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Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

I was just reading some information on growing giant watermelons and the writer suggested using pollen from a different plant as they are "self sterile". Is this true for cantaloupes?

1/23/2013 9:18:17 PM

El Paso TX.

Nope they'll self pollinate just fine - in fact you'll have a hard time finding all the little females the get pollinated if you don't keep an eye on em ! (I thought I was keeping an eye on my plant this year until I looked a bit closer at one day and found this -- ( http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/JDFanning_bucket/bhut2012010-2.jpg ) didn't see any of them until I almost tripped on one and started looking closer !

1/23/2013 10:50:40 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I have never heard of this before...How are they self sterile, I have selfed Giant Watermelons in the past

1/23/2013 10:51:44 PM

El Paso TX.

Good point Linus ! I think they may be confusing the giants with Seedless varieties -- The seedless ones are the only ones I know of that are self sterile since the male blooms do not produce any pollen. So that might be where the confusion came from but I have also self pollinated Carolina Cross melons before also !

1/23/2013 11:16:15 PM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

Thanks for the feedback

1/24/2013 8:35:07 AM

Piqua, Ohio

hand pollination can be done, but they can be a pain because of the blossom size. I use a paint brush for controlled crosses, but I know of a few growers who just open pollinate for cantaloupe's.

1/24/2013 11:12:43 AM

Bowdon, GA

The problem for me is finding them and finding the time to keep up with them. Most of my keepers are half grown before I find them in the jungle LOL

2/1/2013 11:37:54 PM