Cantaloupes - Need Advice on Harvesting

[Brandywinegirl]

I planted cantaloupes for the first time. I have three decent ones that I think are ALMOST ready to pick, but not quite. The vine is not yet pulling away from the stem. Should I leave theme alone, or pick them and let them ripen on the counter? The leaves are starting to die back and there are harlequin bugs and squash bugs next door.
What should I do? I don't want them to rot!!

Thanks!

[Northernfox]

If you want to be safe and they will ripen on the counter you can pull them. Watermelons are typically ready to pick when the tendril (curly thing that grabs things) nearest is dried up.

[rainbowgardener]

I don't have room to grow canteloupes. I looked it up and found:


As far as I know, no members of the squash family will ripen further after being pulled-- watermelons, gourds, squash, canteloupe, cucumbers-----none will ripen any further. that is why most canteloupe in stores are worthless- they are generally green and inedible. Leave them on as long as possibly can.
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 934AA1lfsG

No cantaloupe does not ripen off the vine.
Wait to pick it until the leaf right next to the fruit shrivels up and falls off, or wait until the fruit falls off the vine.
https://wiki.answers.com/Q/Will_cantalou ... f_the_vine

OR

Cantaloupe will ripen on the vine just fine. If your cantaloupe has been taken off the vine a little to soon it will also ripen up on your kitchen counter.
https://www.ask.com/question/do-you-need ... ake-it-off

In order to ripen a cantaloupe that was picked too soon you can leave on the counter in room temperature for a few days. You can tell when a cantaloupe was picked too soon by the stem. If it's rough then it means it was harvested too soon. You should pick a cantaloupe with the netting (the skin) that's tighter and closer together. https://www.localharvest.com will give you more infomation
https://www.reference.com/motif/food_and ... d-too-soon

Take your pick

Of those, I tend to trust wiki most. I didn't find any from a .edu source or any that gave evidence not just opinion.

Gardeners that grow cantaloupes, do yours ripen off the vine????????

[Ohio Tiller]

I can always tell when they are ripe because the deer stomped a hole in them last night! I have 6 real nice ones that I am dieing to pick but just can't bring myself to do it yet! I am sure I will lose them to the deer because they are getting close!

[rainbowgardener]

So Ohio, what do you think? If you pick some of those now before the deer get to them, will they finish ripening indoors?

In the meantime, I recommend deer netting.

[Ohio Tiller]

So Ohio, what do you think? If you pick some of those now before the deer get to them, will they finish ripening indoors?

In the meantime, I recommend deer netting.

Yes they will ripen but of course you will loose some of the flavor I will be picking mine tomorrow evening if the deer don't beat me to them. They are looking real good.

[imafan26]

I found this on how to grow cantaloupes/muskmelon and it has a description on when to harvest. It won't get any sweeter once it is cut, just softer.

https://www.almanac.com/plant/cantaloupe

The link below had a lot of useful information on growing melons, including cantaloupes.

https://growfruit.tripod.com/melons.htm

[Gary350]

I am growing water melons and cantaloupes. A few days after cantaloupes turn yellow the stem falls off with a little help. Push on the stem every day when it comes off melon is ripe.

Roll water melons over when the bottom is yellow give them about 2 more days they will be very ripe and sweet. If bottom is not yellow roll it back and over and wait.

[Ohio Tiller]

Well I managed to get 21 this year. Not sure what the deer were doing but they sure missed a treat this year. I was a bit worried because they were so green. The vine had died so I had no choice to bring them home but was very happy when I cut them open. They are so good and flavorful. I gave one to the neighbor and he came over a bit later begging for another because he was in trouble with the wife he ate the whole thing before she got any! As you can see they don't look ripe untill you cut them!