Guide to the Commercial Production of Muskmelon (Cantaloupe) And
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ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Guide to the Commercial Production of Muskmelon ANR-974 (Cantaloupe) and Related Melons Historical Perspective Muskmelons, often called can- taloupes in the United States, are not commonly grown here. True can- taloupes have deeply grooved fruit with a hard, warty, or scaly rind and B orange or green flesh. Muskmelons (Cucumis melo L. Reticulatus Group), on the other hand, possess a fruit Muskmelons produce two rind that is netted. The muskmelon is types of flowers:(A) Perfect a member of the Cucurbitaceae (cu- A flowers, having both male Note swelling and female parts, and (B) cumber) family, which also includes at base of flower. staminate flowers, having cucumbers, watermelons, and honey This will develop only male parts. dew, Persian, casaba, and crenshaw into fruit. melons. Flowers And Pollination Evidence suggests that muskmel- ons were cultivated in Egypt as early Muskmelons produce two types of flowers—perfect flowers, having both as 2400 B.C. Little information exists, male and female parts, and staminate flowers, having only male parts. Perfect however, describing how the plant flowers upon pollination and fertilization will develop into the familiar fruits. was used in ancient times. A native Muskmelons set fruit in cycles where several fruit are set per plant in each of Middle Eastern countries, musk- cycle. Fruit harvested from the first cycle of fruit set have the highest quality. melons spread slowly to Europe. In Muskmelons require bees for pollination. For greater yields and larger mel- the fifteenth century, muskmelons ons, place one or two strong hives of honeybees per acre adjacent to fields of became popular in Spain and were muskmelons. Hives can be removed after fruits are set. Application of pesti- soon introduced to the New World. cides should be delayed until evening when bee activity is low, as many pes- By the mid-1600s, muskmelons were ticides are toxic to honeybees. grown from Florida to New England. The modern muskmelon is derived Planting Recommendations from the ‘Netted Gem,’ a highly net- ted cultivar introduced by the W. Soil and fertility Altee Burpee Company in 1881. Muskmelons grow best on well-drained, upland, silty, or (preferably) sandy In the United States, muskmelon loam soils with a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5. Melons planted into acidic production is concentrated in arid soils (pH less than 6.0) will have yellowed foliage and produce fewer perfect and semi-arid regions, butARCHIVE they are flowers. Beds should be 6 to 8 inches high to facilitate drainage. If you use a grown in many states for local and cover crop, be sure to plow it under at least 1 month prior to planting. interstate sales. California accounts Timely and appropriate applications of fertilizer can make a significant dif- for 70 percent of total U.S. produc- ference in the quality and quantity of fruit and may promote earlier harvests. tion, followed by Texas and Arizona. Collect soil samples from each area you intend to crop and have a soil analy- Nutritionally, the muskmelon is much sis performed on each sample. Soil testing eliminates much of the guesswork higher in vitamins A and C than the involved in a fertilizer program. Be sure to apply lime several months prior to white-fleshed honey dew or winter planting. Contact your county Extension agent for information on how to col- melons (casaba or crenshaw). lect a soil sample and for boxes used to submit samples. Visit our Web site at: www.aces.edu If a soil test is not performed, Varieties The following list of other types of apply 40 to 50 pounds of nitrogen melons are considered to be specialty and phosphorus (P O ), and 100 to Muskmelons generally are classi- melons in the United States, but they 2 5 fied as eastern-types or western ship- 120 pounds of potassium (K2O) per have similar cultural requirements to acre at planting. At layby, sidedress ping-types. muskmelons. Demand for these types with an additional 40 to 50 pounds of • Eastern-type characteristics: of melons tends to be regional but nitrogen per acre. Round to oval, usually sutured, and may offer a potential for smaller netted; not intended for long-distance growers or those who specialize in Seeding shipping. niche markets. Before considering Muskmelons may be planted by • Western shipping-type character- growing any of these melons, ex- direct seeding or by transplants after istics: Round to slightly oval, suture- plore the market potential of them in all danger of frost has passed. Direct- less, very well netted, with firm flesh. your region. Available commercial seeded melons should be sown Contact your county Extension varieties are listed following the de- when the soil temperature is above agent for the latest edition of the scriptions of the various types of mel- 65°F, but the optimum temperature Spring Vegetable Variety Trials from ons that follow. range for germination is between 70° the Alabama Agricultural Experiment and 95°F. Use fungicide-treated seed, Station, Auburn University. In the re- Honey dew as muskmelons are sensitive to port you will find information on the Smooth, greenish white rind, turn- damping off, especially under cool, performance of selected muskmelon ing creamy when ripe. Light green, wet, soil conditions. Sow seed at a varieties trialed in several locations sweet flesh with some orange fleshed depth of 1⁄2 to 1 inch. Seeding will throughout Alabama. As there are a varieties available. Fruit 7 x 71⁄2 inch- require 2 to 4 pounds of seed per large number of commercial varieties es, 5 to 6 pounds. Varieties: acre (16,000 to 20,000 seeds per available, only those well adapted to ‘Earlidew,’ ‘Honey Dew Green Flesh,’ pound), unless a precision-type seed- Alabama should be grown. It is advis- ‘Tam Dew,’ ‘Honey Dew Orange’ (or- er is being used. able to grow a small trial plot of sev- ange flesh). eral varieties each year to determine Transplanting which are best suited to your growing Casaba The use of transplants can reduce conditions. A non-slip (see Harvesting sec- seed cost compared to direct-seeding Many commercial muskmelon va- tion), late maturing, corrugated yel- and result in earlier production, espe- rieties are available with resistance to low, sometimes greenish yellow rind, cially when used with polyethylene one or more diseases, notably not netted or ribbed, with white, mulch. Seeding for transplant pro- Fusarium wilt, downy mildew, and spicy, sweet, and tender flesh. Fruit duction should be done 2 to 4 weeks powdery mildew. You should choose acorn-shaped, 8 x 7 inches, 7 to 8 prior to date of transplanting. varieties that are resistant to diseases pounds. Varieties: ‘Casaba Golden that are prevalent in your growing Beauty,’ ‘Casaba Sungold’ (earliest of Spacing and planting dates area. In addition, many muskmelon the casaba types), ‘Marygold.’ Whether direct-seeding or trans- varieties are sensitive to air pollution planting, space rows 5 to 6 feet apart (ozone, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur tri- Crenshaw with an in-row spacing of 18 to 24 oxide), as well as to applied sulfur Large, late maturing, yellow and inches. This will result in stands of (used for disease control). This sensi- green corrugated, rough rind without 3,600 to 5,500 plants per acre. tivity is cultivar dependent and may netting. Pinkish orange, sweet, tender Traditionally, in-row spacings up to be included in descriptions of vari- flesh with distinctive flavor. Fruit is 36 inches have been used in eties found in variety trial reports. elongated with a flattened stem end Alabama, but modern hybrids and (elongated acorn-shape), 9 x 7 inch- open-pollinated lines perform well at es, 7 to 10 pounds. Varieties: closer in-row spacings, resulting in ‘Crenshaw,’ ‘Honeyshaw’ (early), higher yields and increased uniformi- ‘Early Hybrid Crenshaw,’ ‘Crenshaw ty. Sow or transplant 20ARCHIVE March to 15 Blanco,’ ‘Golden Crenshaw.’ April in South Alabama, 10 April to 30 April in Central Alabama, and 20 Canary April to 15 May in North Alabama. Late maturing, bright yellow corru- Provide muskmelons with at least 1 gated rind. Flesh is pale green to inch of water per acre per week. white with a pale orange seed cavity; it has a sweet and distinctive flavor. Fruit is oval, similar to crenshaw, 8 x 6 inches, 6 to 7 pounds. Varieties: ‘Sweet Yellow Canary,’ ‘Tenerife.’ 2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Santa Claus Rochet ‘True Arus’ (yellowish green), aro- Very similar to Canary type except Green rind melons are slightly net- matic flesh; ‘Theresa’ (juicy green rind is mottled green and yellow. The ted and have greenish white, sweet, flesh); ‘Toho’ (green flesh). name is derived from the long keep- and aromatic flesh. Oval. Varieties: ing qualities of this melon. ‘Santa ‘Solo’ (4 to 5 pounds); ‘Toledo’ (also Mulching And Drip Claus’ is also the variety name. called frog skin type because of the Irrigation greenish yellow rind with dark green Charentais Polyethylene (black plastic) mulch blotches); ‘Verdol F1’ (dark green skin A popular European melon, also slightly netted and crisp, white, sweet can offer several advantages to grow- called ‘Chaca,’ ‘French,’ or ‘Italian flesh (resistant to Fusarium races 0, 1, ers. Black plastic mulch increases the melon.’ Smooth or slightly netted, and 2; also referred to as Spanish type). soil temperature earlier in the grow- gray-green rind with dark green, ing season, conserves moisture, and slightly furrowed sutures. Deep or- Chinese ‘Hami’ melon reduces several common problems: ange, firm, sweet flesh. Fruit is slight- Hami is the generic Chinese word soil compaction and crusting, ground ly elongated but mostly globe shaped for a group of crisp-fleshed “winter” rot of fruit, fertilizer leaching, drown- ing of crops, evaporation, and com- 31⁄2 to 4 inches and 11⁄2 to 2 pounds.