Know when to harvest watermelons by learning the tell-tale signs of ripeness.
One of the most fundamental aspects of growing your own food at home is knowing with some certainty when the food you grow is ripe. After all, to invest the significant time and effort into growing a food crop like watermelon only to harvest the melons before they have reached their peak flavor would be a complete waste. Luckily, knowing when a watermelon is at full ripeness takes only a few simple considerations.
Watermelons and Ripeness
Gardeners and farmers have long experienced difficulty in determining when a watermelon is at peak ripeness. According to Ron Smith, extension horticulturist at North Dakota State University, this difficulty has led to the development of numerous scientific means for determining watermelon ripeness, including a "thumping machine" that measures the resonance of sound waves when the watermelon is thumped, a more scientific take on the old method of thumping a watermelon by hand to test ripeness. Other methods include "plugging" the watermelon in order to observe the color of its flesh or simply cutting it open and tasting it.
Tendrils
Observing the curly "pigtail" tendrils on the watermelon vine is a proven method for determining watermelon ripeness. Observe the tendrils on the opposite end of the melon from where the melon attaches to the vine. When the melon is at its peak ripeness, the tendrils will wither and turn brown and brittle. Individual growing conditions may affect the curling of the tendrils, but for the most part, this is one of the most tell-tale signs of full watermelon ripeness.
Color
Observing the color of various parts of the melon is another way of confirming full ripeness. The skin of the melon itself turns dull and loses some of its shine. On the bottom of watermelons grown on the vine, you will notice a "soil spot" when the melon has rested on the ground. As the watermelon grows to full ripeness, the soil sport turns from a light green to a light yellow color. Note that your watermelons may lack a soil spot if you turned them frequently while growing, a practice that should be avoided since observing the color of the soil spot can make it much easier to determine ripeness.
Skin Texture
Observing the texture of the skin is a final way of confirming full ripeness. Before the melon is ripe, the skin has a smooth texture and can be penetrated by a thumbnail with little effort. As it grows to full ripeness, however, the skin is tougher and can no longer be penetrated with gentle pressure. The skin also becomes rougher and less consistent to the touch. The presence of one or more of these indications of ripeness can aid in determining the ripeness of watermelon, but remember that the most definitive way to determine ripeness is to simply taste the flesh and adjust harvest times according to when the watermelon has achieved the taste you desire.
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