#Planting cantaloupe seedlings how to#

Keep in mind, though, that you should stop watering as frequently once the melons are starting to ripen to keep them from rotting on the ground. Water your seedlings and cantaloupe plants regularly as melons are mostly water and will need a lot to grow the fruit. Gently remove your seedlings, dirt and all, from their containers and place them into the ground, covering gently with more soil if needed. Dig a hole as large as the container you grew the seedling in. Space your cantaloupe seedlings out by at least 24 inches in all directions. The best time to transplant is in the mid-morning. You will want to make sure the soil is at least 75 degrees before transplanting as well. This will include adding some nutrients in the way of mixing in some compost. To transplant cantaloupe seedlings, you will want to prepare the soil. This will just involve setting your seedlings outdoors for a few days before transplanting them to your garden. If you would like to, you can do a short hardening off to get them ready for outdoor conditions, though. This is because you shouldn’t be planting them outdoors until temperatures are well into the upper 70s or 80s. Unlike many plants, melons like cantaloupe do not need much in the way of hardening off before being planted directly into the ground. If you are growing seedlings that you will be transplanting because you live in a cooler area, here are some tips for transplanting these seedlings so you can have a successful cantaloupe season.

In warmer areas, you can start it sooner and get a harvest sooner, but in most regions of the US cantaloupe will grow just fine.

#Planting cantaloupe seedlings how to#

You can find that information (and more!) in our complete guide on growing cantaloupe.Use these tips on how to transplant cantaloupe seedlings to your garden this summer.Ĭantaloupe is a great fruit to grow in just about any garden. Of course, the same rules apply to container grown cantaloupe that apply to cantaloupe grown in a traditional garden, such as the amount of sunlight they need and when to plant them. Be sure to adjust your schedule to water more frequently. You will likely notice that cantaloupe grown in containers are much thirstier than cantaloupe grown in a traditional garden bed. Hopefully by now you’ve seen that growing cantaloupe in pots is pretty easy so long as you have the right container and right soil. Final Tips for Growing Cantaloupe in Pots Instead, opt for potting soil or soil specifically designated as safe for container gardening. It will trap moisture in the container to the point where it can cause fungal issues for cantaloupe as well as root rot. Plant only one row of each variety of melon to minimize space usage. Plant watermelon seedlings at every 5 feet in the row, and cantaloupe seedlings at 4 feet apart in the row. Space rows at 4 feet, and give each plant a vegetable cage for support. Traditional soil, such as the type of dirt you can dig up in your backyard, is much too dense for cantaloupe planted in pots. Plant tomato seedlings 24 to 36 inches apart in a row. The Best Soil for Growing Cantaloupe in Containersĭrainage also plays a key part in the type of soil you choose for cantaloupe containers. If water doesn’t leak through the bag quickly, you may want to add one or two holes to the bottom to keep the roots of your cantaloupe plant healthy and happy. If growing your cantaloupe in grow bags, be sure to test how well they drain before planting. Most terracotta pots also come with a hole in the bottom for additional drainage. Terracotta pots, along with fabric grow bags, are a great container option for cantaloupe because they are naturally porous. If you’re using a plastic container for growing cantaloupe, it’s crucial there are 2 - 4 holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain. If your cantaloupe sit in standing water for too long, their roots will rot and the plants will likely wither away. Poor drainage is the number one killer of cantaloupe grown in pots. What does matter, however, is how well that material releases excess water. When choosing a pot to plant cantaloupe in, the type of material it’s made out of doesn’t really matter. Plastic pots, terracotta, and fabric grow bags all make fine containers for cantaloupe. The Best Type of Container for Cantaloupe