Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The art of picking melons

For the first time I grew melons, well the children actually. They grew the seedlings and planted them out, I was the just the person who fiddled with the developing fruit, eagerly waiting for them to ripen. Until one day my keenness got the better of me, and completely ignoring who the custodians of these plants were, and I pick one. Racing inside to share the excitement with the children I was quickly going to discover how much trouble I was about to be in. With family surrounding me with mouths drooling for the sweet taste of rock melon, I cut it open to discover... It was green and far from sweet. What more can I say -  I definitely was not the best dad in the world that day.

Not EVER wanting to make that mistake again I researched how to tell when a melon is ripe. It turns out this is not an easily explained task, rather it is an art. Pumpkins I have found quite easy - the stem going woody and splitting has been a clear indicator every time. However from what I read about melons there are many possible signs:
  1. If a hollow sound is made when tapped with a closed fist then this could mean it’s ripe.
  2. Inspect the underside sitting on the ground looking for a changed from a white to a yellow.
  3. Put your nose to it, if it smells ripe it could well be.
  4. Has it reached the size typical with that variety?
  5. Has the stem gone woody or developed splits? Then this too could mean it’s ready.
  6. But not always.
It sounds like it is a bit of an art form, a skill that is acquired only through practise. One source suggested that the only real way is to pick one and sample it. Most likely your plot will have a number of fruit and the loss of one or two as guinea pigs will not be felt too hard. Unless of course they belong to your children.


A few weeks later, when I was allowed back into the family, I noticed a couple of European wasps buzzing around one of the melons. Inspecting it I noticed the melon’s skin at the rear had split, and was giving off a beautiful ripe fragrance, which was obviously what had attracted the wasps.


When I picked it up to inspect it, it just came away from its stalk. Clearly this Melon was ready, maybe too ready. Regardless it was picked now. From the above photo note how the stalk still looks in perfect condition - not woody nor split. Since them I have been giving each fruit a stem test, applying a small amount of sidewards pressure to the stem, in a hope that this is a reliable test. Otherwise I will just watch for the wasps.


The melon turned out to be perfect, and thanks to the wasps I have regained my status of number one dad.

Do you have any melon picking advice?

12 comments:

  1. I agree it's an artform. We had a bumper crop this year. I lost the first couple because I kept watering after the fruit formed (found out that's a no no), then we had some beautiful fruit for a few weeks, then it started to rain and rain (we're in Qld) and the rest rotted on the vine. Lesson - they like to be kept fairly dry once there is fruit.

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    1. I was hoping you wouldn't agree with me Missy, and that you had a sure thing method to share. Oh well, we are just going to have to become melon picking artists.

      I haven't experienced the over watering problem. I kept watering the children's and still getting great melons. Mind you, ours is a dryer climate.

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  2. Great post! We are facing the same dilemma ... and lol we too have two wasps hanging around. Perhaps I should inspect the undersides - thanks again

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    1. When we first got the European wasps hanging around it really annoyed me, but now that they have proven to be useful I am warming to them.

      Keep a regular eye out for splits in the skin, I reckon they would spoil pretty quick once that happens. And try the stem test.

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  3. So true! An art form indeed. I find the hollow sound works for watermelon, but for rockmelons/cantaulopes I use my nose. If they don't smell ripe they aren't ready yet. Yours looks perfect!

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    1. We have watermelon growing as well, but to my ear they have always sounded hollow. Is there a variation in the sound?

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    2. I would say yes, but it is a question of 'does my watermelon sound hollow enough, or should it sound more hollow?' - in essence, not helpful advice. I find when almost ripe they will sound hollow, but when really, truly ripe they have a more pronounced, hollow, dull thunk of a sound when tapped. Sorry I am not being more specific, but its one of those things that has to be experienced I think. I hope this helped a little though.

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    3. Thanks for that, I am going to make sure I pay attention to the sound. Maybe even go and knock on a few in shops. I think this definitely concludes that melon picking is an art form.

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  4. It didn't take that long to be let back into the family. But it may take years to live it down. xxx

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  5. I have never picked a melon. But, they do ripen on the counter. Never refrigerate and never put in the sun in order for an unripe melon to ripen. I think if you wait for the skin to split, you have waited too long to pick. This advice is only for the melon in the picture--a cantaloupe. I cannot stand cantaloupe, but I do know that if I buy one for someone else, the melon is ripe if it smells like cantaloupe. So, if you want one for today, but a cantaloupe that smells like one. If you want to eat it several days away, but one that does not smell like a cantaloupe.

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    1. I never even tried to ripen it on the counter. Just assumed after being cut that it go off before it had time to ripen. Will have to try next time.

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  6. I am with Bek. I use the hollow test for watermelons etc and the smell test for rock melons and honey dew melons.

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