What is the Recommended pH Level for Growing Cantaloupe?

About Cantaloupes

• Cantaloupes, often called muskmelons, are in the same family as squash, cucumbers and gourds. Though the fruit look and taste different, the large-leaved vines look quite similar. The true cantaloupe, grown in Europe, is slightly smaller, rough, ridged and less sweet than the variety commonly grown in North America. These are very tender plants that can only be started from seeds sown in the ground, if your season is long and warm. Otherwise, use transplants that have been grown inside or in a greenhouse.

Preparing The Soil

• Cantaloupes do best in sandy soils that are high in organic matter. The large plants need a high level of nutrients, and well-rotted organic matter such as compost or manure will hold nutrients as well as moisture. Before adding anything, however, have a professional soil test done to give you the best information on current levels of nutrients as well as pH. Some soils have adequate amounts of phosphorus and potassium but many do not. Nitrogen may also be lacking. When preparing the soil, add up to 4 inches of organic matter and top it with the recommended amount of dolomite limestone to raise the pH or sulfur to lower it. Dig the layer of amendments into the soil to a depth of about a foot. Since dolomite acts slowly, preparing the soil the fall before planting will give the best results.

Planting

• Cover your bed with black plastic to warm the soil to 65 F before planting seeds or transplants. This will also keep down the weeds and hold the moisture at an even level. Place seeds or transplants into slits in the plastic about two feet apart in rows five to six feet apart. If using seeds, sow three or four in each slit and thin to the strongest plant once they have their first true leaves, those with the typical pointed squash shape.

Care

• While the weather is still cool, use a row cover to warm the air around your seedlings or transplants. Make sure they never dry out, having 1 to 2 inches of water weekly in deep, infrequent applications. Drip irrigation is best since watering that wets the leaves can promote disease. Fertilize with a 5-10-10 formula as the vines begin to spread and again as the flowers appear.