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Varieties
Ambrosia, Caravelle, Hales Best, Israeli, Magnum 45, Mainstream, Mission, Perlita, TAM Uvalde
Soil Preferences
Adaptable to wide range of soils. Optimum soil is well-drained, medium textured, soil with pH 6.0 - 8.0. Will tolerate heavier soils than most other cucurbits.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Hot days and warm nights. Low soil and air temperatures can stunt growth. Fruit maturing with temperatures below 70°F are usually poor quality.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded or transplanted |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - when soil temperature is >70°F Fall - 80-90 days prior to average first frost date |
| Seeding rate | 3/4 - 2 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 1,300 |
| Seeding depth | 0.5-1" |
| Seedling spacing | 8-12" in-row on 78-80" bed, or 12-24" with 2 lines on 78-80" bed |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 120 - 70 - 70 lb/acre | |
| N* | 40-50 lbs pre-plant + 20-30 lbs/acre; side-dress at 2-4 true-leaf stage and at vining |
|---|---|
| P | 60-100 lbs banded approximately 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 60-100 lbs (most Texas soils contain adequate potassium) |
Water/Irrigation
Moderate water demand: 15-20" per season (may be significantly reduced with drip irrigation). Critical need periods are at establishment and vining through fruit netting.Pest Management
Cantaloupe Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Alternaria | clove, rosemary and thyme oil, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, | |
| Downy mildew | acibenzolar-s-methyl, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, cymoxanil, dimethomorph, fenamidone, fluopicolide, fosetyl-Al, hydrogen dioxide, mancozeb, mandpropamid, maneb, potassium phosphite, azoxystrobin, propamocarb hydrochloride, cyazofamid, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, trifloxystrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtillus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen peroxide, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Gummy stem blight | potassium phosphite, azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, kresoxim-methyl, mancozeb, maneb, paraffinic oil, polyoxin D zinc salt, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, | copper hydroxide, Bacillus subtillus, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, |
| Powdery mildew | acibenzolar-s-methyl, azoxystrobin, copper sulfate, hydrogen dioxide, kaolin, myclobutanil, paraffinic oil, polyoxin D zinc salt, potassium phosphite, potassium salts of fatty acids, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, quinoxyfen, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, sulfur, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, | streptomyces lydicus, potassium bicarbonate, Bacillus subtillus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen peroxide, neem oil, |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| Vine decline | chlorothalonil, fludioxonil, thiophanate-methyl, | |
| Viruses | paraffinic oil, |
Cantaloupe Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Diazinon, Dimethoate, Endosulfan, Fenpropathrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Naled, Oxydemeton-methyl, Permethrin, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, Pyrethrins, |
| Cutworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Esfenvalerate, Flubendiamide, Lambdacyhalothrin, Permethrin, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , |
| Leafminer | Abamectin, Cyromazine, Deltamethrin, Dimethoate, Lambdacyhalothrin, Naled, paraffinic oil, Permethrin, petroleum oil, Spinetoram, Thiamethoxam, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Spinosad, |
| Looper | Methomyl, Naled, | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins |
| Melonworm | Acetamiprid, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Chlorantraniliprole, Cryolite, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Endosulfan, Flubendiamide, Indoxacarb, Lambdacyhalothrin, Methomyl, Methoxyfenozide, Permethrin, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Spinosad |
| Mite | Oxydemeton-methyl, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil |
| Thrips | Diazinon, Dimethoate, Dinotefuran, Fenpropathrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Spinetoram, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Whitefly | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Endosulfan, Fenpyroximate, Fosetyl-Al, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Spiromesifen, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Neem oil, Pyrethrins, |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | clomazone, ethalfluralin, DCPA, bensulide, trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | ethalfluralin, DCPA | |
| Postemergence | carfentrazone, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, halosulfuron, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim | d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | Usually harvested at the 3/4 slip stage. Fields may be harvested 5-10 times over 3-week period. Direct seeded - 85-95 Trasplanted - 70-80 |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand harvested using harvest aid machinery |
| Containers | Bulk wagons |
| Grades | Based on fruit diameter and freedom from defects |
| Packaging/Handling | 9, 12, 18, or 23 fruit/half carton (approximately 38-41 lbs) Sometimes bulk loaded Usually hydrocooled to remove field heat and chlorine-treated prior to packing |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 7-9 tons |
Transit Conditions
32-41°F at 95% RH (freeze injury 30°F). Shelf-life - 1-2 weeks.Comments/Production Keys
- Avoid heavy clay soils having poor aeration and drainage
- Plants extremely cold sensitive (night temperature < 50°F stunts growth)
- Crop well adapted to plastic mulch/drip irrigation culture; results in increased earliness, quality and percent packed out
- Plastic mulched and drip irrigated crop responds well to fertigation
- Extreme care required during harvesting and handling to avoid bruising and increased decay during transit
- Chlorine-treat fruit prior to packing and/or direct sales to avoid potential of salmonella and cholera contamination
- Excessive nitrogen delays maturity and reduces fruit quality
- Moisture received after netting can reduce soluble solids and subsequent fruit quality
- Bright sunshine during fruit maturity enhances soluble solids and quality. Conversely, cloudy overcast skies reduce soluble solids, sweetness, in fruit.