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Re: pruning melons

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

At 9:30 AM -0700 5/28/99, Ed wrote to the sq ft list:
>	Cantaloupe (muskmelon):  I will be growing my cantaloupe vertically
>for the first time this year and was wondering whether one should trim the
>vine to just one leader or does one leave all the leaders and trim flowers
>to just a few per plant?  My goal is to have sweet, juicy cantaloupes.
>Thanks for the help in advance.

I'm trying vertical melons for the first time also.  Questions that I've
asked elsewhere about it haven't drawn a lot responses either.  I just
think that not  as many folks grow melons and of those even fewer use
trellises.
I'm very interested in <our> results.
Here is what Wm. Woys Weaver says about pruning muskmelons and cantaloupe
in his  book, _Heirloom Vegetable Gardening_:
''Productivity of individual vines is increased by pruning. Many gardeners
are afraid to do this for fear of killing the vines, but pruning is
essential, and when properly attended to, it does more good than
fertilizer.  When the vines are about 2 1/2 feet long, remove the end buds.
This will encourage lateral buds to form, and the vine will soon branch.
This does several things for the plant.  It does not have to send nutrients
so far from the roots, so it is not so heavily taxed by rampant growth. The
energy of the plant is thus directed into the branches and fruits that form
on them. Only allow one or two fruits to form on each vine. A few perfect
fruits are far better than a bushel basket of tasteless miniatures.''
He has other things to say about warm environment and good drainage for
success with melons.  A very worthy book.
Hope this helps. -Ted


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