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Cantaloupe

Cucumis melo

Fruit

Cantaloupes are warm-season vine fruits with sweet, orange flesh that require hot summers and excellent drainage. They are closely related to cucumbers and benefit from similar companion planting strategies.

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Water Needs

Moderate

Soil

Sandy, well-draining loam; pH 6.0–6.8

Spacing

36–48 inches

Days to Maturity

75–90 days from transplant

Growing Zones

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Thrives in USDA Zones 5–11

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Keep Away From

When to Plant

  • Start Indoors

    3–4 weeks before last frost

  • Transplant

    2 weeks after last frost, soil 70°F+

  • Harvest

    Ripe when stem slips easily from vine and pleasant musky scent develops

Organic Growing Tips

  • Slip a piece of wood, tile, or straw mat under developing fruits to prevent rot.

  • Plant radishes throughout the patch as a trap crop for cucumber beetles.

  • Reduce watering sharply as fruits near maturity to intensify sweetness.

  • Use yellow sticky traps to monitor cucumber beetle populations and prevent bacterial wilt spread.

Common Pests

  • Cucumber Beetle
  • Aphids
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Vine Borer
  • Bacterial Wilt

All pest management in Garden uses safe, organic, non-toxic methods only. No synthetic pesticides, ever.