How To Grow Cantaloupe: 6 Growing Tips - Growfully

Share this article:

• Facebook
• Pinterest510
• Email
• Print

Here in Indiana, cantaloupe is a THING. The soil, weather, and long growing season here are absolutely perfect for growing melon vines of all kinds, but cantaloupe plants particularly love growing here! The vines are vigorous, the melons are huge, and the flavor of an Indiana cantaloupe is unmatched!

But even if you don’t have the perfect soil and the perfect climate, we can still teach you all you need to be super successful with your own cantaloupe. Let’s learn how to grow cantaloupe!

Is cantaloupe easy to grow?

As long as you have the right conditions and enough space, cantaloupe is a breeze to grow. Cantaloupe (like cucumbers and other cucurbits) really love hot weather, and they tend to spread, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough growing space—or you can train them up a fence or trellis to grow them vertically.

What kind of cantaloupe will work best for my garden?

The traditional cantaloupe you’ll buy at the grocery store or farmers’ market is actually a muskmelon—in fact, all cantaloupes are muskmelons, but not all muskmelons are cantaloupe. There are hundreds of varieties of melons you can grow in your garden, but if you’re looking for a traditional cantaloupe with bright orange flesh and netting on the rind, here are some of our favorite cultivars:

• Sugar Cube—This smaller cantaloupe is a great option if you want to trellis your melons without needing to support the weight of the melons. It has great disease resistance, and is a pretty good keeper!
• Athena—This variety has a lot of disease resistance, which makes it a great option for beginners. The flesh is a deep, bright orange!
• Minnesota Midget—This variety is a winner if you are short on space and short on warm weather! It’s perfect for colder climates and for container gardening.

Growfully Protip

Remember that the best way to figure out what varieties grow best in your area is to talk with other gardeners! Ask your local Master Gardeners group, talk to a local hardware store employee, or ask your old-timer neighbor who always has a beautiful plot!

Should I grow melon from seeds or starter plants?

Folks anywhere from zones 4-10 can grow cantaloupe as a summer annual, but because of their long growing time, how you grow them will depend on your climate.

Here in the Lower Midwest (zone 6), we’ve done trials with growing cantaloupe from both transplants and trying to start melon seeds straight in the ground after our frost date and had similar results with both.

Like all cucurbits, cantaloupes take off quickly once the weather warms up, so in many mild or warm areas, you don’t need to start seedlings in pots—and in fact, your plants might struggle from transplant shock that delays them more than if you would have just sowed seeds straight in the ground.

However, if you are in a cooler climate, you might have better results starting your seeds indoors a month or so before your last frost date.

How many melons will I get from each plant?

How many melons you’ll get will depend largely on the cultivar you choose, how strong the activity of bees and pollinators are in your area, and your growing conditions, but you can estimate you’ll get at least 2-3 full-size melons per vine.

How do I grow cantaloupe from seeds?

You can start cantaloupe by starting seedlings indoors or by sowing seeds directly in the garden, depending on your climate. Let’s cover both!

How to Start Cantaloupe Seedlings Indoors

1. About four weeks before the last frost date, sow seeds into sterile seed starting mix in large seedling pots, large soil blocks, or in seedlings trays with large openings—cantaloupe seedlings grow large quickly! Cantaloupe seeds are large seeds that need to go about 1/2″ deep when planted. We like to plant 2-3 seeds per spot to ensure germination of at least one.
2. Keep the seedlings evenly watered and very warm! Cantaloupe seeds germinate best in a soil temperature of 75° to 85°F. Most people starting melon seeds indoors will need a seed starting mat to achieve this temperature.
3. Once the seedlings have germinated, keep the seedlings evenly watered and warm. They will grow vigorously! Use small snips to clip off all but the strongest seedling in each cell.
4. After your last frost date, plant the cantaloupe seedlings 36″ apart in the garden.

How to Sow Seeds Directly in the Garden

1. Amend your garden beds with at least 1-2 inches of compost before planting.
2. After your last frost date, sow seeds 1/2″ deep in the soil directly into the garden in small hills or rows spaced 36″ apart.
3. Once the seedlings have germinated, use small snips to thin the cantaloupe seedlings to 2-3 per hill, or one plant every 36″ in a row.

When should I plant cantaloupe seeds?

If you are sowing seeds directly in the garden, you need to wait until after your last frost date for your region—preferably after the soil is at least 70°F. If you are sowing seeds indoors in pots for transplants, you can start the seeds four weeks before your last frost date in your region. You can use the calculator below to figure out the date for your area.

What do cantaloupe plants need to thrive?

Cantaloupe plants are pretty easy to take care of once you have them established! Like most other garden plants, they like about an inch of water per week—a bit more if it’s very hot out. A good layer of organic mulch like weed-free straw, mulched leaves, or pine shavings can help keep the soil evenly warm and help retain moisture.

Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or hand watering all work for watering cantaloupe, although we’d recommend avoiding overhead irrigation (like sprinklers) during the most humid parts of summer to help reduce the risk of powdery mildew and downy mildew.

As long as you have a bed amended with good quality compost and organic matter, you won’t need to do much fertilization on your melon plants. A monthly dose of fish emulsion, kelp, or compost tea will do the trick!

How long do cantaloupe seeds take to germinate?

In warm soil (above 75°F), cantaloupe seeds will pop up quickly—within 3-5 days. In cooler soils, it might take as long as a week to 10 days before they germinate.

How long does it take for a cantaloupe plant to grow?

Cantaloupe plants are long-season crops, meaning they’ll need 75-80 days of quality warm weather after germination before you can harvest your melons.

Can I grow cantaloupe vertically?

Sure can! Cantaloupe cultivars with smaller fruits can be grown up a strong trellis or fence without much (if any) fruit support. For full-size cantaloupes, you’ll want to create a hammock for each melon to help support them on the trellis. Pieces of cloth, old pantyhose, or mesh bags are great for making the hammocks.