These are Hale’s Best Cantaloupes below, which is an Heirloom seed. Let me tell you they are delicious. I’ll be having fresh cantaloupes for the next few days, and I can’t wait. I started the cantaloupe plants under grow lights in mid-March and moved them into my garden in June. If you’re wondering how to grow cantaloupes in your kitchen garden, I have the answer:
- You can direct sow the seeds in the garden when the soil warms up. Follow the instructions on the seed packet.
- You can winter sow your seeds in bottle green houses.
- Start your seed under grow lights.
- Purchase plants from a nursery or garden.
I mulched around the plants with straw and left about 6 feet of space for them to spread. I harvested eight cantaloupe from 2 plants. Not bad for a pack of $1.00 seeds. I’ll be saving seed from these melons to plant next year and the year after that. Hales Best Cantaloupes are the sweetest and most delicious on the market.
I’m a frugal gardener. I put my garden in for pennies by purchasing Heirloom seeds and than saving the seeds from year to year. Purchasing plants from garden centers can get expensive. Especially, if your goal is to garden on a budget. I choose what I want to splurge on, and groceries is not one of those things. If you plan to save seed from your garden, make sure you don’t purchase or use Hybrid seeds or plants. You want the same characteristics of the parent plant versus inbreeding/cross breeding. So, heirlooms are the way to go.
I planted Belle peppers, which performed nicely too. After picking them off the plants, I usually chop and freeze my peppers if I don’t have a dish that requires them planned. I like to get them into freezer bags as soon as I pick them off the vines. The sooner you lock in the freshness the better. Did you know that orange, red, and yellow peppers are green before they turn into these beautiful colors? I love stuffing the colorful peppers. They make a nice statement on the table.
So, if you want these colorful peppers, you have patience. It takes a while for them to transition from green to the red, yellow or orange stage. Additionally, there are also male and female peppers. Finally, check out how to determine and use male and female peppers here.
Your garden really does sound wonderful. Makes me wish I had room for one again.
I love gardening. I'm sitting on a acre. There are times when I say I'm going to sell it, but I look out and I just can't give it up. I plan to add a greenhouse and a few fruit trees. More cutting, chopping, canning, and freezing. It's in my blood.
I have been buying cantelopes from a farm near me this summer. My 1 yr old is in love with how sweet and juicy they are
Hi Jakiesmom. Now you have accomplished something if you can get a 1 year old to eat cantaloupes. As you know getting kids to eat anything is hard to do. The organic foods are so much better than store brought products. I started feeding my grandchildren organic foods early too. They love applesauce, pears, grapes, you name it. Thanks for stopping by.
I've always wanted to have a garden, but I don't think I have the patience or a deep enough desire to research and figure out when to plant, etc. When I had my house even trying to plant flowers was a fail situation … I just wanna stir up the soil some, throw in some seeds, water it and watch them grow.
I can't even imagine me canning, cutting and freeing… maybe one day when I have a house again and a little time on my hands I'll tackle something small. It sounds rewarding and I do love some fresh produce!
I do find it rewarding, but it takes time and work. Fortunately, I've always had a green thumb. A skill given to me by my grandfather. I love feeding my family the fruits of my labor, haha. I understand not wanting to work so hard, but feel free to stop by and enjoy my gardening posts.