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Bowdon, GA

I have a big canteloupe under a shade table. Today I found a rotted spot about the size of my thumb. Last year my biggest one cracked along the seam about 2days before it turned yellow. I put salt along the crack, removed the shade table. It limped along and got ripe within about two days without rotting. This one looks like it maybe further away from ripening. I know pumpkin growers have good methods but I want to be able to eat this thing, don't want to use anything harmful. Does anyone have any ideas? I think as soon a the rain moves out I'll remove the shade table and see if it will get ripe.

7/22/2008 7:20:18 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

I have never shaded my cantaloupe but I do put something under the melon to keep it off the soil. A piece of foam with holes or a board. As for the soft spot you must get it dry. scrap out the bad and put a fan on it for the day and some captan or powder seven to keep the bugs away but lightly the fan should dry it out very fast. Cantaloupe will crack around the stem when about done. Good luck

7/22/2008 9:44:16 PM

Bowdon, GA

Most of mine without shade turn yellow when ripe and never had cracking, but the only two I raised under shade cracked before turning yellow. I wonder if they were ripe and didn't turn yellow because of the lack of sun. I think I'm going to have to pick it today it is starting to split bad further up the seam. Still not yellow but maybe it's ripe. I'm afraid it will rott if I don't pick it today. Thanks for the advice Marty. Do you ever pick yours before they are yellow?

7/23/2008 5:05:46 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

The giant ones I pick early. Like the pumpkins once they stop gaining size then watch the stem. They will turn a little orange yellow about 50 percent before I pick.My regular cantaloupe are like you say turn all yellow before they turn lose of the stem. I takes like a week inside to get these things ripe mostly. But like you say they will rot very fast out in the patch if not watched closely.

7/23/2008 6:47:30 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks marty, I went ahead and picked that melon today. I don't think its ripe but I had to pick it it was busted all over the bottom. I just started growing canteloupes last year. I just bought some generic NC Giant seeds and they seem to top out about 25-30 pounds. It still impresses the old farmers in the neighborhood who are used to 5lbers. I think to grow a monster though I need to find some good seeds for next year, where do you get yours from?

7/23/2008 11:20:29 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

I got mine from P+P seed company the first year and grew a few 35 pounders then I grew the seeds from them and grew a 49 and 50.2 pounder.The seed was Scott Robb's world record.

7/24/2008 7:32:25 PM

Bowdon, GA

Thanks I think I'll try that.

7/25/2008 10:06:26 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Or you can have some of mine if you like.

7/25/2008 6:00:51 PM

Bowdon, GA

That would be great. I think P&P wants about 10 bucks a seed for those things. I'd be glad to pay you for'em.

7/25/2008 10:08:17 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Send a self-addressed stamped bubble to me and I will give you the seeds.

Marty Schnicker
1673 Iowa Ave.
Mt. Pleasant,IA 52641

7/27/2008 7:00:41 PM

Bowdon, GA

I greatly appericiate it. I had 4 more 20+ pound canteloupes bust this weekend. They weren't even close to being ripe. Not sure what happened. I get that in the mail thanks again

7/28/2008 12:05:55 PM

Cortona Toscana Italy

Dear Marty have you now some big cantelupe seeds to swap? im planning a giant veggie garden for thenext year so i'm now looking for seeds and tips !(tips are realy important because i usualy grown normal size vegetable!)

11/21/2009 12:32:52 PM