Cantaloupe - Vine Peach

Vine Peach: This mild flavored melon grows to about the size of a baseball. Not a favorite to eat raw, 1 or 2 of these melons can scent an entire room with the scent of peaches and mangos. The low sugar content means that it is neither as sweet or juicy as a muskmelon or cantaloupe. It is best eaten pickled, as a relish or preserved. The young, green melons make a great substitute for cucumbers when making Bread and Butter pickles. Slice them like you would apples and mix them in with the apple slice when making apple pie. Add some to preserves you are making to enhance the flavors of the other fruits. Be sure to remove the rind before using in recipes. Planting tips: Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Caution: Take care not to disturb the roots when transplanting. Or, sow 6 seeds over a hill 9 to 12 inches tall and 2 feet across. When plants are 3” tall, thin to 3 plants per hill. Use a balanced fertilizer to increase yield. Be sure to trellis the vines to make harvesting easier. Seed Planting Depth - 1/2 inch, Seed Spacing - 6 seeds/Hill, Days to Germination - 7-10 days, Plant spacing after thinning - 3 plants/Hill, Hill spacing - 4’/ 6’apart. The seeds of dropped melons will reseed for next year's crop so gather them up unless you want a dedicated vine peach patch.

Saving Seeds: If you save cantaloupe seeds, it is best to plant one type of cantaloupe per year. Otherwise, this plant may cross pollinate. Harvest when fruit reaches maturity. Cut melon in half, scoop out seeds into a strainer and rinse. Once all pulp is removed, lay the seeds in a thin layer on a paper towel, coffee filter or old screen. Dry for several days, place in an airtight container in a cool, dark dry location. Be sure to keep them moisture free to prevent mold.