My young cantaloupe plants are safely ensconced indoors, where they don’t have to worry about freezing to death. Right now in my area (Zone 4), nights dip down to the low 40s and daytime temperatures struggle to reach 60☏.Īnd June is just a couple of weeks away. With a container, you can grow cantaloupe as an annual in any zone, at just about any time of the year. The flexibility a container offers is key to your success. So if temperatures regularly rise above 100☏ in your area, containers allow you to move your cantaloupes out of the heat when needed. Melons love heat, but they don’t want to be inundated by it. The same goes for those of you in extra-hot locations. Or you can set them outside during the day and bring them indoors at night. That’s why containers are the perfect match for cold-zone growers who want garden-fresh melons: grow your cantaloupe indoors, or in a greenhouse for as long as you need to. If you’re like me and you live in Alaska, or in any other chilly zone, you know that your ability to maintain these temperatures is likely unreliable.Įspecially not for the whole of the 65 to 90-day growing period cantaloupes need, depending on the cultivar. They grow best when daytime temperatures hover between 70 and 90☏, with nighttime temperatures dipping no lower than 50☏. Ready to grow? Let’s go! Why Grow in a Container?Īside from lack of space, what other reasons might there be for growing your cantaloupe in a container? One prominent reason I can think of is this: the weather. To start, these are vining plants, with a sprawling growth habit.įor a container garden, you’ll need to select a dwarf variety – I’ve provided a couple of recommendations below – and you’ll also need to train them to grow vertically, using a trellis, or a tomato cage. This article will focus on making your container-grown cantaloupe dreams come true. To find out more about this best-ever melon (in my opinion!), check out our cantaloupe growing guide. Originating in south Asia, cultivated in Europe, and sold commercially in the United States since 1890, there are two major varieties we enjoy today: the North American Cucumis melo var. Like pumpkins, watermelon, and cucumbers, the cantaloupe is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family.
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