| "Cantaloupe
Hale's Best Jumbo" is an early Cantaloupe producing fragrant
melons with sweet salmon-orange flesh. The melons are about
6" round.
The Bed: Add a fresh layer
of rich compost to the top soil, then till or spade the bed to
loosen the soil and work in the compost. Rake level.
How to Grow: Long growing
season Cantaloupe should be started indoors 3 or 4 weeks before
last frost in peat pots or purchase pre-started plants at you
local Garden Center.
Here we'll work with Hale's best, a short
season Cantaloupe direct seeded outdoors. Plant 6 - 8 seeds
1" to 2" deep in hills spaced 3 feet apart. Thin
Cantaloupe seedlings
if necessary leaving the strongest most vigorous plants. Keep the
soil moist but not soggy until the seed germinates. After
germination water as needed. Melons developing on the ground
can be placed on a small piece of wood to help prevent insect
damage or rotting.
Harvesting: The Cantaloups are
ready to harvest when the rind begins to smell sweet.
Available Hybrids - Cultivars: From
Ferry Morse. Gold Mine Hybrid 80 - 100 days, Honey Dew Green Flesh
110 days, and Sierra Gold 90 days.
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