My father has grown the sweetest cantaloup I've ever tasted this summer. He got the seed from the local feed/seed store in the spring and they were just marked "Cantaloup". We have no idea if they are a hybrid or not. I've saved the seed from one this afternoon and have figured I could grow one out before it gets too cool (to see if it comes true to the original--no sense saving seed for next year/relying on these seed for my melons if they don't).

My question: should there be a waiting period before planting these from a seed saving/drying standpoint? Do newly saved seed require a dormant period or are they good to go right back into the garden?

TIA, OB

As long as the pulp is off, and the seed clean, go for it. I personally would direct seed in a mound in the garden with a good deal of sun, water.

They should be dry but other than that you are good to go if you want to try them. I bet they are open pollinated if purchased at the feed store. Farmers often sell seed back to the farm stores.
Was it the only melon your father was growing this year?

Thanks y'all.

Goldpearl, glad to hear from you. Couldn't remember where you and HMK were located earlier in the week and was worried y'all would be affected by the hurricane. Hope that's not the case.

He also grew Charleston Gray watermelons. Those two shouldn't cross, should they?

I'll let them dry well and plant them as soon as they do. If they grow true, I'll be happy to share some seed with anyone interested.


Thanks again! OB

I hope it is OK to add a seed saver question.

I was impressed that the Kale I planted in '07 lasted all Winter and was growing strong this Spring. "Try saving that seed!", I thought. Now the pods are just getting dried out and the seed is darkening.

So, does it need to be chilled before starting next year? I would think a cole would like a hibernation.

And wouldn't it be grand to have enough seed to grow for Sprouts? Not this year, alas.

Thanks,

Ria

We didn't even get a drop of rain from Hurricane Dolly here in North Texas. HMK is not too far south of here near Waco, so he probably didn't get much there either. He has been pretty quiet lately. My PC was down for a while and I am staying busy playing outside.


I went to Suzzane Ashworth's Seed to Seed book to check on these questions. All varieties of melons, cucumis melo, will cross with one another but not with watermelon or other members of the Cucurbitaceae family (cukes, squash, gourds). Melons should be caged, hand pollinated or isolated by 1/2 mile from other varieties.
Kale will cross with other brassicas including collards, cabbage, broccoli, brussell sprouts, cauliflower and kohlrabi. For seed production in Upper Midwest gardens, kale can be direct sown in mid July to early August. Dig the plants in November and store them in moist soil. Replant in early April.
(Since you already have seed, you probably don't need that information!!I don't see anything about chilling the seed before planting mentioned.)

Orgainic Baby, isolation for any of the insect pollinated plants is probably a good idea.

Still you might have a long enough season in your tropical clime to do a trial.

I think you'll have more concrete results next spring.

I would like you to try a row cover next year for at least some of yout next grow out next year. you'll have to hand pollinate with a paint brush etc.

Don't loose hope you've picked one of the more demanding plant families to start your seed saving with.

Cantalope seed can be germinated direct from ripe fruit. No drying or cold storage is required.

Interesting you mention Charles Grey Melons. That has been my reliable melon for many years now. I have been saving seed for years and they come true to form. I don't grow other varieties of watermelon.

It is sure worth a try on the cantalope. Hope it works out well for you.

Tom, I will surely plan on using some some sort of isolation method in the future when I'm saving seed. Not sure I can talk my father into that though, lol. I think we're okay from a cross-pollination standpoint. As best as I can figure, the nearest neighbor to my father who has a garden this year (and who is growing cantaloup) is my uncle who is at least 1/2 mile away.

James, my grandfather was one of the first watermelon growers in the state of Alabama to plant Charleston Grays when the seed first became available. When he saw how much more productive they were compared to what he'd been growing, he never planted anything else. Looks like my father is carrying on that tradition.

BTW, guess what's drying on a plate in the kitchen at this very moment?

"If" people would stop stealing my latest copy of Seed To Seed, I'd be a happier camper.

It lists which of the mellon cuke squash pumpkin can cross pollinate. A valuable tool for seed savers working in that family.

Update: the cantaloupes continue to grow, they're a little larger than a softball so I think we may actually make it for the trial grow out this year!

Update: The largest ones my father said looked like a deflated tire...the culprit was a worm boring into them. The smaller ones are not really as big/ripe as I would like but I told him to pick one anyway (they do ripen some after picking, right?) and we'll see how it does. Gotta pick it now or forget it...there is a freeze warning for my parent's area of the county tonight.

I would really like some of the Charleston Grey & the canteloup if they come true for a sweet melon if you are interested in a SASE.

Wanda, I'll be happy to send you some seed if we're able to grow them true to the original. If we're not able to accomplish that this fall, I'll still send some if you're interested in trying your hand with them in the spring. Email me (addy below)

OB