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Location

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Utah

I am growing a large variety canatolupe and was wondering how long from pollination date will fruit be ripe enough to pick. secondly how do you tell when they are ripe both for eating and for competition. I have two plants one that has several fruit on and the other I want to cull down to one fruit.

7/12/2008 2:38:02 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Ok let me try this. How many days..Depends on variety usually 50 days after set.They grow fast and then they will cantaloupe on the outside. Once they stop growing in size keep an eye open for they turn fast (yellowing).I pick mine as they are just turning or the bugs will have a party on the stem end as it starts the let go of the melon. 2 years ago I grew 4 plants and I had one plant I kept only one melon and it grew to 49 pounds. The other melon plant I had one set early then about 1 week it set another 5 melons. The first melon set weighed in at 50.2 pounds.The others weighed from 20 - 30 pounds. So when I weigh them is when they are ripe or about ripe. I hope I have some for the fair August 12. I have 4 set on at 10 days old and only 30 days till fair.

7/12/2008 4:58:10 PM