Growing cantaloupe in containers

Nothing says “summer” like an endless bounty of fresh fruit. Colorful and bright, growing cantaloupe is the perfect addition to an edible garden.

This sweet member of the melon family can be produced at home with some tender care and a little luck. These techniques will get you started.

The Basics of Growing Cantaloupe

Plant cantaloupe seeds in full sun in well-drained soil.

They’ll need about 85 days to mature, but don’t rush things. Sow seeds only when temperatures reliably stay above 50°F to 60°F.

How to grow cantaloupe from fresh seeds

Plant in groups of two or three seeds spaced 2 feet apart. Once the seedlings emerge, keep only the most robust individual plant in each group, pulling the rest.

You can start the seeds in pots indoors several weeks before your last frost date, but melons are particularly sensitive to root disturbance, so the vine growth might be stunted if you’re not careful when transplanting them outdoors.

Pull weeds as soon as you see them, making sure not to dislodge the cantaloupe seedlings or vines.

Growing cantalo

grow cantaloupe vertically