Iroquois Cantaloupe Seeds

This early maturing, open-pollinated heirloom was bred at Cornell University in New York by Dr. Henry Munger. It was the first melon resistant to fusarium wilt when it was first released in 1944 and it was quickly noticed for its outstanding flavour and adaptability. Iroquois is amongst the easiest and most forgiving cantaloupe to grow. It does especially well in the midwest to the north-eastern part of the continent.

The grey-green fruits are slightly oval, deeply ribbed and heavily netted with thick skin, which makes them good shippers. Iroquois cantaloupes are best picked at 5-8 pounds and the deep orange coloured flesh is sweeter and tastier than many other melons! Wilt resistant, Iroquois melons are a favourite amongst northern growers or others in areas with shorter growing seasons.

- Latin Name: Cucumis melo
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 80
- Planting Depth: 1 cm
- Plant Spacing: 90-110 cm or 30 cm with trellis
- Row Spacing: 1.2-1.8 m
- Growth Habit: Vine

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

Melons are a classic long season summer crop that thrive with plenty of water, heat and sun. Cantaloupes and honeydew are two different types of muskmelon. Cantaloupe is easily recognized by the coarse tan netting of the rind and is defined by a sweet, orange flesh. Honeydew typically have smooth skin and a mellow green interior.

Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. Keep seeds warm, moist and well lit. Don’t rush to get transplants into the garden, wait until soil temperatures exceed 16°C. At this temperature, seeds can be sown directly. Plant seeds at 3 cm deep and 45 cm apart.

Melons need plenty of light to produce their sweet fruits, so use a space that receives full sun. The soil should be well-drained. Melons can also be planted in mounds or hilled rows to improve drainage.

Plenty of water is important during the vegetative and fruiting phases. They should receive 3-5 cm of water weekly. Once fruits are well established, withhold the heavy watering. The dryness and heat will force the sweetest fruit. Make an effort to water early in the day and keep foliage as dry as possible. Spread mulch away from the base of the plant in order to retain moisture and provide a dry bed for the heavy fruits.

Be good to your pollinators! Male and female flowers are produced and need healthy native insects to aid in fertilization. Once melons are growing, flowers can be thinned from the vines to concentrate size and quality to a few fruits.

Approaching harvest time, pay close attention to the colour of the skin and the condition of the stem. Melons are probably ripe when skin changes from green to tan or the stem is dry/cracked near the fruit.

QUICK FACTS

- The cantaloupe is technically a type of muskmelon that is thought to have first originated somewhere between Africa and Asia. It was among the first plants to ever be domesticated and cultivated.

- Cantaloupes are a delicious, heat-loving melon with a relatively long growing season, making them especially well-suited for hot summer climates.

- Cantaloupe seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.