We went to Lexington last spring to see what plants I needed to put in my garden. Among other things, I bought two cantaloupe plants. Back in the 70's I had good luck with them, passing them around to anyone who wanted them. Any time I've tried since then, though, I might get the first one to ripen, but then the plants died.
Those two plants struggled for quite a while, but once they started growing they have been doing very well, and there must be a hundred cantaloupes of all sizes on the vines. There is one now that looks ready, but I want to wait a day or so. Maybe it's the goat poop I spread over the garden, or maybe God felt sorry for my failures this year, but I can't believe two plants are doing that well.
Seeing is believing, so here are some photos:
Looking to the north:
And looking from the other end:
Here is the one we will be eating soon if nothing happens to it; that's a gallon jug sitting beside it so you can tell how huge it is:
Don't congratulate me, please! It might bring me bad luck. This year has been a bad one for my garden. By the way, the white stuff on the leaves is harmless. It's food grade diatomaceous earth; it doesn't kill anything, but the bugs, mice, moles and such don't like it.
So no congratulations, but do give us a report of how the first melon tastes.
ReplyDeleteThat cantelope is trying to be a watermelon! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteLooking GREAT! YUM
ReplyDeleteNothings better than a good cantaloupe but it’s hard to find a good one in the grocery store. My chickens like to clean it up clear to the bare rind. We’ve had the best luck with goat and turkey litter in our small gardens through the years.
ReplyDeleteWe have a hard time raising them as well. I've never had one look as fine as the one seen above.
ReplyDeleteThe lady I bought them from said they are very sweet. Here's something interesting from my day: I decided to move all the big ones a little because our 2-inch rain last week is still making the dirt pretty wet under all the vines. I looked under each cantaloupe and found they were laying in mud from that rain. I wondered if that would make them rot. The last one I moved over a bit had a hole in the ground under it! Cliff and I think it's moles, waiting for all that fruit to get ripe.
DeleteI love cantaloupe even better than watermelon! Wow, they have done well. Show us when you cut one. Galla Creek
ReplyDeleteJust so you're aware, Donna, DE does indeed kill things. In case that matters to you. Your cantaloupe look great. I can taste them already! I love cantaloupe. ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteWell, since it only kills bugs, I'll keep using it.
DeleteI sprinkle my laying pellets every couple of months with food grade diatomaceous earth to worm my chickens! Been doing it for years!
DeletePat/Central Texas