Cantaloupe is an amazing fruit that belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is native to Africa and is also known as a netted melon. Usually consumed as fresh fruit, salad, and many other ways. It has various qualities utmost remedial features enough vitamin C. The fruit is used to treat Asthma, dehydration, and constipation. You can grow cantaloupe at your home easily. Consuming cantaloupe fruit sustains a healthy complexion, enhances the immune system, and cancer anticipation, and lowers stroke risks. It is not difficult to grow cantaloupe vertically, but it takes a little time and maintenance.
Growing cantaloupe vertically
Cantaloupes are a warm-weather crop, thriving best in southern or subtropical climates. Usually, cantaloupe is a vining crop and tends to spread. Therefore, make sure you have enough growing space otherwise, train them up a trellis or fence. If you have limited growing space, grow cantaloupe vertically. Let’s take a look at the growing conditions of cantaloupes.
Cantaloupe know-how
| Common Name | Rockmelon, netted melon, sweet melon |
| Botanical Name | Cucumis Melo var. cantaloupes |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Plant type | Annual |
| Sun exposure | Full subsoil oil |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil |
| Climate | Warm weather |
| Planting time | February to 15 July |
| Harvesting time | Mid to late summer |
Types of Cantaloupe
- Asian cantaloupe
- North American cantaloupe
- European cantaloupe
- Japanese cantaloupe
- Charentais cantaloupe
- Galia cantaloupe
Light
Usually, cantaloupes love full sun. Therefore, choose the site that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Plant them when the soil temperature is above 70°F.
Soil
Cantaloupes require sandy loam or well-drained soil to thrive well. Therefore, add organic compost into the soil to increase fertility and drainage of the soil.
Water
Mostly, cantaloupe requires plenty of water to grow well. Keep watering to make the soil moist but not soggy. During watering, make sure foliage does not get wet.
Fertilization
Usually, cantaloupes are heavy feeders. They require a lot of nutrients during the fruiting season. Therefore, use balanced water-soluble fertilizers at two weeks intervals.
Why do cantaloupes grow vertically?
Cantaloupe shoots spread toward the ground and may lead to fungal diseases. if you have limited space, train them to grow vertically. This will be very helpful during harvesting time.
Best structures for growing Cantaloupe vertically
- Fence
- Trellis
- Bamboo hoops
- Sturdy tomato cage
- Wire fencing and zip ties
How to grow cantaloupes?
Usually, cantaloupe produces many leaves to generate the fruits, but its vines spread about 10 to 15 feet, depending on their variety. You can not prune the plants to control the growth of their vines. Therefore, you should set up a cantaloupe trellis.
Always choose a strong and sturdy trellis for bearing the heavyweight of fruits.
A trellis should be at least 7-8 feet tall and 16-20 feet wide. Moreover, you should build a vertical structure by using hog fencing or welded wires around the trellis. Otherwise, you can use cages for bearing the fruits.
Sow seeds 12 inches apart at the base of the trellis. After planting seeds, water them thoroughly to keep the soil moist.
The seeds will sprout after 7-14 days. Keep watering to maintain the moisture of the soil. Hence, give the plants about 1 to 2 inches of water per week.
Check your plant’s growth daily and train them to grow vertically for better results.
On the other hand, you can plant cantaloupe seeds in containers. Fill the container with potting mix or soil and sow one or two seeds about one inch deep. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water well. Seeds will sprout after some days. You can use bamboo sticks or cages to train the vines to go vertically.
Pruning
Snips off the extra branches of vines to maintain the main branch healthy. Moreover, also removes the damaged and diseased stems.
Disease and pests management
Usually, cantaloupe plants suffer from anthracnose, charcoal rots, and powdery mildew. On the other hand, some pests like aphids, spider mites, pickle worms, and cucumber beetles also affect the plant’s growth. Therefore use proper fungicides, and insecticides to control pests and diseases. 
Harvesting
When the color of the fruits turns from green to yellow-gray, it is the best time to harvest the cantaloupe. Use a sharp shear or scissors to harvest the fruits. Make sure, you are not damaging the whole plant during harvesting.
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