No cantaloupes (musk mellon)

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Posted by Jeff Thies on August 11, 2010, 9:15 am
 
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   Neither my neighbor or myself have any cantaloupes that have set
fruit. Not a problem with watermelon or honey dew melons.

   The vines look healthy. Highs have been in the 90's for some time.

   Jeff


Posted by gloria.p on August 11, 2010, 1:34 pm
 

Jeff Thies wrote:

Too hot?  Cold nights?  Too much nitrogen fertilizer?

If you are in the U.S. I'd call a county agriculture office and ask.
That's why they exist.

gloria p

Posted by EVP MAN on August 11, 2010, 2:14 pm
 


I'm in Pennsylvania zone 5-6.  I planted Hale's Best cantaloupes this
year and averaged 5 melons per plant.  The problem I'm having is the
fact that the fruit isn't very sweet.  I don't know if it's something I
done wrong or if it's the melon I decided to grow.  Next year I'll try
Honey Rock and Super Star which is a hybrid.  My soil is clay amended
with cow manure and compost.  In the fall,  I mulch leaves and cover my
bed.  Come spring I fork them into the soil along with a slow release
granular fertilizer about two weeks before setting out my plants.

Rich


Posted by Higgs Boson on August 11, 2010, 3:02 pm
 

On Aug 11, 11:14 am, White_Nois...@webtv.net (EVP MAN) wrote:

 This is to all.  Lucky you have hot weather.  Here, in So. Calif
coastal, we have had the weirdest of all summers -- cool and overcast.
So my cantaloupes and watermelons flower -- and then nothing.  Yes,
they have adequate water and compost/worm  castings.   Last year, I
had GORGEOUS cantaloupes.  What else could be factor, if not lack of
summer heat?   Note:  My beans are doing great -- both green and
yellow.  It's just the damn melons.  Also cucumbers were not stellar.
And the only tomatoes that are doing well are volunteers.  The tomatoe
plants from Home Despot got tossed.  A few new ones from a local
nursery are doing pretty well.


Posted by Leon Fisk on August 12, 2010, 8:02 am
 

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:14:08 -0400
White_Noise_1@webtv.net (EVP MAN) wrote:


<snip>

How ripe did you let them get? I'm just picking our muskmelon now. They
seem to be best (sweetest) when some cracks develop around where the
stem attaches. A nice tan/brownish color and the stem will detach with
little effort on your part. Another clue is that you can easily smell
them. A few cracks may show in the fruit itself. When you cut them open
the rind will only be 1/8 to 1/4 inch max for the most part. At this
point you need to use them right away. They go from really good to
rotten in just a day or two. The stuff you find/buy at the store was
picked way, way too soon and will never be so sweet and tasty.

Been freezing some of what we can't eat and giving others to the
neighbor. It would be nice if like one a week got ripe, but sadly it
doesn't seem to work out that way...

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids  MI/Zone 5b
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