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What is wrong with my cantaloupe??
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Posted: Aug/04/2008 5:43 PM PST
Please help. I am growing 3 cantaloupe plants; two in the ground and 1 in a pot. As you can see from the pics, the ones in the ground are growing great, but the one in the pot is having trouble. The leaves are turning brown. I water it regularly. I live in Maryland and the summers are very warm and humid. The plant is still growing, however, there is a big difference between the two. I was giving it liquid fertilizer (8-16-8) about every 10 days. I thought that was causing the problem so I stopped about a month ago but the plant is still the same; no better, no worse. The plant in the pot has two small cantaloupes on it and the ones in the ground has lots of flowers but no fruit as of yet. What am I doing wrong?? Attachments:   |
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Posted: Aug/05/2008 10:01 AM PST
I wish I could give you an answer, but i have no idea  I look forward to the answer/suggestions too as I plan on growing canteloupes next year 
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Posted: Aug/07/2008 6:03 PM PST
From what I understand, cantaloupes are supposed to be planted in "hill" fashion, mounding the dirt up. I can't tell about your inground ones, but I'm pretty sure the one in the pot is way, way, way too low. When I planted mine in a pot last year, I mounded the dirt in the middle well above the top of the container. The dirt was even with the top on the edges. When you first plant them, it's a little tricky with the watering so as not to have the dirt wash away. I would just add a little dirt back here and there. After a couple of weeks, I just started watering from the bottom because I was using a self-watering pot. BTW, I planted mine in pre-fertilized Miracle-Gro Moisture Control potting soil. I never fertilized them any further, as it is supposed to be good for several months. Perhaps I would have gotten more cantaloupes if I had. I don't know. But people "in the know" thought it was great that I got 3 full sized ones from the pot. I had many many many smaller ones that dropped off before I learned to spray them with an epsom salts solutions from time to time. If I had learned that earlier, I perhaps would have gotten more than 3. You didn't say what kind you planted, but I strongly recommend a smaller variety for pots. I used Sweet N Early Hybrid, which grew to about 5-6 inches in diameter. The envelope said 4-5 inches, but mine were bigger. I have never got mine that I started in little peat pellets this year into a pot or the ground either one. Believe it or not, since April they have stayed in the peat pellet container, which I had poked holes in the bottom for drainage. I can't believe they haven't died! Of course, they haven't produced any cantaloupes, bur the vines and flowers are pretty, so I just leave them. I just never got around to planting them, and now it's obviously too late. 
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Posted: Aug/07/2008 8:07 PM PST
Thanks for the advice.  Next year, if I decide to plant some, I will plant on a hill. I was only hoping I can save my plant this year.
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Posted: Aug/07/2008 9:04 PM PST
Maybe you could repot it??? |
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