#Cantelope

[q2k]

[its-where-the-wild-things-are]

[onespring-day]

watermelon cantelope lemonade

[invoke-parlay]

Things are really coming along in the garden today! Look at the baby cantaloupe! Omg

September 8, 2023

[justfacilitatinglife]

Harvesting My First Ambrosia Melons: A Journey in Outdoor Hydroponics

This week marked a significant milestone in my gardening journey—I harvested my very first Ambrosia melons. Growing melons has always been something I’ve wanted to try, and seeing these beauties come to life has been incredibly rewarding. I decided to grow them using an outdoor hydroponic setup, using Masterblend nutrients in a 35-gallon drum. Here’s a bit about the process and what I learned along the way.

I started with a melon seedling I bought from the nursery. One thing I’ve noticed when buying seedlings is that many times, multiple plants are crowded into a single pot. This can sometimes lead to poor growth when transplanted because the plants end up competing for nutrients. To avoid this, I carefully separated the seedlings into three different net pots, all within the same drum. This setup allowed each vine its own space to grow while sharing the nutrient reservoir.

In traditional melon farming, growers often prune the vines to concentrate the plant’s energy on a single fruit, resulting in larger, sweeter melons. However, I decided to let all three vines do their thing without much pruning. I knew I’d be refilling the drum with nutrients as needed, so I wasn’t too worried about spreading the plant’s energy thin. This approach resulted in about 10 melons forming on the vines. Watching them grow over the weeks was exciting, but figuring out when to harvest was a bit of a guessing game.

Today, I noticed one of the melons had fallen off the vine—a good indication it was ready to be picked. So, I decided to harvest the ones that looked and felt ripe. They had a sweet fragrance, and the skin had a slight give when pressed—signs that they were ready to be enjoyed.

A Bit About Ambrosia Melons

Ambrosia melons are a hybrid variety of cantaloupe known for their exceptionally sweet, aromatic flesh. These melons have a creamy texture and a flavor that’s often described as honey-like. Originating from Japan, Ambrosia melons are prized for their taste and have become a popular choice for home gardeners and specialty growers alike. They’re typically smaller than regular cantaloupes but pack a punch in terms of flavor and sweetness.

Unlike factory-farmed melons, which are often grown for uniformity, size, and durability for shipping, Ambrosia melons are grown for taste. Commercially grown melons are usually bred to withstand long-distance transportation and are often picked before they reach peak ripeness. This can sometimes result in less flavorful fruit by the time it reaches the consumer. Growing my own allowed me to harvest the melons at their absolute best—fully ripe and bursting with flavor.

Lessons Learned

Growing my own melons has been an amazing learning experience. The outdoor hydroponic setup worked beautifully, providing the plants with consistent nutrients and water. Splitting the seedlings into separate net pots helped them thrive without competing for resources, and while I didn’t prune the vines as recommended, I’m happy with the number of melons that developed.

I’m looking forward to cutting into these Ambrosia melons and sharing them with family and friends. There’s something incredibly satisfying about enjoying fruit that you’ve grown yourself. Plus, the flavor is unmatched compared to store-bought melons.

If you’ve ever considered growing your own melons, I highly recommend giving it a try. The process is rewarding, and the taste of a freshly harvested melon makes all the effort worth it.

[thebotanicalarcade]

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A post shared by Liv Lee (@liv.leeee)

[stuff-made-by-orose]

my friend is getting married today!! this is a card i made them!!! most of the images are from an excellent seed catalog.

[halltastic]

Cantaloupe Treats!

[oscarisaacasimov]

don't come at me for categorization, I used botanical definitions

I did not list any hybrid fruits, but they count as part of their category

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits

11th option would have been "Capsules" - durian, mundu, pawpaw, tamarind 

[sunflowers-n-cyanide]

I'm so sad. My melons went moldy.. my poor cantelope. Just when I was ready to eat em.

[pineappleguardian]

I think cantaloupe is the fruit of the gods

[q2k]

[truugoddess]

Have you fed your mind body and soul today ?!

[dravencrow127]

Summer Cookout

[btterflydream444]

@ luiny on Instagram