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Petrolia,Ontario. Canada

For those of you that have grown these giant Cantaloupes can i get some info on how big the plants get and maybe a bit of general info''

thanks Lonnie

12/15/2010 8:02:29 PM

Muddy Waters

I havent grown 1, in 14 years I would guess about 10X10 would be big plant.Tell me if Im wrong somebody.

12/15/2010 8:18:33 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

HHG, prbly close...my 33#er in 08 was just a tad longer, and just a tad narrower!! Vines tend to grow sorta like watermelons...ie..will grow awl over if ya let em! The thing w/ Lopes...is that one day they are green & growin Krazy...next day it's orange, and the next day...it's history!!!! Ripens so fast ya gotta be a vic to keep up!!!! Peace, Wayne

12/15/2010 8:31:18 PM

El Paso TX.

100 sq. ft sounds about right - mine this year pretty much filled in an 8x12 area - but if tight on space you can get by with a few plants in the same area (I started with 4 plants in a 12x20 space but lost 3 to the windstorms around here - will be putting up a wind fence this next year. As PW mentioned they'll go anywhere you let em and also the vines are much easier to control than an AG (and not nearly as brittle) so are fairly easy to fit into a smaller space by arranging the vines a bit and they have no trouble crossing over each other to fill the area in.

And he is correct also on the ripening so best to keep a close eye on them and get em weighed quickly after they start to turn color - they also make good eats so don't just toss em after weighing and retrieving the seeds !!

12/15/2010 9:14:00 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

JD, the most I agree w/ is Good Eats!!! They are sweet!!! Peace, Wayne

12/15/2010 9:18:15 PM

Circleville ,OH.

10 x 10 is about right. Yes they do ripen fast.They are good eating.

12/16/2010 2:55:36 AM

Muddy Waters

my first one was 24 lbs Weeks seeds from the store I grew them Just like melons Spaghetti style.You can grow them like kins if you like.Marv Mitchell grows that way(Great results).
I dont have the time to prune a 7000 sg foot patch.so I grow wild(melons&lopes) as do others with great results.Its mostly theory.I try to think outside of the box.Try something new,and teach us all something.

12/16/2010 6:38:25 AM

Corryton, TN

Total time from seed starting is about 85-90 days. Plants will cover a 15x15 with no problem if you let them. The plant will grow similar to a watermelon by sending about 5 vines out from the stump area. I've only seen roots at one leaf node. I've only seen one female on one of these mains. The females will set at the first or second node away from one of these mains. I try to pollinate females 4-6 feet out. Pollen releases mid morning after warm up. Pollinations issues when day temps are over 90 deg. They will blow up!!! with irregular waterings.

12/16/2010 7:39:07 AM

Petrolia,Ontario. Canada

guys thanks alot for your replies I am excited about growing some new things this year

Lonnie

12/16/2010 4:44:09 PM

sevierville, Tn

Do the leaves burn like pumpkins do in the heat, or are they more like melons ??

12/22/2010 1:42:00 PM

Trinity River Bottom

I had no trouble with the leaves burning here. we had several days above 100 . most of the summer was in the mid 90's

12/22/2010 1:48:11 PM

El Paso TX.

they're more like melons - the leaves do curl up a bit and the plant will slow growth down due to the excess heat but as long as you keep them supplied with water they tolerate the heat well - though I did have a rough time getting pollinations to take during the hottest part of summmer (we went for about a month straight with daytime temps above 100F)

12/22/2010 2:05:13 PM