Information on Growing Vine Peach Cantaloupes From Seeds

Soil

• Vine peach cantaloupe prefers a slightly acidic, warm soil, somewhere between 6.1 and 6.5 pH, with a temperature above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally between 75 and 85 degrees. Choose a site with the right soil pH and one that gets full sun.

Planting the Seeds

• Melon seeds are commonly grown in hills, but it is not necessary. If you do choose to plant in hills, space the hills 4 to 6 feet apart. Plant four to six seeds per hill, ½ inch to 1 inch deep, and press the soil firmly over them. If you sow the seeds directly into the ground, space them 3 to 4 inches apart.

Germination

• Plants should germinate in 7 to 14 days. When the seeds have begun to germinate, thin them and keep three or four of the healthiest plants. Install a trellis once the plant reaches a height of just under 1 foot; the vine can grow up to 10 feet tall and the fruit will grow better off the ground.

Water Requirements

• Water the plants with at least 1 inch of water per week and keep an extra careful eye on them in very hot weather. Don’t over-water the plants. Use organic mulch, grass clippings or straw around the base of growing plants to conserve water and reduce pests.

Harvest

• In general, melons are ripe when the vine begins to dry out. Cut the melons carefully off the vine to avoid damaging it while other fruit continues to ripen. If your vines still have fruit in the fall, begin covering them at night to save them from frost.