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Grittyville, WA

I have a theory, which is that dry air (vs humid) is a contributing factor.

Anyone have any anecdotes that would support or refute this?

My anecdote is that on a squash I grew this year, there was one area that had dry air but was covered against sunlight and it DID cantelope but another covered area had more humidity trapped against the surface and that area did not canteloupe.

Genetics, nutrition, and humidity is my guess for the top 3 factors that will determine the canteloping.

9/14/2021 12:32:54 AM

Alex, IN

We have had a very humid summer here in Indiana. My large fruit is cantalouped more than a cantaloupe.

9/14/2021 5:34:59 AM

Colorado

Were always hot and very low humidity.Ive got one pumpkin that ia shiny with no cantelouping and mild to heavy on others. It seems that genetics is a major player.

9/14/2021 12:32:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

Yes for sure.

9/14/2021 1:06:30 PM

Cheyenne,WY

Genetics and cold is what I've found. Anytime the evening temps in the summer drop below 50, I'm almost guaranteed to see netting on the fruit the following day.

9/14/2021 8:48:00 PM

Bethlehem CT

If high humidity prevents cantelouping, I would guess growers in the southeast would tend to have shiny pumpkins. Is that true?
WE have high humidity here in the Northeast but the pumpkins usually have the end of August and September with lower humidity. WHich also does happen to coincide with the time you start to see cantlouping.

9/15/2021 6:00:49 PM

Grittyville, WA

There must be one set of parameters that would maximize canteloping and another set of parameters that would minimize it. But minimizing the cantelouping might have the drawback of minimizing the final weight too.

Thanks for the comments.

9/16/2021 3:50:59 AM