Cantaloupe/Honeydew Crop Guide
| Estimated Cost | $1500 to $3000 per acre |
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| Market Outlets | Food service, wholesale, grocery store, farmers markets, roadside, pick-your-own |
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| Market Potential | Moderate; seasonal peaks; very competitive at times |
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| Yield Potential | 200- 600 45 lb cartons/ac |
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| Profit Potential | $0 to $1,000 per acre |
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| Adapted Areas | Statewide |
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| Labor Requirements | 1 to 2 man-days per acre during harvest; hand harvested. |
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| Equipment Requirements | Tractor, shredder, disk, bedder, mulch applicator, planter, insect/disease sprayer, trailer and irrigation system (drip preferred) |
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| Soil Requirements | Sandy to medium textured soil with good drainage |
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| Water Requirements | 15 to 20 inches water per acre during season |
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| Minimum Size | 1 to 10 acres |
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| Risk Factor | Moderate to high |
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| Other Limiting Factors | Early freeze, weeds, diseases, rain and insects. Must have honey bees for crop pollination. Well adapted to plasticullture and drip irrigation. |
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| Comments | Wholesale costs range from 25 to 35 percent for growing and 65 to 75 percent of costs for harvesting, grading, labor and transportation. (Direct-to-consumer sales have a volume limit but return more per unit to producer.) |
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