cantalopes

[StanInCalif]

Bird-
Sounds like what we call "Persian" melon. Many of us consider it the best melon. If it is, you can save the seeds, as it is not a hybrid. We save the seeds because they are hard to find. Not very prolific. Seems like they are especially sensitive to overwatering. - Stan

 

[Bird]

Thanks, Stan, I have enough seeds to plant a big patch, so I'll find out how they do next Spring.

Bird

 

[Tdog]

Thanks to all who replied - - after about 3 duds [no taste] we finally opened a sweet cantalope. Must be the over abundance of rain, because they were all from the same vine, I think. Those runners are so intertwined, its hard to tell which plant is producing what.

Bird, never heard of an ****** melon. Sounds interesting. Never seen one at the grocery or farmers market though. Hope your seeds work for you next year.

 

[skent]

Too much rain after blossum. Has happened to me before. I can say for sure it is happening this year!!!

Steve

 

[WVBill]

Anyone have ideas on how to keep the "critters" off the cantalopes?

I have rabbit fence around my garden so I don't think its them - probably mice or voles who get to the 'lopes when they get to about baseball size and just nibble a bit on each one.

I've just tried putting the vines up on a trellis but I don't know if the vines will support the weight of ripe 'lopes.

 

[Knight9]

Can't grow cantalopes around here, but I've heard of people making a "hammock" out of used nylons tied to a trellis. This apparently supports the weight and keeps the melon (or whatever) off the ground.

Kevin

 

[Tdog]

Re: cantalopes - varmits

The 1st year we tried to raise cantalopes, I don't think we got one before some critter did. Not sure, but coons &/or rats were my chief suspects. I don't have a great solution, but I have something that works for us, so far - - mainly because we don't have very many vines to worry about.

I made cantalope boxes out of quarter inch hardware cloth. I made them rectangular, about 12 inches long, 8 inches across, & 12 inches high. It was a little labor intensive, but with a little work I turned out 5 or so. That's all we have worth protecting at any one time. And I made spikes out of wire from clothes hangers to anchor them to the ground. So far, no more problems.