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Organic fertilizers such as compost and well-rotted manure make excellent fertilizer for cantaloupes. The elements aren’t as concentrated in organic fertilizers so you have to use about 1 pound for every 4 or 5 square feet. Compost and aged manure improve the composition of the soil as well as the fertility.
When should I fertilize my cantaloupe?
You should not be fertilizing cantaloupe until after the plant is at least 4 inches tall. At this point, you can apply a dose of balanced fertilizer. If you want to use granule type fertilizer, choose one with a 10-10-10 or 5-5-5.
What’s the best fertilizer for watermelons and cantaloupes?
When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
Is Epsom salt good for melons?
Flat, tasteless melons can be due to a lack of magnesium or boron in the soil. It has been found that such fruits can be sweetened by giving them a dose of Epsom salts and borax. For home garden use, use about 6 1/2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons of household borax, all added to five gallons of water.
Do cantaloupes like coffee grounds?
Old coffee grinds really do enhance the flavor of many crops, cantaloupe, tomatoes, melons. Other nutrients in Coffee Grinds are phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper.
What is the best fertilizer for melon?
Ohio State University recommends a phosphorous- and potassium-heavy fertilizer for melons, with a mixture of 5-10-15 or 10-15-20 to enhance growth, flowering and fruiting All melons should start with a foundation of organic compost and starter fertilizer, then get a side dressing of synthetic or organic fertilizer when Jan 5, 2011.
Is Miracle Grow good for cantaloupe?
If you have access to fresh manure, it has high nitrogen levels which cantaloupe love because it makes the soil warm. You can dig down in your soil and put several inches of manure and cover it with Miracle Grow Graden Soil.
What fertilizer is high in phosphorus and potassium?
Fertilizers that are high in phosphorus include mushroom compost, hair, rock phosphate, bone meal, burned cucumber skins, bat guano, fish meal, cottonseed meal, worm castings, blood meal, manure, and compost.
What fertilizer has phosphorus and potassium?
For example, winterizer fertilizers will have a high third number – high component of potassium. A common type of all-purpose fertilizer is referred to as 10-10-10. This is a balanced blend of equal portions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
How do you grow the best cantaloupe?
Space plants 36 to 42 inches apart. Or, to save space, plant melons 12 inches apart at the base of a trellis. When trellising melons, tie vines to the trellis daily, using soft plant ties that won’t crush stems. A trellis for cantaloupe should be large: up to 8 feet tall and 20 feet wide in warmest climates.
Should I put straw under my cantaloupe?
Placing developing melons atop a bed of straw, plastic sheeting or smooth piece of wood diminishes the chance for fruit rotting when in direct contact with wet soil. Ultimately, it’s an optional step as melons won’t rot atop the ground if the soil isn’t soggy and air circulation is good.
What kind of soil do cantaloupes like?
Before planting your cantaloupe, use a loamy soil enriched with well-rotted compost or aged manure to make sure your melon has plenty of nutrients to feed on throughout its growing season. Cantaloupes prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil, between 6.0 and 6.8 pH.
How do you keep worms out of cantaloupe?
Often the cantaloupes get to the melon stage and then start to decline with the help of pickle worms and melon worms. Stay alert to the first sign of their feeding, observed as holes drilled in the fruits, and then try the natural spinosad insecticide found at local independent garden centers.
Should I fertilize melons?
Sweetness Starts in the Soil To encourage strong growth, blend 4 to 6 inches of composted manure into your melon beds prior to planting. Then add a balanced organic fertilizer (such as a mixed blood meal/bone meal product) every 3 to 4 weeks.
Is chicken manure good for melons?
When incorporated correctly, manure helps to replenish the soil’s nutrients while promoting aerated, water-retentive soils. These benefits are especially promising for melons, which demand well-drained, fertile soils for healthy development.
What do you feed melon plants?
Keep the plants well watered at all times, especially when flowering and fruiting, and feed weekly with a high potash liquid plant food once the first fruit has set. Pinch out the growing tips at the fifth leaf to encourage sideshoots, which will bear the flowers.
How do you apply melon fertilizer?
For watermelons, apply a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-10-10, at a rate of 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet (60 to 90 feet of row). Make a trench on the planting bed 4 to 6 inches deep and 2 inches from the side of the row. Cover the fertilizer and plant so seeds do not touch the fertilizer.
Is bone meal good for melons?
Watermelons are heavy feeders across-the-board, so they appreciate a well-balanced fertilizer, and/or tons of rich, diverse, homemade compost. A bit of blood meal (nitrogen), bone meal (phosphorus) and greensand (potassium) at the time of planting should do the trick if you’re an organic gardener.
Is calcium nitrate good for melons?
YaraLiva® Calcium Nitrate is the top choice for fertilizing melons crops. Nitrate-nitrogen promotes the uptake of other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Calcium nitrate provides 100% water-soluble calcium. Calcium content in the fruit is key for fruit firmness and quality.
