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Tips on growing canteloupes?

 
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Location: Zone 8b 15°F to 20°F
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Hello, I grew some canteloupes this summer but they were not very sweet.  Any tips?
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I've grown them as well, & the trick to sweet melons is to not give them water for a week or so prior to harvest.  I was poised to have some large delicious Iroquois cantaloupes due to the drought we've had all summer.  Well, the seasons swapped, & we've have regular rain about every other day for a couple weeks.  That caused the melons to swell & slip from the vine.  they are still good, but nowhere near as sweet as they should be.  That's mother nature for ya...I'm thinking I'm going to chunk & freeze for smoothies or maybe try a jam or something with added sugar.
 
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I think it's also about the type of cantaloupe. Most of the cantaloupe I've grown have been a huge disappointment.  I just keep trying different varieties. I did have one plant that produced small but wonderful melons. This year. I need to go through my garden book and make sure I plant it next year too.  If it makes sweet melons two years in a row then I've got something.

For some reason I have better luck with honeydew.  Every one I've ever grown has been sweet.  I also have great luck on Crenshaw.  It's probably my favorite melon.  Large sweet and juicy.  The down side for them is they take a long time to produce.

Good luck, and keep trying.
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