when to pick a watermelon from the garden

This color change is especially pronounced on the dark green skinned varieties. One of the biggest indicators that a watermelon is ready to harvest is when the shine turns dull.

Harvesting Watermelons When Is Watermelon Ready To Pick Updated

When is watermelon ripe.

. A ripe watermelon will have a dulled green appearance and the belly of it the part that sits on the ground will turn from a green-white to a yellowcream color. Watermelons do not continue to ripen once you pick them from the vine so wait until fully ripe to remove them from the vine. Be vigilant about checking on them once they reach maturity. Check the seed packet to find out how long you should expect to wait to be able to harvest the first melons and make a note of the date to start checking on your calendar or in your gardening journal.

It can also vary by location in the same country as well- for example in Texas the US watermelon season is from June to August while in California its from June to September. Most take about 32 days after blooming for the fruit to reach its peak. Black diamond watermelons on the other hand take around 90 days to ripen for picking. How to Tell if a Watermelon is RIPE to Pick.

In addition the fruit tends to lose its slick appearance on top and becomes dull when ripe. If you wait too long the fruit will begin to decay and will be less palatable. Figuring out when to pick a watermelon can be tricky so In this video I will be sharing tips to help you pick a ripe watermelon from you garden every time. On average planting to harvest time is between 70 and 85 days.

For most individuals thumping or tapping the melon is generally not a good indicator of. Small watermelons such as sugar babies take less time to fully ripen 70-75 days than larger ones such as Queen of Hearts 80-85 days. For example in South Africa watermelon season runs from August to December. Harvest watermelons when the underside or belly of the fruit turns from a greenish white to buttery yellow or cream.

It depends on the type. So you need other clues that will identify when you have ripe watermelons. It is important to be patient youll know when melons are ripening because their sweet scent will fill the air says garden editor for Homes Gardens Rachel Crow. To know when to pick your watermelon first look at its color.

A sugar baby watermelon is ready to pick after about 75 to 80 days. How to Harvest Watermelon. Some varieties mature in 80 days or more and others like Sugar Baby in 70 to 75 days. Generally they will be ready to harvest 70 to 90 days after you planted watermelon seeds.

A ripe watermelon should have a deep hollow sound when you thump the rind with your hand similar to a knock on the door. It all depends on when you plant and what your gardening conditions are of course. You can most likely harvest Orangeglo watermelon 90 to 100 days after planting. When youre growing watermelon the time until harvest will be listed on the seed packet but this is often listed as a range usually about 65 - 90 days which doesnt offer a whole lot of specificity.

To know exactly when watermelon season is keep an eye on your local farmers market. However if you pick too early the melons may not be ripe yet. Keep in mind that they go from unripe to spoiled in a matter of days. The best time to harvest watermelons is in the late afternoon when the sun is low and your melons are at their sweetest.

Check the field spot. Look for the little curl. If youre ready to get started with growing your own garden head on over to our store to pick out the perfect raised garden bed for. Here I harvest a watermelon TOO EARLY and cut it right open to show it is ALMOST-ripe.

If you grew your melon from a seed you should expect to have a ripe watermelon around 80 days later so you can start checking for a ripe fruit around 75 days after planting. An unripe melon will have a more high-pitched resonance whereas an overripe melon will sound more like a thud.