about 18-inch intervals.

The soil on the web site must be amended with sand and compost or manure and watered previous to planting. Make a small mound at every web site, press two to a few seeds about one inch deep into the soil in every mound, and canopy them over.

Humidity domes may also be positioned over the seeds when you’re involved about cool night temperatures or surprising chilly snaps.

Plastic Backyard Domes

These plastic cloches from Vumdua by way of Amazon are good since they’ve vents and include stakes to maintain them in place.

Maintain the seedlings protected till temperatures start to rise, however you should definitely vent the covers or take away them on scorching, sunny days since they’ll trigger wilting and overheating.

You’ll want to preserve the bottom moist however not moist till the seedlings begin to produce true leaves. After that, provide sufficient water to forestall the bottom from drying out fully. I’ll cowl this in additional element within the The best way to Develop part beneath.

From Seedlings/Transplanting

As soon as your crops have two units of true leaves, start hardening them off.

Place them open air in a shady location for a number of hours, and repeat this every day for per week, step by step transferring them into extra direct daylight for longer durations.

Relying on the seasonal temperatures in your area, seedlings must be moved open air between April and June when the bottom is constantly heat, and the hazard of frost has handed.

Put together the planting web site by amending with sand and compost. Until or rake it effectively to loosen and make holes as deep because the roots or pots at 18-inch intervals.

For those who’ve used biodegradable pots, merely place the complete pot into the opening and mound the soil however keep away from burying the stems.

For those who used a cell tray or plastic pots, rigorously flip the seedlings out of their containers and keep away from dealing with or damaging the roots. Place them within the holes and gently mound soil across the crops, however once more, don’t bury the stems.

Water them in with a wand to keep away from wetting the leaves. Present water every time the floor of the soil begins to really feel barely dry.

The best way to Develop

It’s straightforward to develop muskmelons, however you’ll wish to preserve a number of details in thoughts for the perfect consequence, and a productive harvest.

Word earlier than you start that muskmelons fluctuate of their time to maturity. Some could also be prepared for harvest in about 40 days, however others can take 90 days or extra to totally ripen.

Ensure that you understand how lengthy the rising interval is for the range that you just select, and plant accordingly so that you don’t lose your crop to frost.

Soil

The soil on the planting web site must be free and loamy, however sand is a crucial element to extend friability.

Melons don’t thrive in soggy environments and like heat, well-drained soil, however they want pretty constant moisture all through the season.

Clay or heavy, compacted soil must be tilled and amended previous to planting. When you’ve got typically poor soil, raised mattress rising can be an choice.

Check your soil forward of planting to verify the soil pH is between 6.0 and 6.8 and establish any nutrient deficiencies.

Previous to planting, add a three- to four-inch-deep layer of compost to the positioning to assist in warming the soil and rising obtainable vitamins.

Temperature

An extended, scorching season with temperatures within the 80 to 85°F vary is a should. Search for the sunniest, warmest zone of your backyard and plant them there.

For those who reside in a spot that doesn’t expertise excessive warmth in the summertime months, you might want so as to add a layer of black plastic or fabric to the bottom to generate sufficient heat.

Yow will discover three-millimeter plastic sheeting in a roll 10 toes vast by 25 toes lengthy obtainable from HDX by way of Dwelling Depot.

Black Plastic Sheeting

Roll it over the row, stake or weigh it down, and reduce a gap at every planting web site.

For those who’d favor to not use plastic within the backyard, otherwise you reside in an space that experiences temperatures that usually go above the optimum vary, a three- to four-inch-thick layer of straw mulch might be unfold early within the season to mirror gentle and preserve the planting space cool.

Further solar safety comparable to shade fabric could also be needed if temperatures climb above 90°F for an prolonged time period. In any other case, you might even see some bud and bloom drop or wilting taking place.

Spacing

Area crops 18 inches aside in rows 5 to 6 toes aside. It’s greatest to keep away from overcrowding as this will result in points with fungal illness in addition to poor manufacturing and melons which are bland in taste.

For those who don’t have a lot obtainable floor and like to trellis and develop vines vertically, that’s additionally an choice.

Trellising

You’ll want a sturdy construction, comparable to one product of wooden or steel. An A-frame trellis works effectively for this objective.

Heavy fruits on trellised vines might have further assist, comparable to hammocks product of stretchy materials like nylon pantyhose tied beneath every fruit.

The hammock must be tied on when the melons are nonetheless small and loosely hung to permit room for enlargement.

Keep away from utilizing supplies that maintain moisture or don’t transpire as they may certainly trigger rotting.

Watering

As I discussed, ample moisture is extraordinarily essential for muskmelons, particularly throughout early progress and blooming.

Present about one to 2 inches of water per week within the absence of rain, or barely extra in occasions of excessive warmth.

Because the fruit begins to set, cut back the quantity supplied to about one inch per week, and proceed truly fizzling out irrigation step by step because the fruits strategy ripeness. We’ll focus on the right way to inform in the event that they’re ripe and the right way to harvest in only a second.

Fertilizing

Including compost to the mattress or web site previous to planting is greatest to extend obtainable vitamins for younger crops.

When buds start to type – usually inside three to 4 weeks of planting – apply one other layer of compost two to a few inches deep, however keep away from piling it round plant stems.

Jobe’s Natural Fruit and Citrus Fertilizer

You can even use a packaged fertilizer, comparable to Jobe’s Natural Fruit and Citrus Fertilizer with Biozome (3-5-5 NPK). It’s obtainable in four-pound packages from Dwelling Depot.

A low-nitrogen fertilizer comparable to this works greatest to forestall overproduction of foliage. Apply it each two months or so all through the rising season, based on bundle directions.

Trimming

Quite than letting the vines produce to most capability, they are often trimmed again after the second or third fruit begins to develop.

Trim the tip of the vine after the leaf node following the final fruit. It will enable power to be diverted to producing bigger, extra flavorful fruits, fairly than expending it on rising lengthy, trailing vines.

Any blossoms that seem after the vine has been trimmed might be pinched off to divert that power as effectively.

Rising Ideas

• Direct-sow seeds if attainable or begin them indoors in biodegradable pots to keep away from root injury.
• Defend vines from prolonged durations of excessive warmth.
• Minimize vines again after the second or third melon has begun to type to divert power to fruit manufacturing.
• Feed all through the season and preserve moisture constant till ripening begins.

Cultivars to Choose

There are various various kinds of muskmelon to select from.

I’ll cowl a number of which are widespread selections for house rising, however keep in mind that this can be a small sampling of obtainable varieties.

Hale’s Finest Jumbo

‘Hale’s Finest Jumbo’ is an heirloom cultivar launched within the Twenties. It options three- to five-pound, orange-fleshed oval fruits with a candy taste.

‘Hale’s Finest Jumbo’

The vines develop as much as six toes lengthy and fruits are prepared to reap after 80 to 85 days.

Yow will discover packets of 200 seeds obtainable at Burpee.

Hearts of Gold

‘Hearts of Gold’ is an heirloom selection that’s often chosen for the house backyard. Its massive, two- to three-pound closely netted fruits have skinny rinds and deep orange, candy flesh.

‘Hearts of Gold’

This cultivar is a wonderful alternative in case you have a shorter rising season because it solely takes about 80 days to succeed in maturity.

Bred from ‘Osage’ and ‘Netted Gem,’ you’ll be able to count on vines of a minimum of six toes and productive crops – with correct caretaking, in fact.

Discover one-gram packets of seed obtainable from Botanical Pursuits.

Rocky Ford

‘Rocky Ford’ aka ‘Eden Gem’ is a vigorous heirloom cultivar that produces two- to three-pound fruits with gentle inexperienced flesh and a candy, barely spicy taste.

‘Rocky Ford’

Vines develop a minimum of six toes lengthy and fruits are prepared to reap in 85 to 95 days.

Yow will discover seeds in quite a lot of packet sizes obtainable from Eden Brothers.

If you wish to be taught extra about different sorts of melons obtainable, check out our information to 33 of the perfect varieties to develop at house.

Managing Pests and Illness

Muskmelons are inclined to a number of various kinds of pests and illnesses, though some sorts have been bred for resistance.

A few of these are annoying however simply handled, whereas others can wreck your harvest and destroy your vines if the issue’s not caught early on.

Animals

There are fairly a number of animals that get pleasure from melons as a lot as you most likely do.

Birds, deer, chipmunks, groundhogs, raccoons, and, in fact, squirrels, might all have a go at nibbling via the rinds to entry the candy flesh inside.

Trellising the vines and wrapping the fruits in nylon as they mature can stop some points, however it may be fairly powerful to maintain these furry fruit fiends out of your backyard and off of your produce.

By far, the best method to defend your crops is to construct a fence or use row covers that preserve them out of attain.

In any other case, you would possibly think about planting some deterrent crops particular to the animals you’re coping with.

Bugs

Pests are frequent within the backyard and no much less so if you’re rising muskmelons.

Aphids, spider mites, cucumber beetles, cutworms, and squash bugs are all potential company that you could be come throughout amongst your vines. Try our guides to learn to cope with these.

Maintain an in depth eye out for indicators of destruction which will imply you’ve gotten an infestation.

Discoloration, stunted progress, holes or spots on leaves or in vines, and the unfold of illness might point out that you’ve unwelcome company making the rounds.

Illness

Sadly, there are fairly a number of maladies to be looking out for as effectively. And, simply as with different points that may come up, some might be devastating.

Alternaria leaf blight, downy mildew, fusarium wilt, mosaic viruses, and powdery mildew might befall your patch.

These illnesses are significantly essential to cope with shortly in case you have different cucurbits or inclined crops rising in shut proximity, as a result of pathogens can typically unfold and destroy your backyard.

Check out our cantaloupe rising information for data on these illnesses and the right way to cope with them.

Harvesting

There are a few methods to determine when your muskmelons are ripe and able to harvest.

First, preserve observe of the planting date and rely out the variety of days to maturity of the cultivar you’re rising to present you a goal harvest date.

Across the projected maturity date, verify on the melons each day. You’ll be able to apply some mild strain to the stems the place they connect to the fruit; in the event that they’re ripe, the stems will launch, or slip, reassuring you that they’re ripe for the selecting.

Moreover, some sorts can look darker or brighter in colour after they’re prepared to select. Adjustments in colour are alerts that the fruit could also be ripe.

Deal with the fruits gently as they’ll undergo bruising in the event that they’re dropped or jostled collectively. Deliver them indoors and instantly sanitize them, because the rind can harbor harmful micro organism comparable to salmonella and listeria.

You should use a gallon of water heated to a minimum of 180°F with about two cups of white vinegar added to submerge and soak for about 10 minutes. After soaking, scrub the rind beneath scorching operating water utilizing a brush for about one minute.

Instantly following sanitizing, dry the fruit and transfer it to the fridge or put together it for consumption when you favor to eat it instantly.

Preserving

For those who’re unsure the place to begin to put together a muskmelon, you’ll find a helpful information on the right way to reduce a cantaloupe on our sister web site, Foodal.

For those who’re not prepared to make use of it instantly, these reduce items might be unfold on wax paper on a cookie sheet and positioned within the freezer for 15 to half-hour.

As soon as the surface is frozen, the items might be positioned right into a zip-top gallon bag and frozen for a number of months. Although the standard will decline, frozen melon is superb in a smoothie.

Minimize fruit will solely final within the fridge for a number of days earlier than it begins to spoil, however an entire melon will final for a couple of week to 10 days. You’ll want to course of and freeze the flesh when you can’t use it in time.

Recipes and Cooking Concepts

I’ve been trying ahead to this portion of the information from the start!

It’s possible you’ll be beneath the impression, as lots of people are, that muskmelons are solely helpful when you prefer to eat them contemporary – and, to be truthful, consuming them immediately from the rind or including the reduce items to a fruit salad might be the best and most typical method to get pleasure from them.

And, in fact, this can be a completely serviceable choice. However, let me let you know – these nutritious summer time globes are versatile.

You’ll be able to wrap cantaloupe slices in prosciutto and serve them with different candy and savory meats, olives, crackers, and cheeses.

Sweeter varieties might be blended in a meals processor with a little bit of heavy cream and honey or sugar and frozen for an ice chilly, fruity summer time ice cream.

Or, omit the cream and easily freeze the pureed fruit and sugar or honey for a light-weight, refreshing sorbet.

Skewer melon balls and add them to a punch bowl stuffed with sangria at your pool celebration. Combine them with different fruit, comparable to strawberries, grapes, and peaches, when you’d like.

Add a handful of frozen cubes to a blender with a splash of almond, coconut, or oat milk and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and mix it right into a scrumptious smoothie – or, substitute the milk for Greek yogurt for a thicker, spoon-able deal with.

Substitute puree instead of different fruits such bananas or applesauce in bread recipes for an surprising taste.

That is actually simply the tip of the iceberg, and there are such a lot of methods to get pleasure from muskmelons. I’d love to listen to your favourite within the feedback!

Fast Reference Rising Information

Plant Sort:	Herbaceous annual fruiting vine	Water Wants:	Reasonable
Native to:	Center East, Africa, Asia	Upkeep:	Reasonable
Hardiness (USDA Zone):	4-10	Soil Sort:	Loam, sandy loam
Season:	Summer time	Soil pH:	6.0-6.8
Publicity:	Full solar	Soil Drainage:	Properly-draining
Time to Maturity:	40-90 days, relying on selection	Companion Planting:	Basil, beans, beets, calendula, catnip, collards, corn, dill, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, radishes
Spacing:	18 inches	Keep away from Planting With:	Different cucurbits
Planting Depth:	1 inch (seed), depth of rootball (transplants)	Household:	Cucurbitaceae
Peak:	12-18 inches	Genus:	Cucumis
Unfold:	3-6 toes	Species:	melo
Progress Price:	Reasonable	Selection:	Reticulatus
Frequent Pests:	Aphids, cucumber beetles, cutworms, squash bugs, spider mites	Frequent Illness:	Alternaria leaf blight, downy mildew, fusarium wilt, mosaic viruses, powdery mildew

Magnificent Muskmelons!

So, was I proper? Do you’ve gotten a favourite selection in thoughts that you just’re planning to develop this season? Or are you hoping to strive multiple to see which you want most?

Give us your greatest ideas for rising in your area within the feedback beneath – I really like listening to in regards to the variations that gardeners make based mostly on their native local weather and rising circumstances. And be happy to ask away in case you have any questions as effectively.

You may additionally be excited about studying extra about rising different sorts of melons, so take a look at these guides subsequent: