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Harvesting Your Watermelons

Gardening Guide: Wonderful Watermelon: How to Grow the Fruit that Means 'Summer'

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Harvesting Your Watermelons

By Norann Oleson

Harvesting watermelons

Congratulations, you’ve planted, nurtured, and brought your watermelon plants to fruit! The next question is, when should you harvest your watermelons?

The answer has numerous parts:

Calendar: Note when you planted your seeds or seedlings, and count out the days that the producer gives as time to harvest.

Size: The fruit is the size you expected it to be based on the variety.

Tendrils: The tendril closest to the fruit begins to wither, turn brown, and curl. If the tendril is green, the fruit is not ripe. If the tendril is dead, the fruit is ripe or overripe.

Rind: The rind loses it vibrant, shiny gloss and turns dull. There will be little contrast between stripes on the skin.

Yellow spot on ripe watermelons

Bottom: A white spot will develop where the melon touches the ground as it grows. When that spot turns yellow, the fruit is ripe.

Sound: Mark Twain noted that a ripe melon will make a “punk” sound when rapped—this is a low thud. Unripe melons make a sharp ping sound when rapped.

Brothers: Watermelons on the same plant typically ripen together over a two-week period, so when the first melon is ripe, the others will ripen shortly.

    • Watermelon Storage Bonus Tip: Store whole watermelons at room temperature and they’ll last longer—up to two weeks. Put that watermelon in the refrigerator and it will start to decay after about a week! (To keep a watermelon from rolling off your counter, put it in a brownie pan or bowl.)

Cut watermelon should be wrapped in plastic, refrigerated, and used within three to five days.

When do you harvest your watermelons? Do you get a good crop every year? Please tell us your experiences with harvesting your watermelons.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Growing Zones for Watermelon
  • Types of Watermelon Plants
  • Pollinating Watermelon Plants
  • Choosing the Right Variety of Watermelon
  • Growing Watermelon from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Growing Watermelon in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or on a Trellis
  • Soil, Sunlight, Fertilizer, and Water for Your Watermelon Plants
  • Watermelon Care: Pests and Disease
  • Harvesting Your Watermelons
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Watermelons
  • Start Growing Watermelon in Raised Beds
  • Plant Profiles

  • Desert King Watermelon
  • Black Diamond Watermelon
  • Yellow Doll Watermelon
  • Crimson Sweet Watermelon
  • King of Hearts Watermelon
  • Sugar Baby Watermelon
  • Recipes

  • Grilled Watermelon and Pineapple Skewers
  • Grilled Watermelon Salad
  • Easy Watermelon Sorbet
  • Fresh Mozzarella Watermelon Salad
  • Watermelon Rind Smoothie
  • Watermelon Fruit Rollups
  • Margarita Watermelon
  • Watermelon Juice
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Watermelon
  • Home Remedies and Health Benefits of Watermelon
  • Resources about Watermelon
  • Watermelon Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • Decoding Watermelon Ripeness
  • Wonderful Watermelon: How to Grow the Fruit that Means ‘Summer’

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