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Melons in the summer garden
Commercial cantaloupes must be pick before they
are ripe so they can be shipped safely. To enjoy them at their
vine-ripened best we must grow them in the home garden. A sweet,
aromatic melon from the home garden is a treat worth the the
effort.
Growing
conditions
All melon,
cantaloupes, muskmelons, honeydews and watermelons require the
same care. They grow best in loose, fertile soil that is rich
in organic matter. The soil should be well drained. All melons
require full sun. Cantaloupes, muskmelons and honeydews prefer
a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Watermelon prefer a pH between
5.5 and 6.5.
An early start in zone 6
Melons require a long, warm growing season.
They can be direct-seeded in late spring when the soil temperature
is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the weather is settled.
Black plastic mulch put down in early May can raise the soil
temperature under the mulch to a safe level in about two weeks.
Melons do not transplant easily, but it can be done. Start the seeds indoors in peat pots two to four weeks before the the soil has warmed enough to set the plants into the garden.
Planting
After the soil has warmed, cut an X
in the plastic mulch and fold the points under to form a rectangular
opening. Space the openings according to the instructions on
the seed packet. Plant four or five seeds, 1/2" deep, in
each opening. After the plants have sprouted, thin each hill
to the two or three strongest seedlings.
Transplant seedling that were started inside
carefully so as not to disturb the roots. Remove the rims of
the peat pots and set the pot and plant into the soil.
Maintenance
and pest control
Melons grown through strips of black plastic mulch require little
weeding. Shallow cultivation controls weeds between unmulched
vines.
Moisture requirements are critical during
the flowering and fruit development. The plastic mulch conserves
moisture, but it is wise to check the soil under the mulch regularly.
Bacterial wilt is a problem spread by striped
or spotted cucumber beetles Aphids and squash bugs can be a problem
in some areas. Call your county Cooperative Extension Office
for recommended control procedures.
Harvesting
As cantaloupes ripen the network of veins become
more prominent and the color lighter, When the melon is ripe
it slips easily from the vine. Watermelons are ripen when the
tendril nearest the melon turns brown.
Email Frank
Sommer
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