Facts on Ripe Cantaloupe

Time Frame

• Cantaloupes need 35 to 45 days from flowering, depending on the variety and growing conditions, to mature. In warm, sunny weather, they ripen more quickly. Cold, cloudy weather can delay ripening and also reduce fruit quality. As melons ripen, the garden takes on a sweet fragrance. Start checking the garden daily because the fruit will mature at different times. Some gardeners remove all but one cantaloupe from each vine to increase sweetness. In late summer especially, emove all the small cantaloupes but one or two because they won't all ripen before fall frosts arrive.

Signs of Ripeness

• When cantaloupes are ripe, they separate easily from the vine. Press your finger on the area where the cantaloupe meets the vine. If it doesn't separate, wait a few more days. This is known as full-slip and ensures a melon that is picked at the peak of sweet flavor. Commercial varieties are picked when they reach 1/2 to 3/4 slip, so they ship better. Unfortunately, cantaloupes don't ripen further once they're picked, so the ones you find in the store will never be as sweet as a homegrown cantaloupe. As cantaloupes ripen, their rinds turn from green to brown or tan. The netting on the rind becomes dry and rough.

Growing Conditions

• Cantaloupes, like all melons, need warmth, rich soil and consistent moisture to produce a quality crop of ripe fruit. The soil should be amended with 1 to 2 inches of compost or manure prior to planting, as well as 4 cups of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil. Fertilize the plants when they start producing vines with 2 tablespoons of 21-0-0 fertilizer per plant. Some gardeners use floating row covers or black plastic mulch to create a warmer environment for the tender plants. Water cantaloupes at least once per week, or as needed, to keep the soil moist 1 inch beneath the surface. Soaker hoses are preferable to overhead sprinklers because they reduce the risk of disease and conserve water. A 4-inch layer of certified weed-free straw can help keep the ripening melons clean and disease-free. This mulch also reduces weed growth and keeps the ground moist.

Storage

• Once harvested, cantaloupes can be stored on a kitchen counter, or in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry. Cantaloupes soften a bit after harvest, but they won't become sweeter. Store them uncut for up to six days. After you cut a cantaloupe, wrap it in plastic or store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Use it within three days. You can also cube cantaloupe and freeze it. The frozen fruit takes on a slightly different texture, but it works well in smoothies or soups.