Description
DIRECT SEEDING: Sow 1-2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70oF (21oC), 3 seeds every 18", 1/2" deep, thinning to 1 plant/cell or pot. ROW COVERS: Since melons like consistently warm conditions, plastic mulch & row covers will make for earlier crops & better yields, especially in the North. Remove covers when plants have female flowers (identified by the tiny fruit at base of blossom). DISEASES: Choose varieties resistant to diseases in your area. Sudden wilt (which is caused by cold weather stress in late summer when plants have a heavy set of ripening melons), can cause plants to wilt almost overnight. Keep plants healthy with good fertility & irrigation to prevent sudden wilt. INSECT PESTS: Protect against cucumber beetles with floating row covers applied at transplanting, or with insecticides such as pyrethrin or azadirachtin. HARVEST: Ripeness indicators vary by melon type. Most cantaloupes are ready when the gray-green color begins to change to buff-yellow & are harvested at "full slip" or when a light tug separates the fruit from the vine. Some types, like Canary & Crenshaw, require a bit more pressure to separate the fruit & are harvested at "forced slip." Others, like Honeydew, Charentais, & Piel de Sapo, are overripe by the time the stem can be tugged from the fruit; these must be cut from the vine. See product copy for when to harvest, as there are varietal differences. Melon Hamil Hami Chinese 25 Seeds
