🥄 Overview
Crop: Cantaloupe
Common Varieties in OK: ‘Hale’s Best Jumbo’, ‘Ambrosia’, ‘Sarah’s Choice’
Planting Season: Mid to late spring, after soil temps are consistently above 70°F
Days to Maturity: 70–90 days
🧬 Trait Legend
🟨 Warm-season: Needs hot soil and summer heat to thrive
🍉 Fruiting crop: Produces large edible fruit
🟩 Full sun: Requires direct sun for most of the day
🌿🔽 Vining: Sprawling habit, will spread across ground unless trellised
🪴 Spacing & Soil
Row Spacing: 5–6 feet
Plant Spacing: 18–24 inches
Soil Needs: Loose, well-drained soil with compost or organic matter mixed in
Fertilizer Tips: Start with balanced fertilizer at planting; side-dress with phosphorus-heavy feed once vining begins
Watering: Deep and infrequent; avoid overhead watering to reduce risk of mildew
🧊 Harvest Tips
Fruit should have a sweet aroma and slip easily from the vine
Skin will shift from greenish to tan with netting texture
Allow fruit to ripen on the vine for best flavor