How to store cantaloupe seeds
Cantaloupe prefers a rich soil and to be planted in full sun. They like warm weather, and you need to water them regularly so that the soil is moist. The easiest source of cantaloupe seeds is from a cantaloupe you have already grown yourself or one a neighbor has grown or that you have bought from a farmers' market. You do not want a supermarket cantaloupe as they will be hybrids and you will not know what will grow, unless you are up for a surprise. Having eaten your delicious melon and decided you want to grow more that taste like that chosen variety, you scoop out the seeds from the inside of the melon and put them in a jar with some warm water. Leave them in the jar for two days as this will kill any melon viruses and separate the pulp from the seeds; stir the water occasionally. Any seeds that float to the top of the water can be discarded because they will not germinate. Dry your seeds on kitchen towel, and leave them to dry out for a day, turning them over once, then pop them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for two days. You now have sterilized dormant cantaloupe seeds ready for planting next year. Store them in an envelope, plastic bag or jar out of light and away from the heat or they will start to germinate.
Types of cantaloupe seeds and edible seeds
You can buy cantaloupe seeds growing them in your garden but for the first time it may be best with named varieties and helpful instructions on a seed packet. There are varieties of giant cantaloupe seeds that produce monster cantaloupes, such as Gurneys which are popular in fruit and vegetable growing contests. Another very popular variety is ambrosia cantaloupe seeds which grow a red fleshed very sweet and juicy melon with very few seeds and as it is a hybrid it will not grow true from its own seeds. Are cantaloupe seeds edible? Most people scoop out the middle and throw it away, but some varieties of cantaloupe seeds can be dried and eaten, they are used on naan bread in India and cantaloupe seeds nutrition value is high in minerals and vitamins, so if not growing them, dry them and eat them
Planting cantaloupe seeds
You should start sowing your seeds after the frosts have passed and expect germination in 2 to 3 weeks. You could start the seedlings indoors, or in a greenhouse, they are tender annuals so if frost is predicted, cover them up. Cantaloupe seeds need space to grow, are often planted in hills six seeds together or 2 or 3 seeds a few inches apart in rows. They will need to be watched for signs of disease and the vines trained or else you will have a mass tangle of greenery.
No comments:
Post a Comment