Summertime is a great time to be a gardener. There’s nothing quite like picking your own produce right from the garden and eating it fresh! If you’re wondering when to pick watermelon, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we will answer all of your questions about watermelon harvesting. This includes tips on how to tell when the watermelon is ripe.
When Should You Harvest Watermelon?
The easiest way to harvest a watermelon is by looking for signs that it’s ready. A deep green color and yellow bottom mean that your melon has turned ripe. Hollow sounding thumps let you know if they’re delicious!
You can also tell when the time comes by checking to see if there are any dried up tendrils on stems near them. Only an arid climate would produce these types of plants, so keep some handy in case things get dry around here.
The early detection of ripening can be important, as the sweetest watermelons are typically found when they’re fully ripe. If you want to pick a perfect watermelon, don’t wait too long. These types will get rubbery once they mature.
Watermelons are a delicious treat, no matter when they’re harvested. They’ll continue to ripen after being picked so don’t worry if your melon isn’t perfectly ripe when you harvest it. Put the fruit in a dark, cool place and check on it every few days. Once it turns green, it is ready to eat! [1]
What You Need to Know?
Watermelons are a summertime staple and there’s nothing quite like biting into a crisp, juicy melon on a hot day. But how do you know when your watermelon is ripe and ready to eat? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll answer that question and more.
Watermelons are generally round or oval with a hard rind that is green, white, yellow, or a combination of these colors. The flesh is pink, red, orange, or yellow and is filled with seeds.
Watermelons are 90% water, which is why they’re so refreshing to eat on a hot summer day. They’re also a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as lycopene, which is an antioxidant that has been linked to heart health and cancer prevention. [1]
What’s the Best Way to Harvest Watermelon?
The best way to harvest watermelon is by using a sharp knife or pruning shears. You want to make sure that you cut the stem at an angle so that the watermelon can easily be removed from the vine. Once you have cut the stem, you can then roll the watermelon off of the vine and onto the ground.
Watermelons are a pretty tough fruit, so you don’t have to be too gentle with them. However, you still want to be careful not to damage the watermelon or the vine.
If you are growing watermelons in a greenhouse or plastic tunnel, then you will need to support the watermelons with a sling or something similar. This is because the weight of the watermelon can cause the vine to break.
Once you have harvested your watermelons, you can then wash them and store them in a cool, dark place. Watermelons will last for around two weeks when stored in this way. [1]
Tips to Pick a Good Watermelon
To get the best tasting watermelon, you want to make sure it is ripe. There are a few ways you can tell if a watermelon is ripe and ready to be picked.
- Test for ripeness is by thumping the watermelon. If it sounds hollow, then it is probably ripe.
- Tell if a watermelon is ripe by looking at the color. If the watermelon has turned from green to yellow, then it is probably ripe.
- Test for ripeness is by looking at the tendrils. The tendrils are the curly vines that connect the watermelon to the ground. If the tendrils are dried up, then the watermelon is probably ripe.
Now that you know how to pick a ripe watermelon, here are some tips on how to store it.
- Watermelons can last for up to two weeks if they are stored in a cool, dry place. If you put them in the fridge, they will only last for about a week.
- The best way to store watermelon is by cutting it into slices and putting it in an airtight container. This will help the watermelon stay fresh for longer.
- If you are not going to eat the watermelon right away, you can also freeze it. Watermelon can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
Now that you know all about how to pick and store watermelon, you can enjoy it all summer long! Watermelon is a delicious and refreshing fruit that is perfect for a hot summer day. So head on out to your local grocery store or farmers market and pick up some watermelon today. [2]
How to Harvest Watermelons?
Watermelons are a nutritious and delicious fruit that can be harvested when they reach maturity. The main indicators of this stage in development include size, coloration on the rind (whether it’s green or red), and soundness when tapping with your finger – if there isn’t any give then you may want to wait until later!
To determine if a watermelon is ripe, first check its size.
Next, carefully check for color. A ripe watermelon will have a green rind with some yellow spots on it. If the entire surface of your fruit is either pure green or golden-yellow then this means that they’re still not quite ready.
When you tap on a watermelon, it should sound dull and deep. If the fruit is too firm or hollow sounding then that means it’s not yet ripe but there’s still time!
When you’re sure that the watermelon is ripe, cut it from its vine using either a sharp knife or pruning shears. Be careful not to damage any of its surrounding fruits in doing so!
Once you’ve cut the watermelon from its vine, wash it off with clean water. This will remove any dirt or debris that may be on top of your fruit’s surface. [3]
Time to Maturity
The time it takes for a watermelon to mature can vary greatly depending on the type of melon, but there are some general guidelines that will help. Most varieties should be ready about 70-95 days after planting with proper care and attention from their grower/seller.
Field Spot Color
Watermelons come in all different colors, but when you’re looking for a ripe one they should have yellow undertones. You can tell if your watermelon is ready by checking its underside and making sure that it sounds hollow when you thunk it on the table or ground nearby. Once you’re confident that it’s ready, simply remove the watermelon from the stem before eating!
Once you’re ready to pick your watermelon from the garden, cut about two inches off of its stem. You can use a sharp knife or pruning shears for this and be careful not to damage whatever skin is on top!
When you’ve cut the stem, lift gently from the vine.
The best way to enjoy a watermelon is by cutting it into pieces and eating the juicy goodness! You can also store them in your fridge for later. [3]
Rind Glossiness and Texture
One of the most important indicators of ripe watermelon is the rind. A dull, matte finish on the watermelon’s skin is a telltale sign that the fruit is not yet ripe. The ideal watermelon will have a deep, glossy shine to it. In addition to looking shiny, the skin of a ripe watermelon should also be slightly dulled.
A completely smooth, bright skin is an indication that the watermelon was picked too early and will not be as sweet or as juicy.
Another way to tell if a watermelon is ripe is by tapping on the skin. If it sounds hollow, that means the fruit is ready to be eaten. If it sounds dull or thud-like, the watermelon needs a little more time to ripen.
Ripe watermelons will also have a slightly softer rind. You should be able to dent the skin of a ripe watermelon with your fingernail. If the rind is still hard, the fruit is not yet ready to eat. [3]
Plant Indicators
- The plant itself can give you some clues as to when the watermelon is ripe. The tendrils, which are the thin, vine-like growths that attach the watermelon to the main stem, will begin to turn brown and dry up when the fruit is ripe.
- Another indicator is the color of the bottom of the watermelon; it should be a creamy yellow, not white.
- Finally, you can gently thump the watermelon; if it sounds hollow, it is probably ripe.
Overripe watermelons will have dull coloring, soft spots, and may even start to crack. Underripe watermelons will be hard to the touch and have bright green coloring.
Once you have determined that the watermelon is ripe, use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the watermelon from the vine. Be careful not to damage the fruit as you do this. Watermelons can be quite heavy, so you may need two people to carry it safely. [3]
FAQ
Can You Wait Too Long to Pick a Watermelon?
The ideal time to harvest a watermelon is when it’s fully ripe but not yet starting to decay. You can tell if your favorite fruit has gone bad by tapping on its skin: if there are no solid bits left behind, then you’re good!
Harvesting a watermelon early is better than harvesting one that’s past its prime. If you’re not sure whether to harvest the melon, err on the side of caution and choose an underripe rather than over- ripe fruit!
Store your watermelon in a cool, dark place to maintain its quality. If you’re going to be using the oven for more than just breakfast sandwiches, put it away and get a refrigerator.
Watermelons are a summertime staple, and there’s nothing quite like eating one that you’ve grown yourself. If you take care of your plants and harvest them at the right time, they will stay fresh for a longer period of time. You might even find yourself preferring these over store-bought.
What Happens If You Pick a Watermelon Too Early?
If you pick watermelon too early, it will not taste as good as it could. It is best to wait until the watermelon is fully ripened on the vine before picking.
What Happens If You Pick Watermelon Too Late?
If you pick watermelon too late, it may be overripe and have a mealy texture. The flavor will not be as good as it could have been if you had picked it at the peak of ripeness.
How Do You Pick a Ripe Watermelon?
To find out if your watermelon is ripe, gently press your fingernail into its skin. If an indentation forms then that means it’s ready to eat! However, if you feel soft tissue instead of hard surfaces – meaning the rind has lost its firmness because you picked it too early – put it back and try again later today (or tomorrow).
Watermelons are a delicious and refreshing summer fruit that can be enjoyed any time of year. The grapes are typically harvested when they’ve had enough time to ripen and become sweet and tender. This makes them perfect for agronomists who look at how much rain there has been in order to determine what kind of grape will grow best!
When harvesting your watermelon, make sure to use a sharp knife or pruning shears. Cut the stem cleanly away from it so that there is no green left on top of fruit before cutting into them!
Now that you have cut the watermelon from the vine, it’s time to take it inside and clean it off. Make sure to get rid of any dirt or debris that may be on the fruit. Make sure to take everything off of the outside of the rind before you quarantine it!
After washing, your watermelon is ready to be enjoyed! You can eat it as is, slice it up for a fruit salad, or use it in any of your favorite recipes.
HowDo You Pick a Green Watermelon?
One of the best ways to pick a green watermelon is by looking for one that has uniform color and size. You should also check out your potential fruit’s skin; if it has shiny or waxy-looking skin, then it might not be ready yet!
Another good way to tell if a fruit is ripe is to look at the stem. If the stem is dry and brittle, then it means that the fruit is ready to be picked.
Pick your watermelon with care, because they are heavy. If you want to make sure it doesn’t get mixed up in the cart or wheelbarrow along any other produce items and ruin its flavor profile for yourself then take out what I mentioned before about cutting stems off beforehand!
Stack the clothes on top of each other, with the flat sides facing up. This will help air flow through them better and prevent wrinkles. This is a good way to store them if you’re at home.
Watermelons taste best when they are eaten soon after being picked. If you need to store them for a while, cut them into slices and put them in the fridge. It will last up to two weeks.
How Do You Know if a Watermelon is Still Good?
The watermelons are still good if they’re not too soft.To test if a fruit is ripe, you can thump it. The fruit should sound solid and hollow, like an empty drum (or maybe even better sounding like wood). Another way to tell is by looking at its bottom—yellow means ripe!
You can always cut away any bad parts of your watermelon and eat the rest. Just make sure to throw away those pesky seeds, as they may carry bacteria with them!
Don’t wait too long to pick your watermelon, though! If it starts to get wrinkly, that means it’s overripe. At this point, the watermelon won’t taste as good, and the seeds will be tough.
Useful Video: 🍉 When to Pick Perfectly Ripe Watermelons Grown in the Garden – Best Time to Harvest Every Time!
Conclusion
One of the great things about watermelons is that they are a warm weather crop. That means you can start to plant them in late spring and harvest them throughout the summer. So, when is the best time to pick a watermelon from your garden? The answer depends on where you live.
Watermelons will be ripe for picking when they have turned from green to mostly yellow or white. The tendrils near the stem will have also dried up by then. If you’re not sure whether a watermelon is ready to be picked, give it a gentle tug – if it comes off easily then it’s ripe!
We hope this guide has been helpful in answering your question of when to pick watermelon from the garden. Thanks for reading!
References:
- https://www.happysprout.com/gardening/when-to-harvest-watermelon/
- https://commonsensehome.com/tell-watermelon-is-ripe/
- https://gardenerspath.com/plants/fruit/harvest-watermelon/