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Casa Grande, AZ

I live in southern Az and its about 105-112. I know other growers are growing melons and they are sweet. What is the trick to growing sweet melons? Ive grew them last year and I know for sure its a good time to grow but Im not sure what to do to make them sweeter. Please help me and any advise given is appreciated!!!

7/23/2009 2:45:29 PM

formerly RGG

The only things I know affecting sweetness are proper maturity when picking, genetics, good growing conditions & not too much water for the last several days before picking. There are ways to know when a melon is good and ripe. Don't let one over ripen or it will be mushy. Carolina Cross is genetically a very sweet melon if properly grown. Of course growers who are going for "the big one" don't consider cutting back on water any before picking.If you are solely looking for sweetness consider something like sugar baby.

7/23/2009 7:54:57 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

TD...would you please tell us (me) on the ways to tell when a melon is ripe. I have heard all (prbly) of the ideas....tendril turns brown, thumping sounds hollow, bottom turns from yellow to white??? How do you decide? Peace, Wayne

7/23/2009 9:34:32 PM

Falls City, NE

My grandpa told me a long time ago that when the tendril next to the stem drys up you are within 5-6 days of the melon being ripe then start to watch the bottm wnemit turns yellow it at it's prime works for me everytime. I grow hundreds for a farmers makrket every year. Carolina grays, Black diamond, Congo, and this year Golden Royal(they are easy they turn yellow when ripe)

7/24/2009 12:54:03 AM

formerly RGG

Beyond what has been already said, I know very little. My dad used to thump on them for a sort of hollow sound to determine ripeness. I have been able to press down on some melons and hear them split inside & these were indeed good and ripe. When I pick a melon at the grocery store I push into the melon with a finger right around where the blossom was & if it is getting a bit soft there then that tells me the melon is ripe. That seems to work pretty good for me.

7/24/2009 8:11:39 AM

sevierville, Tn

The tendrill drying up does NOT work for carolina cross melons. They keep growing after that. They may be ripe enough to pick.

7/24/2009 1:52:44 PM

Fuquay Varina, NC

I know of only 4 ways to tell if a melon is ripe. Thumping...which is the first thing I do, then look at the tendril to see if it is drying up or brown, and then the bottom turning a yellowish color...excellent confirmation. My dad never like me using the fourth method...and that was plugging them. If it wasn't ripe just put the plug back in and run....

7/24/2009 9:35:09 PM

Bloomington, IN

I read on a website a couple of years ago something about spraying the plant with a borax solution to help sweeten them. But I can't for the life of me find the site. Has anyone tried this method?

7/24/2009 11:34:44 PM

Bowdon, GA

I tried the old tale of running sugar water thru and IV one year. It seem to make no difference in the size of the fruit, probably does more damage to the vine than good but it did seem to be sweeter. Or maybe it was just the placebo effect. As far as telling when a melon is ripe, a carolina cross is ripe when it quits growing the same is probablly true with smaller varieties. The tendril ussually turns brown about 30-45 days which just happens to be about the time regular melons are getting ripe. But environmental conditions seem to have an effect on when it turns brown. CC's grow much longer up to 90 days. Measuring thumping and yellow bottoms are probably the best methods for regular melons.

7/30/2009 10:40:08 AM

Casa Grande, AZ

Thank you so much for the info!!!!

7/30/2009 2:52:02 PM