78 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The Tuscany Cantaloupe variety is a delicious melon from Italy bursting with flavor and aroma. The thick flesh and small seed cavity make for an easy-to-cut fruit. It has salmon-colored fruits with brown husks that weigh 2-3 pounds at maturity. The husks are sutured and finely netted with striped outer skins. Tuscany is an excellent market seller with undeniable curb appeal. The dense melons have good storage capacity and high vitamin C and A content. In Italy, this type of melon may simply be referred to as “Melone di Toscana.” ~980 seeds/oz. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Latin Name: Cucumis melo Hardiness Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Annual Crop: Not Intended to Overwinter Days to Maturity: 78 Days to Germination: 5-10 Seeding Depth: 0.5-1 inch Direct Sow: Yes, direct sow 1-2 weeks after your last frost date. Start Indoors: Yes. Melons may be started indoors 2-4 weeks before your last spring frost date. Wait to transplant them outdoors until at least 1 week after your last frost date as melons grow best with warm soil. Avoid leaving them in seed starting containers for long as melons are sensitive to transplanting. Harden off to reduce the effects of transplant shock. Melon Pollination: Melons require insects, such as bees, for successful pollination. As monoecious plants they produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. This means that not every flower will develop into fruit. We recommend growing an assortment of flowers near or throughout your garden to attract pollinators. Melon Type: Cantaloupe - Cantaloupe is a muskmelon with a scaly or 'netted' outer rind and sweet flesh that is most commonly orange but can also be yellow or green. The flavor can only be described as 'cantaloupe,' while the odor is slightly musky. Plant Spacing: 24 inches in a row or 2-3 plants per hill. Row Spacing: 4-6 Feet Plant Height: 12-15 inches Plant Width: 36-48 inches Growth Habit: Sprawled, Trailing Vine Growth Speed: Early - Ready for harvest around 50-75 days. Deer Resistant: No Soil Preference: Melons prefer warm, well-draining but moist, nutrient-rich, loamy to sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Temperature Preference: Warmer (70-90 F). Germination Temperature: 70-95 F Light Preference: Full Sun Pests and Diseases: Generally, melons are commonly susceptible to pest damage by aphids, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, cutworms, white flies, and melon worms. Look for signs of chewing, curling leaves, eggs on the undersides of leaves, and leaf discoloration. Melons are also susceptible to Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, and Fusarium Wilt, Anthracnose, and Bacterial Wilt. Maintain a regular watering schedule that avoids overly saturated soil. The roots need adequate time to air out between watering. This will also help prevent common fungal and bacterial diseases from developing. Good air circulation and applying water to the ground rather than the leaves will help maintain healthy bean plant growth. Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon Color: Brown husk, orange flesh. Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon Flavor: Juicy and buttery, with a distinctively rich, sugary taste. Garden Size: Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed Melon Use: Fresh eating, salads, juices, smoothies, desserts, grilling, etc. Climate Tolerance: Heat Growing Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon in the Vegetable Garden You can directly sow seeds outdoors after the last frost has passed and soil temperatures consistently reach around 65-75 F. This melon variety thrives in warm soil, so it’s important to wait for optimal conditions. These melons are heavy feeders, so adding compost or a balanced fertilizer before planting is recommended. Sow seeds at a depth of about 0.5 inch deep in well-drained, loose soil. Space the seeds or seedlings about 24 inches in a row or 2-3 plants per hill. Rows that are spaced 4 to 6 feet apart. This wide spacing is important to give the sprawling vines room to grow without overcrowding, which can lead to poor air circulation and increased risk of disease. Tuscany melons need consistent watering, especially during the early stages of growth and when the fruit is developing. After the vines start growing, you can apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage vine growth. Once the plants start flowering, switch to phosphorus and potassium-heavy fertilizer to support fruit development. Regular side-dressing with compost or an organic fertilizer throughout the season will keep the plants well-fed. Pinch off any unnecessary side shoots or weak vines that are not producing fruit. Additionally, if you're growing in a smaller space or vertically on a trellis, you can train the vines to climb, which helps save space and keeps the fruit off the ground. If you’re growing the melons on a trellis, provide support for the fruits with slings made of fabric or netting to prevent the fruit from falling or damaging the vines due to their weight. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of the plants helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the developing fruits clean as they grow. Harvesting Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon You’ll know it’s time to harvest when the fruit begins to emit a strong, sweet aroma and the skin under the netting turns slightly yellow. Additionally, the fruit will easily slip off the vine with gentle pressure. To harvest, gently twist the fruit until it naturally detaches from the vine. If it resists, it may need a few more days to ripen. About Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon Garden Seeds The Tuscany Italian Cantaloupe Melon is an heirloom variety from the Tuscan region of Italy. The warm Mediterranean climate of this area, with its long summers and fertile soil, provides ideal growing conditions for this melon. Traditionally grown in Italian gardens for generations, this cantaloupe has become synonymous with high-quality, gourmet melons known for their sweetness and flavor. When fully ripe, it gives off a heady, sweet fragrance that can fill the air around it. Its orange flesh is not only sweet but also extremely juicy and velvety. After harvesting, Tuscany Italian Cantaloupe Melons can be stored for about 5 to 7 days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 10-14. The orange flesh indicates a high level of beta-carotene, which is important for maintaining healthy eyesight among other things. Tips From Our Gardeners "The shorter growing season required for this melon mixed with its decently large size and intensely sweet flavor is almost confusing for me. The Tuscany Cantaloupe is truly one of a kind. Gardners with warm, short growing seasons will do well to grow this outstanding melon!" - Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer Other Resources Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon Seeds Per Package: 1 g - Wholesale - Approximately 35 Seeds 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 3,920 Seeds 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 15,680 Seeds Non-GMO Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
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