Ready to grow? Get cantaloupe from our trusted partner nurseries and seed suppliers.
Links may earn GrowScore a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Cantaloupe (Hale's Best) is a classic open-pollinated American cantaloupe cultivar that has been a garden favorite since the 1920s, producing deeply netted, oval fruits with exceptionally sweet, salmon-orange flesh. Maturing in 80–85 days, it thrives in warm zones (4–10 as an annual) and produces 3–5 lb melons with outstanding sugar content — noticeably sweeter than most supermarket varieties. Hale's Best is prized for its reliability, adaptability, and the rich, complex perfume it develops when fully ripe. The vines spread 4–6 feet, making it suitable for medium to large gardens or trained onto a sturdy trellis with fruit supported in mesh slings.
Start cantaloupe indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost or direct sow in warm soil (70°F+). Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil with compost incorporated. Space hills 4–6 feet apart. Water consistently and deeply during vine establishment and fruit development, then reduce watering as fruits near maturity — this concentrates sugars and reduces splitting. Use a balanced fertilizer at planting; switch to low-nitrogen feed after flowering. To test ripeness, check the stem slip point: a ripe Hale's Best separates from the vine with slight thumb pressure ('full slip'). Grow on black plastic mulch to warm soil and retain moisture. Row covers early protect from cucumber beetles; remove at flowering for pollination.
More fruit that grow in similar conditions:
Find the best deal on cantaloupe from top-rated retailers. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.