From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

How do I know when they are ripe? Not growing giants, the kids just wanted to grow some so we did.

8/12/2008 12:58:27 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I grow to win, so I by the end of the season they are naturally ripe. I used to be a produce manager a long time ago, and I used to hump the melon. there is a difference in sound when traveling through water or fibrous non ripe insides.

Besides, even an early melon will have some ripeness on the inside. One grow culled a melon that was big enough to have some edible melon on the inside.

I consider the melon totally ripe when you only have about an inch of rind.

8/12/2008 5:19:11 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Okay that's embarrassing. How about THUMP the melon. Get your minds out of the gutter you guys. Geeze.

8/12/2008 5:19:58 PM

Carrollton, Ga.

Hello,
A lot of people say when the curly q is dead they are ripe. Some melons need a little bit more time after they die. I like to roll them over and look at the bottom. When it gets a creamy straw looking color they are ripe.
doug
Jn. 3:16

8/12/2008 7:04:37 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

melon humper, lol

8/12/2008 7:05:22 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

So hump the melon, roll it over to checkout its bottom side and when it gets creamy you're done?

8/12/2008 7:08:28 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

LOL

I'm sorry I couldn't help myself.

8/12/2008 7:08:49 PM

formerly RGG

Sounds painful. I may have to let my wife do the melon humping to see if mine is ripe. I think she would enjoy it more.I just hope the neighbors aren't watching. Sorry Minnesota; I couldn't help posting a reply to this one.

8/12/2008 9:06:51 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

LOL and Thanks.

This sure went South in a hurry, but then again I guess that is where the most melon humpers live. :-)

8/13/2008 1:24:34 AM

sevierville, Tn

MMM , was that like a freudiun slip ? LOL

8/13/2008 1:55:57 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Yes, I meant to say thumping, and accidentally said your mother.

Yes, these things happen, and I wish I read my appends before I posted them. Of course if anyone really wants to know, it did properly spell check. So there!

8/13/2008 5:24:45 PM

Ontario

when the curly q on the vine starts to die is that usually the end of the growth of the melon or will it still see growth?

8/14/2008 6:42:09 PM

formerly RGG

Most all melons are ripe when the curly Q beside them is turned brown.As far as being COMPLETELY grown Carolina Cross may be the exception.For example, on the melon I am growing this year the culry Q has been dead a couple of weeks already and I am sure the melon is "ripe" but its continues to make slow progress in weight gain.I will not pick it until fair time on September 5.It will be a little over ripe by then but should be very near it's maximum weight.

8/14/2008 9:50:55 PM

Bowdon, GA

Brown tendrils are good indicators for small melons. Carolina Crosses will grow several weeks after the tendril turns brown. I picked smaller Carolina Crosses to eat when the tendril turned brown and they weren't ripe. A Carolina Cross is ready when it stops growing, or at least after it slows down alot. Like others have said look at the bottom. And like the melon man said you can thump them.(notice I used the word very carefully) They make a more blunt sound when ripe. This takes a little practice though. One old tale I heard is that you can put a piece of broom straw on top of a ripe melon and it will spin. Haven't tested this last method.

8/15/2008 10:59:06 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

Thank you all for the info and fun

8/16/2008 12:52:58 AM