How Many Cantaloupes Per Plant Should You Expect?

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Last Updated on June 20, 2023 by Tony Manhart

If you are interested in growing cantaloupes for your consumption, let’s learn how many cantaloupes per plant you will harvest.

Cantaloupes are some of the most popular fruits eaten across the United States during the summer season. One plant can produce up to 8 cantaloupes, but this depends on the area your fruit is growing, the growing conditions, and the variety.

Let’s get a little deeper into the number of fruits you can get from your plants.

How Many Cantaloupes Per Plant

On average, a Cantaloupe plant will produce 2 fruits per plant, according to a study of 20 different varieties. The typical size per fruit is about 4 to 5 lbs., meaning that a yield of around 10 lbs. per single plant can be expected within 80 to 120 days after planting cantaloupe seeds.

 

If you are interested in growing this fruit commercially during the cantaloupe-growing season, you can produce up to 5,000 cantaloupes per acre if you plant at least 2,200 to 5,500 plants per acre.

You can achieve this by either seeding the cantaloupes directly or transplanting seedlings. Either way, you can achieve this kind of harvest if you use a spacing of 6-foot rows with 30 inches in between.

How Many Cantaloupes Per Plant

Small cantaloupe varieties are a great choice, as they provide a higher number of harvests. You will be able to yield about 20,000 fruits per acre using smaller cantaloupe varieties. However, it is essential to note that these varieties only measure 3 pounds each.

Some areas like Oklahoma produce up to 8 tons of fruit per acre and can go as high as 10 tons if you provide it with ideal conditions. This production is from growing cantaloupes under irrigation.

Different Varieties And How Many Cantaloupes Per Plant

Avatar is one of the varieties believed to produce the highest yields mainly because it has exceptionally large fruits.

On the other hand, home run is more popular as it produces the earliest harvest and the highest average number of fruits.

If you are growing these fruits for your consumption, it is best to have more fruits of a smaller size than have 1 or 2 big ones.

For the home gardener, it is far better to have more fruits of a smaller size rather than having one or two large ones as the melons do not keep as well once they are cut.

Let’s look at the production of different varieties in the table below.

Variety Fruits Per Plant Weight Per Fruit (lbs) Yield (lbs)
Avatar 1.7 8.2 14.1
Strike 2.3 5.2 12.0
Grand Slam 2.0 5.8 11.7
Home Run 2.5 4.5 11.1
Atlantis 1.8 6.1 11.0
Origami 1.7 6.4 10.8
Aphrodite 1.9 5.6 10.7
Samoa 1.9 4.7 8.9
Athena 2.0 4.3 8.8
Majus 1.7 4.7 8.0
Tirreno 1.9 3.6 7.0

How Long Do Cantaloupes Plant Produce?

Cantaloupe plants can produce melons for 6 months.  California is one of the areas where cantaloupes grow in the Southern desert valleys in the San Joaquin valley.

Their planting times vary, with the cantaloupe plants producing fruits from May through October.

From planting, you wait for 70 to 100 days before a cantaloupe plant produces fruit after planting. To be exact, a cantaloupe plant will take 84 days from growing to mature ripe fruits.

It is best to harvest the cantaloupe when the vines are dry because they release the fruit making it easy to take it out. Don’t struggle to pull it out, as this can damage the vine or crack the fruit at the point of attachment.  The fruit will also turn yellow, making it easy to identify when harvesting.

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Tennessee has four planting seasons meeting the ideal conditions that will allow you to harvest cantaloupes at least 4 or 5 times over 3 to 4 weeks.  Sometimes you may also gather as much as 10 to 12 times depending on the growing conditions.

If you want to know when is the right time to pick cantaloupes, check the next video

How Do You Store Cantaloupes After Harvesting?

Once your cantaloupes are ready and harvested, it’s best to store them at room temperature for up to 3 days.  If you want to prolong their shelf life, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Sliced fruit can last up to 3 days in the fridge if you store them in an airtight container.  If you notice your cantaloupes are overripe, freeze them or puree them.

What if you harvest a cantaloupe and realize it’s not as ripe as you expected? It’s best to leave it on the countertop and wait for it to ripen.  However, we discourage you from harvesting unripe cantaloupes.

When storing your cantaloupes at room temperature, keep them aside from other fruits as they tend to hasted the ripening o other fruits kept together.

How Do You Use Cantaloupes?

It is best to consume your cantaloupe fruits fresh and raw.  Their texture and flavor are not suitable for cooking.  Therefore, it’s better to use them in recipes as is. Use them as chopped fruits or wedges in breakfast or snacks, and they also taste great in salads.

Because of their sweetness and aroma, these fruits are best for jams, desserts, and drinks. Their flavor works well with savory dishes like ham or prosciutto, feta, and goat cheeses too.

What Does A Cantaloupe Taste Like?

When ripe, cantaloupe has a distinctly sweet flavor on its aromatic and juicy orange flesh. However, if not mature, it tastes bland and crunchy. If it gets overripe, it ends up mushy.

Take-Home

Cantaloupes are not only delicious fruits, but they also offer many health benefits for the body.  This fruit is excellent for improving cardiovascular health, rich in antioxidants, great for hydration, protects eye health, and support the digestive system.

They also contain various vitamins and minerals that make your body thrive as you enjoy eating this fruit.

You have every reason to grow this fruit, and now that you know how many cantaloupes per plant to expect, you can plan how many plants to grow.

FAQ’s

FAQs

How many melons are in a vine?

Sometimes the fruit can be 2, sometimes 4, and sometimes 6.

How do I know when to pick my cantaloupes?

The first sign of a cantaloupe going bad is that it loses its shape. If you cut into a cantaloupe and find it is soft or mushy inside, it is past the prime for eating.

But if the fruit retains its shape, it should still be good. If you do not eat the cantaloupes right away, store them in a cold, dark place at room temperature. Cantaloupes will last about two weeks in this condition.

In the garden, cantaloupe plants are easy to grow. They are tolerant of poor soil and heat and produce heavy crops of fruit. Cantaloupe can also be grown from seed. Start seeds indoors four to six weeks before your last frost date. Plant out when the soil has warmed up and is well-drained.

How do you grow cantaloupes?

Cantaloupe is a cool-weather fruit. It's a good source of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin A and potassium. When choosing cantaloupes, look for ones that are firm with no soft spots. Cantaloupe should be refrigerated and eaten within a few days.

The best way to grow cantaloupes is in a greenhouse. This will help protect the fruit from the elements, as well as provide light. You can also plant them directly in the ground, but they’ll need some protection from wind and cold temperatures.

1. Select the right pot. Use a container with drainage holes on bottom. You can also plant directly in the soil.

2.  Mix together all the ingredients for the planting medium, then moisten the mixture with water.

3 If you're using a pot with drainage holes, fill the pot with the planting medium so that it's level with the top of the holes. Water thoroughly. If you're planting in the ground, water the area well.

3. Plant the seeds. Sow the seeds directly into the planting medium, covering them evenly with your fingers or a flat-bottom spoon. Water the seeds thoroughly.

4. Keep the soil moist. Keep the planting medium damp by watering every day until the seedlings sprout.

Do cantaloupes ripen after picking?

Yes, they do. They'll ripen to a softball sized melon in 2-3 weeks after picking, depending on the variety and how hot the weather is.

Do cantaloupes need full sun?

The cantaloupe is a great summer fruit. It has a large, round shape that is easy to pick and slice. There are a variety of different kinds of cantaloupes, but the most common ones are the honeycrisp and Galia varieties. They both have sweet flesh that has a slightly tart flavor.

What is the best fertilizer for cantaloupes?

You can use a balanced fertilizer. If you use one that is high in phosphorus and potassium, you'll get a bigger melon, but the plant will need more water. If you use one that is high in nitrogen, you'll get a bigger fruit.

How often should I water cantaloupe?

antaloupes are very sensitive to drought. Water them regularly, especially if you have hot weather. You can also use a spray bottle to mist the leaves.

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