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Honeydew to Watermelon to Cantaloupe HABIT: Sprawling, veining annual leafy plants to 10' bearing fruit with edible inner flesh. Sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors dependent upon species and varieties (see below). Maturity dates dependent on varieties 50-100 days. SEED GERMINATION AND CULTURE: Melons do best in light sandy garden soil with humus (leaf mold, compost, peat moss, etc.) added and excellent drainage and a pH of 6.0-7.5. For best results, sow indoors in peat pots or pellets 3-4 weeks before night temperatures remain above 55¡. Keep moist, maintain 75¡ temperatures within the soil medium during germination which requires 5-7 days. Shift to the garden when the roots emerge from pot walls and garden soil has warmed, setting plants in full sun, spacing hills of watermelon plants 3-5' apart each way, 1' apart in rows and all other hilled melons 4' apart each way or 18" apart in rows 4' apart. Small melons can be grown on a fence, supporting fruits with stocking slings or board shelf supports. Seed may be sown outdoors when soil has warmed, 1/2" deep with 6-8 seeds per hill. Thin to the strongest 2-3 plants. Incorporate 3 lbs. of balanced garden fertilizer such as 8-8-8 per 100 sq. ft. prior to planting and sidedress with 1/4 cup around each hill every 3 weeks. Keep well watered in dry weather. Mulch plants to conserve moisture, eliminate weeding and to improve soil and protect fruit from rot. Cantaloupe (Muskmelons) are picked when the stem slips easily from the melon with a slight pressure. Casaba and Honeydew Melon are ripe when the skin turns yellow. Crenshaw and Persian Melons are ripe when they develop a fruity scent; Watermelons are ripe when a rap on the fruit produces a dull rather than a sharp sound. Remove all fruit starting to grow after mid summer as there will not be enough time for them to ripen and this will direct more nourishment to those fruits that are developing. Two hills of Watermelon yield approximately 6 large or 12 small melons over a 3 week period. Two hills of Casaba, Crenshaw, Persian, and Honeydew yield approximately 6 fruits over a 4 week period. Two hills of Cantaloupes or Muskmelons will yield approximately 8 fruits over a 3 week period. SPECIES AND TYPES Cucumus melon reticulatis (Muskmelon): Native to Iran and Persia. Round, oval, oblong, spherical. Fruit ribbed distinctly to faintly. Netting of skin is heavy to light. Flesh is orange, salmon with distinct musky flavor and odor. Slips easily from vines when mature. Often called Cantaloupes, which are similar but lack the Muskmelon quality and odor and are grown primarily in Europe. 50-85 days. Cucumus melon cantalupensis (Cantaloupe): Generally referred to as Muskmelon. Most have orange flesh but some have lime-green flesh. 50-85 days. Cucumus melo var. inodorus (Casaba, Crenshaw, Honeydew, Persian, Banana): Lack musky odor of Muskmelons. Requires long frost-free season to ripen. Requires 110-120 days. Sweet. Casaba - Globular, larger than muskmelons, corrugated yellow rinds with no netting. White flesh. Remains attached to vine at maturity. Crenshaw - Globular and somewhat pointed at tip. Light green, corrugated rind turning yellow at maturity. No netting. Pale orange flesh. Remains attached to the vine at maturity. Honeydew - Slightly elongated to round fruit. Smooth light green to white rind with no netting. Light green flesh. Remains attached to the vine at maturity. Persian - Round. Green. No ribbing. Shallow, smooth netting. Deep orange flesh. Separates from the vine at maturity. Banana - Long, slender, smooth, yellow or green rind with deep orange flesh. Used more as a novelty. Citrullus vulgaris (Watermelon): Native to Africa. 6-40 lbs. Round, oblong, oval to round. Light green, gray-green, dark green, solid colors or with contrasting stripes. Red to yellow and white flesh. INSECTS: Aphids: For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Malathion for control. Pickle Worm, Striped Cucumber Beetle: For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Seven for control. DISEASES: Mildew: For best results use an approved fungicide such as Benlate for control. Scab, Leaf Spot, Anthracnose, Bacterial Wilt: Apply every 7-10 days an approved fungicide such as Captan or Ferbam for control. Mosaic: Destroy infected plants. Control insects that help spread disease and use resistant varieties. Fusarium Wilt: Vines will wilt and turn brown. Rotate crops and use resistant varieties. Stem End Rot: Handle melons with care. Blossom End Rot: Due to moisture and high temperature. Lime the soil 6 weeks prior to planting (5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft.). Apply mulch of straw. PROBLEMS: First blossoms fail to set fruit. This is normal--the first flowers are male flowers and cannot produce fruits. Succeeding female flowers will set fruit properly. PROPAGATION: Seeds. |
