My watermelon has been teasing me!

[vfem]

I'm not sure what to do?! I have 3 huge watermelons (for the variety they are large) and they have been so nice looking for a few weeks. I noticed they have not grown in size, so I assumed they've been ripening after the growth. How do I know when to harvest them?! I've been taking pictures hoping someone could tell me. I have 2 on another vine that are ways off from being this big.... but these guys are the ones I can test on.

This variety is Sweet Crimson:

Here's # 3

 

[Greenthumb18]

Wow those watermelons look great vfem !!!!!!!!

You could check the tendril closest to the melon if its dried out and brown its ripe, you should also look on the side of the melon thats on the ground if that spot is yellowish the watermelon should be ready. Another way is to knock on it with your knuckles i believe a hollow sounds means its ripe.

Good Luck, i hope their juicy and sweet!!

 

[wifezilla]

http://www.almanac.com/food/watermelonripe.php

 

[vfem]

Wow those watermelons look great vfem !!!!!!!!

You could check the tendril closest to the melon if its dried out and brown its ripe, you should also look on the side of the melon thats on the ground if that spot is yellowish the watermelon should be ready. Another way is to knock on it with your knuckles i believe a hollow sounds means its ripe.

Good Luck, i hope their juicy and sweet!!

I didn't think to knock on it, I was told that was an old wives tale. I checked the tendril... it was so not dried out at all... very green and still attached. However the I checked the bottoms near the ground and it was a white/yellow and the stripes were disappearing.

Thanks for the link Wifezilla! I'm looking over it now... and I'm torn on whether to pick them or not. I'm thinking it couldn't hurt to try if the base bottom color looks right and it sounds hollow I will go ahead and test it. I don't want to wait for the tendril to look dried out or browned... it could also mean its over ripened in some varieties and I don't want over ripe... I want YUMMY!!!!

(P.s. - I am going OUT of my mind craving watermelon... its not even funny... I don't want to buy one while I'm watching these in my own yard if you know what I mean. )

:watering :rose :watering

 

[curly_kate]

I'm in the same boat, Vfem! But our weather has been so cool lately, I can't imagine how they'd be ripe. I'm going to try & hold out a little longer. Hope yours are good!

 

[vfem]

I picked the big one, and OMG it was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wifezilla]

 

[curly_kate]

I'm jealous! I accidentally picked one last night because it came off when I was looking at it. DEFINITELY not ripe. But the chickens will get a treat!

 

[Texan]

Wow those watermelons look great vfem !!!!!!!!

You could check the tendril closest to the melon if its dried out and brown its ripe, you should also look on the side of the melon thats on the ground if that spot is yellowish the watermelon should be ready. Another way is to knock on it with your knuckles i believe a hollow sounds means its ripe.

Good Luck, i hope their juicy and sweet!!

That is the correct way. If you are having a hard time figureing out what tendril is (I did) do a Google Image Search on it.

I have way way way to many watermelons