Cantalop melon fruit
Cantaloupe melon
Yellow cantaloupe flower
Cantaloupe melons in the ground
Ripe cantaloupe melons
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Cucumis melo cantalupensis, the cantaloupe melon
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Scientific classification
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Type
Cucumis
Species
Melon - Cucumis melo
Cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo cantalupensis) refers to a group of sweet melons belonging to the melon species (Cucumis melo). Appreciated for its fragrant, juicy flesh, it has long been cultivated in Europe, the Near East and America.
How to recognize the cantaloupe melon?
The cantaloupe melon is an annual herbaceous plant with a creeping or climbing habit. Its long stems can reach three meters in length. Simple tendrils enable the plant to cling to a support.
Leaves are whole, medium-green, with five to seven lobes and varying degrees of indentation. They are typical of plants in the Cucurbitaceae family.
Each plant bears male or hermaphrodite yellow flowers. The latter can be recognized by the swelling at the base of the flower, which gives rise to the fruit.
The cantaloupe produces a round to slightly flattened fruit. The rind may be smooth or warty, and lightly or heavily ribbed, depending on the variety. The flesh is very juicy, light green to bright orange and fragrant.
The seeds, located in the center of the fruit, are flat, elongated and cream to light beige in color.
What varieties of cantaloupe are there?
The best-known cantaloupe varieties include :
- charentais melonsmooth skin with dark green stripes, bright orange flesh, very fragrant.
- Noir des Carmes: very dark, almost black skin, with extremely melting flesh.
- Prescott Fond Blanc: an old-fashioned variety with large, bumpy, flattened fruit.
- Petit Gris de Rennes: small, hardy fruit suited to cooler regions.
- Bellegarde melon: renowned for its firm flesh and musky aroma.
Is the cantaloupe melon toxic?
No, the cantaloupe melon is not toxic. It is even cultivated for its edible fruit. However, as melons grow in contact with the soil, they can be contaminated by pesticides, fertilizer or manure.
Clean the skin thoroughly before slicing and serving. Wash your hands after handling.
Our maintenance tips
Cantaloupe melons like the sun. Move the fruit away from the foliage to let the light shine on them, so they'll be sweeter. You can also elevate them with a tile or stone to protect them from humidity.
Watering
Cantaloupe melons like water. Don't let the soil dry out. Water at the base, without wetting the foliage, to prevent powdery mildew.
Use rainwater or tap water.
Fertilization
Apply a potassium-rich fertilizer, such as a tomato fertilizer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid damaging the plant.
Harvest
Harvest the fruit when it's ripe.
When the base of the petiole at fruit level cracks, you can harvest. Cut the stalk two or three centimetres from the fruit.
Pulling out
Once the plant has dried out completely, you can pull it out.
When the foliage turns yellow and the stem becomes brittle, this is a sign that the root system is no longer functioning. You can uproot the plant to make room for other crops.
Take the base of the main stem (the stalk) with your full hand. Use gentle circular movements to loosen the roots, then lift gently. If the soil is compact, use a fork. Push it about 15-20 cm from the stem and pry up to dislodge the root ball without breaking it.
Pick up any dead stems and leaves lying around to prevent spores and fungi from remaining in the soil.
Thinning out
Keep only one plant out of three, the most vigorous.
Plantation
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Choose a sunny location, sheltered from the wind. If you live in a rainy region, make a mound and plant your Cantaloupe melon at the top. This will protect the plant from excess water.
Dig a hole 15 centimetres deep and place compost or manure at the bottom to enrich the soil.
Water the rootball to keep it intact. The roots are fragile. Carefully remove the pot and avoid touching them.
Plant your Cucumis melo cantalupensis. The rootball should be flush with the soil. Fill in with garden soil and tamp gently. You can form a watering trough and mulch to retain moisture and prevent the spread of weeds.
Make an initial watering to help the plant take root. Water at the base, without wetting the foliage.
Pollination, which is necessary to obtain fruit, is easier between two different plants. Cantaloupe melons benefit from being planted at least in pairs, side by side, to optimize harvesting. However, keep them at least a metre apart to allow them to develop.
Seedling
Once the risk of frost has passed, you can sow your Cucumis melo cantalupensis seeds.
Cantaloupe melons are greedy plants. Prepare the soil by adding manure or well-decomposed compost.
Cantaloupe melons can be sown in bunches.
- Dig a hole about ten centimetres deep.
- Fill it with sowing and planting soil.
- Bury three seeds under a centimetre of soil.
- Water lightly.
Water to keep the substrate moist until the first leaves appear.
Space your plantsat least one metre apart. Cantaloupe melons needs room to grow.
You can start seedlings indoors when the days get longer.
Get your own buckets. It's best to choose models made of biodegradable material (peat or coconut fiber). This way, you won't have to unstuff your Cucumis melo cantalupensis to transplant them into the ground: their roots are fragile.
Fill your cups with potting soil for seedlings and plantations. You can also use garden soil enriched with compost.
In each pot, plant three seeds and cover them with a centimetre of soil.
Water lightly, then regularly to keep the substrate moist until the first leaves appear.
Place your seedlings in a bright spot where the temperature exceeds 18°C, such as a greenhouse or veranda.
Disease / Threat
Information
| Lifecycle | Annual |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Exposure | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots |
| Categories |
Vegetable |
| Tags |
Beginner Fritillary Large pot Soiffarde Edible vegetable |
| Origins |
East Africa Western Asia South Asia Australia |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 12a (10°C ≤ T° < 12.8°C) |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower color |
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| Fruit colors |
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