How to tell when your homegrown cantaloupes are ripe

I've been growing cantaloupes for about 5 years. The first year I grew them I didn't know how to tell when the melons were ripe, so I kept giving the biggest melon a squeeze to see if it was ripe.
By the time it was ripe, it had a big bruise--a bad spot that had to be cut out. Don't make my mistake; watch this video to see how to tell when a cantaloupe is ripe.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Cantaloupes
• melons
• harvesting
• how to backyard garden
• fruit and vegetable gardening

[dontommyg]

now i really want to grow cantalope!

[KLisaLisa]

@dontommyg If you have the space, it is worth it! Your growing season in MA is shorter than what we have here, but I think you can still grow them.

[ArizonaAdventures]

I really liked your video! I have only one growing currently but can't wait to taste it soon. Keep the videos coming :)

[KLisaLisa]

@ArizonaAdventures Thanks! I watched a couple of your videos and I like your enthusiasm for gardening! Good luck with your melons and fruit trees! Maybe you can start your melons earlier next year.

[SambasWithSophie]

Thank you! Yours is the only thing I found (and I looked at many articles and videos) that really explained and showed how to tell when a cantaloupe is ready to pick--especially the part where you showed how the melon separates from the stem. I'm worried that they ours may not ripen fully. Tropical Storm Irene hit and all the leaves, other than the ones trailing up the fence, are withered and brown. One looks really close so I really want to be sure not to pick it too soon. Your video will help!

[KLisaLisa]

@SambasWithSophie I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Sorry to hear your plants are withering. Some of my cantaloupe plants are withering--it's a combination of the bugs, the heat it has experienced, and the plants are just old. It happens every year around this time--maybe Irene sped things up a little. I hope you get a good one! Next year maybe you can start a little sooner.

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[SambasWithSophie]

@KLisaLisa Thank you. I just snuck out into the twilight to take a peek. Nope. The color looks right, but the stem is still fully attached to that melon. But I just know it will be worth the wait. I did manage to pick a couple of nice heirloom yellow tomatoes, so that should tide me and my husband over for a bit. ;-) Your garden is beautiful, by the way. We love how you've integrated the vegetables and the flowers. The bees must love you! Again, thank you.

[RockGardenAntiques]

Thank you for your informative video- enjoyed looking at your garden and your pleasant delivery.

[KLisaLisa]

@AlexM5551947 You could have had some cantaloupe seeds in some compost or a bird could have swallowed the seed and deposited it in your yard. I have had cantaloupes plants pop up several times. Generally it is better to buy the seeds because if the seed came from a hybrid, it does not reproduce the same plant and the new one could have weaknesses (like cracking). It sounds like yours is coming along really well! I hope you enjoy your melons!