A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Small Cantaloupes

What a great gardening site! I'm hoping someone can tell me what's up with my cantaloupes. I have three vines which look great, have flowered and set fruit. However, the melons are about the size of a large orange and appear to be ripening at that size. What did I do wrong?

This happened to me one time. I think it has to do with not enough fertilizer or water.

Thanks! I thought perhaps fertilizer too. But unsure how often to do this. Any thoughts??

I apply fertilizer to my cantaloupes every two weeks. I live in a hot,dry area,so I water mine three times a week. In wetter climates water when necessary.

Yep, I'm behind on my fertilizer by that advice. I'm East Coast so not so dry, twice a week waterings until it warms up some more. I guess it's too late for these five, but have new fruit forming! Kids think they are personal size melons!!

Are the cantaloupes planted alone or are they next to some other plants?

As a matter of fact, that is my problem number two question. They are planted next to two (pulled out two) zucchini plants. They are HUGE but the fruit is either rotting and falling off (when a couple inches long), OR growing large and white color not green. Any thoughts?

The fruit may not be pollinated well and if thy are white and not green,that's cross pollination.Zucchini will readily cross with other summer squash and i believe also with pumpkins.It's okay to plant cantaloupe next to other melons(except honeydew and some varieties related to honeydew due to cross pollination,ever seen a cantaloupe that's green on the inside?),cucumbers,watermelon but never plant next to tomatoes,corn,or squash because they will take nutrients awy from the cantaloupe. I planted mine next to some cucumbers,but I just increse the concentration of fertilizer a bit.

Trying to post pictures...

My cantaloupes have a salmon colored dust like material on the leaves. is this Antracnose? how do I control it.