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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Watermelons
  • Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 12:53:46 -0500

When watermelons turn ripe, several things happen. First, it's not the stem that turns brown (until it's way overripe), it's the tendrils across the vine from the stem. The little curly thing will become pale, dry up and turn brown quickly. Also, the upper surface will lose it's shine and develop a hazy look. The lower surface (turn it over and look) will get yellow or even orangish in color. Finally, many watermelon growers knock or slap melons and listen to them. What they are listening to is how the sound passes through the melon. As the interior ripens it softens. The sound travels slower and develops a lower pitch as it softens. An unripe watermelon will almost have a "ping!" sound to it. An overripe watermelon sounds like you slapped a water balloon. A ripe melon will sound like something in-between. It takes some practice but once you begin to recognize the sound, slapping or knocking the melons is the most reliable method.
 
I never minded practicing because you always have to cut them open to see. And it's a shame to waste them....
 
Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Vic & Pat Jackowsky <jackow AT gmi.net>
To: Market Farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Date: Sunday, July 15, 2001 8:56 PM
Subject: [market-farming] Watermelons

Hi all,
 
Does anyone grow watermelon?  This is the first year we're growing them and I don't know how to tell when the big suckers are ripe.  I've always heard when the stem starts turning brown but that ain't happening and they are huge!  None of them are jumping up and down saying "pick me" so I'm lost.  I heard Paul Harvey say take a broom straw and lay it on the melon...if the straw turns, it's ripe. That works for watermelon we've bought but I don't think he meant to take a broom straw to every melon growing on 2 acres.
 
Any ideas out there?
 
Thanks,
Pat
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