Cantaloupe & Cucumber plants

[John kirkland]

Hi. I know you read that Cantaloupe and Cucumber can't cross pollinate, but....I personally have had it to happen.
My melons grew into nice round green balls that smelled & tasted like Cukes... This season I decided to start from seeds, which I should have known better...as my labeling habits are lacking. I think I have them separated, but remembering how I ruined all my loupes many years ago, im a lil wary of even planting them now...Is there any way of telling Cantaloupe seedlings from Cukes? Im not above using my Loop lol. Thanks.

 

[Becky]

Gosh I didn't realise that was possible! They are quite similar looking plants aren't they, so I can understand the problem trying to separate them out. The only thing I can think of is waiting until they are a little bigger (but before they bloom) so that you can identify the leaves?

Oh and welcome to the forum!

 

[John kirkland]

Thanks. Since after scouring the web for definitive answers and finding none, I will look at some known cantaloupes & cukes with my loop to see if any prominent details show the difference between the 2. I may have to wait until larger, just didn't want to plant and then have to relocate any of the wrong plants.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks. Since after scouring the web for definitive answers and finding none, I will look at some known cantaloupes & cukes with my loop to see if any prominent details show the difference between the 2. I may have to wait until larger, just didn't want to plant and then have to relocate any of the wrong plants.

In my experience cucs have a more rounded leaf and the notch where the stem meets the leaf is more pronounced than on cants. When you get true leaves side by side you should be able to see the difference

 

[John kirkland]

Good info Chuck, starting to get real leaves now, i'll look closely in that area..Thanks.