Cantaloupe – Hale’s Best Jumbo

Description

Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe (a.k.a. Hale’s Best Original, Hale’s Best Jumbo #936, Hale’s Jumbo)

25 Seeds per pack

Days to Maturity: 85–110 days

Sun Requirements: Full Sun

Botanical Name: (Cucumis melo)

Best Seller!

Introduced by Japanese immigrants in California during the 1920s, Hale’s Best Jumbo has been a trusted favorite in home gardens for over 80 years! This heirloom selection, named after C.C. Hales, produces large, oval fruits measuring up to 7½″ long and weighing 3–6 pounds. The rind is yellow-green with heavy netting and prominent ribs, encasing thick, salmon-orange flesh that’s sweet, juicy, and richly aromatic. Fruits have a small seed cavity, which means there’s more sweet flesh in every melon!

Plants form large, spreading vines that grow 12–18″ tall and typically spread 3–6′ or more. They’re known for being productive and dependable, setting fruit early and continuing throughout the season. These vines thrive in full sun, handle heat and dry spells better than most, and grow well in a variety of soils. They also have natural resistance to powdery mildew and other common melon issues, adding to their dependability in the garden.

They grow well in garden beds, raised beds, or even greenhouses. The thick, netted rind helps the melons stay firm and fresh during storage or transport. Packed with vitamins A, B, and C, Hale’s Best Jumbo is a time-tested choice for Home gardeners and market growers alike!

Disease Resistance: Powdery Mildew

Planting Instructions for Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe Seeds

When to Plant:
Direct sow Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe seeds outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost date, once the soil consistently reaches 70°F (21°C) or warmer. For shorter seasons or cooler regions, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before last frost, using peat pots or soil blocks to avoid root disturbance. Transplant outdoors after hardening off and when both soil and air temperatures are consistently warm and the danger of frost is past.

Where to Plant:
Choose a site in full sun that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupes thrive in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Raised beds or south-facing slopes are ideal. Incorporate 2–3 inches of compost before planting. Avoid planting in areas that recently grew other melons, cucumbers, squash, or pumpkins.

How to Sow:
Sow seeds ½” to 1″ deep. If planting in rows, space seeds or transplants 18–36″ apart in rows 5–6′ apart. For hills, sow 3–4 seeds per hill and thin to the strongest 1–2 plants. For trellising, space plants 12–18″ apart along a sturdy support.

Watering:
Keep soil consistently moist through germination. Once vines are established, provide 1–2 inches of water per week. Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deep rooting. Reduce watering slightly once fruit begins to ripen to improve sweetness and avoid splitting. Avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of mildew.

Fertilization:
Mix compost into the planting site before sowing. Additional fertilizer is typically not needed unless soil is poor. If desired, side-dress with compost tea, fish emulsion, or a balanced organic fertilizer once vines begin to spread and again when the first small fruits begin to form.

Mulching:
Once your seedlings are growing well, add mulch around the plants. Use black plastic if your goal is to warm the soil. Warmer soil helps seeds sprout faster and encourages early root and vine growth, which is especially helpful in cooler climates or early in the season. If you’re mainly trying to hold in moisture and stop weeds, straw or shredded leaves are good options, but they won’t help the soil warm up as much. Mulching also keeps the fruits clean by lifting them off the dirt and helps stop mud from splashing onto them when it rains.

Training & Pruning:
Vines can be allowed to sprawl or trained vertically. For vertical growth, support fruit with cloth slings. If desired, lightly prune some of the small side branches that grow off the main vine to help air move through the plant and let it focus energy on growing better-quality fruits. Avoid over-pruning, which can reduce flower production and sugar development.

Pollination:
Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupes produce both male and female flowers. Bees and other pollinators are essential for fruit set. Encourage pollination by planting pollinator-friendly flowers and herbs nearby. Good choices include borage, dill, sunflowers, marigolds, and oregano allowed to flower. These help attract bees and other insects that will visit your Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe blooms. In low-pollinator areas, hand pollinate by transferring pollen from male to female blooms using a small paintbrush.

Common Pests & Diseases:

• Pests: Watch for aphids, cucumber beetles (vector for bacterial wilt), squash bugs, and vine borers. Use row covers until flowering, hand-pick pests, or apply insecticidal soap in the early morning or evening.
• Diseases: Powdery mildew, downy mildew, and leaf blights can occur. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and space plants adequately. Treat outbreaks with organic fungicides or DIY sprays (e.g., baking soda solution).

Harvesting:
Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupes are ready to harvest when the rind turns golden beige, the netting becomes coarse and well-developed, and the fruit slips easily from the vine with gentle pressure. The blossom end should give slightly when pressed, and the melon will give off a rich, sweet aroma when fully ripe.

Storage:
Store ripe, uncut Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupes at 45–50°F for up to 1 week. Once cut, refrigerate and use within 3 days. Wash melons thoroughly before cutting to avoid transferring bacteria from rind to flesh.

Seed Saving:
Saving Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe seeds is an enjoyable and economical way to preserve this classic heirloom variety. Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupes are insect-pollinated and cross readily with other melon types, so avoid growing multiple melon varieties within ½ mile of one another.

Let the melons ripen fully on the vine. Once picked, cut them open the long way and scoop out the seeds into a jar. Add room temperature (not hot) water and let the mixture sit for 2 to 4 days, stirring it once each day to help the seeds separate. Good seeds will sink, while pulp and non-viable seeds float. Pour off the debris, rinse the good seeds thoroughly, and spread them out on a paper towel or mesh screen to dry for several days in a well-ventilated area.

Once your seeds are fully dry, you can store them in a labeled container. For longer storage, you can keep the container right in the freezer. Freezing helps protect seeds from moisture, pests, and temperature swings, especially over many months. For a quick and easy option, use our seed-saving envelopes. They’re simple to use, pre-labeled, and include spaces to write the variety, date, and any notes you want to remember. They help keep your seeds neat, labeled, and easy to find when you’re ready to plant next season. When stored properly, Hale’s Best Jumbo Cantaloupe seeds can last 3–5 years.

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Be not anxious about what you have, but about what you are. -St. Gregory the Great