Consider a new challenge when deciding what to plant in your vegetable garden next year - a fruit! Specifically, cantaloupe! It can be a challenge to grow cantaloupe in Minnesota (even in smaller spaces) but it is possible. And you will be rewarded with a delicious fruit. Cantaloupe require warm soil to thrive but they love our hot, sunny summers.  You can achieve success by growing cantaloupe in raised beds, trellising the vines, and making sure they get adequate water, sunlight and protection from pests. 

Before you plant your cantaloupe, consider getting a soil test. Melons grow best in well-drained, sandy loam soils, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. A pH lower than 6.0 may result in a failed crop. Next, choose a melon variety that requires fewer days to harvest (65 – 80). This will increase the chances of growing the fruit in hot, sunny conditions. 

Decide if you want to start your seeds indoors or sow directly into your garden. Starting seeds indoors will give you a few extra weeks of growth, however cantaloupe are sensitive to root disturbance. You can sow seeds directly into your garden after the danger of frost has passed. Raised beds are ideal options for cantaloupe because the soil will warm up sooner. Additionally, raised beds offer good drainage, which is important for growing melons.

Photo credit: Hailey Linneman

To save space in your garden beds, you can trellis your melons. As the plants grow, tie them loosely to your trellis. Eventually, they will continue to grow around the trellis without your help. Depending on the size of your fruit, they may need extra support in the form of hammocks. You can use old nylons or t-shirts for this. However, if the vines are securely on the trellis, they should be able to hold the hanging fruit on its own.

Photo credit: University of Minnesota Extension

As your cantaloupe begins to really take off in growth, pruning side shoots will encourage the main stem to continue growing up your trellis. It is also important to prune back side shoots on a trellised plant to avoid overcrowding and encourage air flow. Cutting off all leaves and side shoots on the bottom 12 inches of the plant will also help to avoid diseases from water splashing on the plant. 

A pest you may encounter is the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum). It is yellow with three vertical black stripes. To remove the beetles, knock them into a cup of soapy water. The beetles feast on the foliage and blossoms of flowering plants. It is especially important to manage these pests when the plants are small. Read this article to learn more about the striped cucumber beetle. Striped cucumber beetles can carry the bacteria that causes bacterial wilt. Since melons are susceptible to bacterial wilt, monitor your plants for signs of the disease. Read more about bacterial wilt in this article. Other pests to watch for are spotted cucumber beetle, squash vine borer, squash bug, spider mites and aphids.

Photo credit: Hailey Linneman

Cantaloupe require 35 – 45 days to mature after flowering. When your fruit is ready to harvest, it will turn from green to yellow and the netting on the skin will become rough. You will also notice that the stem will start to turn brown. To harvest, twist the fruit gently. It should break away easily. Now, it’s time to slice open your melon and enjoy the fruit of your labor!

Photo credit: Hailey Linneman

Resources:

https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/growing-melons-home-garden

Cucumber beetle link: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/cucumber-beetles

Bacterial wilt link: https://extension.umn.edu/disease-management/bacterial-wilt