A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Got Watermelons?

Back in early May, I planted 4 6" watermelon plants. I think they're sugar babies. growing on a hill, well mulched, there are 3 melons, which get turned every few days.

I set the harvest date for Aug 29 (80 days post planting). Three weeks ago, I cut off the trailing vines below where the watermelons were growing. My hope was to put more energy to the fruit. Now, it's Sept 17 and they're still growing on the vine and don't seem "ready."

I'm so envious of all your harvests!!

What's the latest I can harvest? Is there a "thump test?"

There are a number of ways to determine ripeness in a melon:

* Dried tendril and/or leaves closest to the melon.
* Dull not shiney rind.
* Yellow or creme color on the resting spot. It shouldn't be white.
* Ridges and dips on the rind where the stripes appear.
* Thump test. The thump test I use is the same one I use in the supermarket. You want a "punk" sound and not a "pink" sound. The former being more hollow.

Thank you, MrClint

* Dried tendril and/or leaves closest to the melon.
Not yet
* Dull not shiney rind.
In between!
* Yellow or creme color on the resting spot. It shouldn't be white.
I've been turning them so no spot
* Ridges and dips on the rind where the stripes appear.
None
* Thump test. The thump test I use is the same one I use in the supermarket. You want a "punk" sound and not a "pink" sound. The former being more hollow.
Pink!

Guess we're not ready, hey? I suppose if we had more sun and way less rainy days this summer, they would have gotten larger than a muskmelon. Was it a bad idea to cut the excess vines below the fruit?

You've all gotten me in such a watermelon mood that I caved in and bought a store one yesterday.
Really good, but sure makes me wonder what a real homegrown watermelon would taste like.
Does refrigerating one ruin it, like refrigerating tomatoes does? Or, is the melon even better chilled?

I'm not a melon expert by any means, so I can only give you my opinion.

The plant is going to turn the sun's energy into sugars for the melon, so more leaves and vines should add more sweetness. I just let my vines go wild.

You've got to chill a melon. There is no way around it. They seem to gain flavor by chilling.

Agreed! Chilling brings out the sweetness. I went ahead and harvested the first of three watermelons last night. After drawing faces on it like a pumpkin, I cut it open. Yech! Tasted very veggie like and it certainly was not ready

There's always next year!

OK, yes, I like watermelon icy cold and crisp too.
Just wondered if chilling them affects the flavor adversely. Like it does tomatoes.
Wonder if people kept them in ice houses in the times before refrigeration?
I wish I had thought to ask my Grandma that, and lots of other things. Our seniors are our treasure, in my opinion. How incredibly wealthy I was....

I found out what that spray is for melons that fall off. It's blossom set. Saw it in the Burpee site.
Anyone tried it?