Select a sunny site, away from trees and close to a water source if possible.
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16” (30-40cm). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated fertilizer formulated for vegetables or and all-purpose feed (such as a fertilizer labeled 5-10-5).
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn’t loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake apart the lower roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Check the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the garden and shorter plants in the foreground.
Plan ahead for plants that get tall and require staking or support cages. It’s best to install cages early in the spring, at planting time, before the foliage gets bushy. Vining vegetables can occupy a lot of space, so provide a trellis, fence, or other structure that allows the plant to grow vertically to maximize garden space.
I have had great success growing
Plant Library – Muskmelon, Cantaloupe ‘Superstar’ (Cucumis melo)
Muskmelon, Cantaloupe ‘Superstar’ (Cucumis melo)
But I cannot find a seed source.
Are you aware of anyone offering the Superstar Hybrid variety?
Hi Gene,
We did an online search for seed sources and found the following possible sources for Cantaloupe ‘Superstar’ seed: Gurney’s Seeds, US Seeds Bank, and an Amazon seller. (Click on the individual links to view their pages.) Mind you we don’t endorse any of these sources, just providing you some options for further investigation. You might also inquire at your local independent garden centers to see whether this is a variety they might be planning to carry as seedlings. Sometimes growers have access to purchasing seed in bulk for varieties that may not be available in small packets for home gardeners. Smaller grower/retailer operations typically have more latitude for deciding what varieties to grow, perhaps you can convince them that this variety is worthy of growing so that you could purchase seedlings.
You can buy Super Star melon seeds on amazon and etsy
Thanks Nick! We did verify your suggestion and it does appear that ‘Superstar’ cantaloupe seeds are available through the sources you mention.