How many varieties of cantaloupe are there?

How many varieties of cantaloupe are there?

5 Original Types Of Cantaloupes You Should Know

What type of cantaloupe is the sweetest?

What is this? For those with short growing seasons, Halona was specifically bred to be sweet, a prolific yielder, and earlier than most other cantaloupes. Because it’s so productive and disease resistant, Halona is also recommended for those who have difficulty getting good yields when growing melons.

What is the best type of cantaloupe?

11 of the Best Cantaloupe Cultivars

• Charentais.
• El Gordo Hybrid.
• Hearts of Gold.
• Olympic Express Hybrid.
• Planters Jumbo.
• Sarah’s Choice Hybrid.
• Top Mark.
• Zena.

What are the two types of cantaloupe?

The term “cantaloupe” refers to two varieties of muskmelon: the North American cantaloupe (C. melo var. reticulatus) and the European cantaloupe (C. melo var.

What is the largest cantaloupe variety?

Colossal Cantaloupe’ is one of the largest cantaloupe varieties ever bred, yielding melons that weigh 25-30 lbs. But keep in mind that bigger is not always better in the world of melons. Often it’s the smaller, denser melons that have the most flavor and sweetness.

What’s the best cantaloupe to grow?

Choose a cantaloupe type suited to your needs

Ambrosia – sweet variety; resistant to powdery mildew. Mini Sugar Cube – disease resistant; small fruits; only 75 days to harvest. Hale’s Best Jumbo * – sweet and large; only 80 days to harvest. Planter’s Jumbo – does best in hot climates; resistant to powdery mildew.

Why are my homegrown cantaloupes not sweet?

The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they won’t have that sweet, summery flavor you expect. But if the melons are being picked when they are ripe and ready, then the issue might be the soil or watering conditions.

What is the easiest cantaloupe to grow?

Minnesota Midget an heirloom variety producing 4-inch melons on 3-4 foot vines. It’s relatively quick growing and matures in 60 to 70 days. Divergent is a favorite of many gardeners. It has a sweet flavor, performs well in short seasons and matures in 75 days.

How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?

Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.

Is Epsom salt good for cantaloupe?

The cantaloupes will ripen faster and the fruit is protected from insects and rot. For sweeter watermelons and cantaloupes when the plant starts vining and again when small 1-inch melons appear, spray with 6 1/2 tablespoons Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons borax in 5 gallons of water.

What is the best fertilizer for cantaloupe?

For seeded or transplanted cantaloupes, apply 100 to 150 pounds per acre of a pop-up fertilizer such as 10-34-0 to enhance early growth, especially in cool/cold soils early in the spring. Pop-up fertilizer should be banded 2 to 3 inches to the side of the row and 2 to 3 inches below the seeds or roots.

What is the best month to plant cantaloupe?

spring
Cantaloupe prefers warm weather, so don’t plant it before temperatures have warmed in the spring. Cantaloupe does best when direct sown. Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65℉.

What’s the best month to plant cantaloupe?

What can you not plant with cantaloupe?

Some of the best companion plants for cantaloupes include marigolds, nasturtiums, radishes, and lettuce. Avoid planting cucumbers, watermelons or squash near cantaloupes, as they are susceptible to the same pests!

Should I put straw under my cantaloupe?

While many people prefer to use plastic mulch when they grow cantaloupes, you can use straw as well. Within about a month or so after the fruit has set, cantaloupes should be ready for harvesting.

Is Epsom salt good for melons?

Flat, tasteless melons can be due to a lack of magnesium or boron in the soil. It has been found that such fruits can be sweetened by giving them a dose of Epsom salts and borax. For home garden use, use about 6 1/2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons of household borax, all added to five gallons of water.

Should you trim cantaloupe vines?

As mentioned, pruning cantaloupe plants isn’t absolutely necessary and, in fact, the more leaves that remain on the vine the sweeter the fruit. That said, cutting back cantaloupe plants results in fewer fruit which enables the plant to put all of its energy into a scant few, resulting in larger melons.

How do you make cantaloupe sweeter?

How to Sweeten Cut Cantaloupe

1. Put the cantaloupe pieces into a airtight container.
2. Sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe.
3. Toss the cantaloupe gently with the sugar until it has been evenly distributed. Try a piece of cantaloupe.

How do I make my cantaloupe sweeter?

Heat brings out melons’ sweetness, so make sure to plant them in a location that warms up early in spring and stays hot through the end of September. The south side of a fence or wall is ideal as the structure will absorb heat and light from the sun and reflect it back onto the melons.

Why do you put salt on cantaloupe?

Watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews lean sweet—and that’s why they play so well with salt, vinegar, and cheese. Sweet, ripe, summer melons are better with salt. Salt makes their flavor pop. It contrasts their sweetness and accentuates their refreshing qualities.

How do you make cantaloupe sweeter when growing?

Sweetness Starts in the Soil
To encourage strong growth, blend 4 to 6 inches of composted manure into your melon beds prior to planting. Then add a balanced organic fertilizer (such as a mixed blood meal/bone meal product) every 3 to 4 weeks.

Why does my cantaloupe have no flavor?

Excess water can cause flavor to be bland. The two key times when too much water makes the most difference is when the fruits just start forming and about 1 week before ripening. Like most crops, cantaloupes grow and taste best when they get a consistent supply of dampness — not too much, not too little.

Does Epsom salt help melons?

What is a good fertilizer for cantaloupes?