From the garden
In last week’s column were indicators of a ripe watermelon – mainly, checking out the condition of the tendril attached to the melon and harvesting when the tendril is dried. Cantaloupes do not have a tendril to indicate its ripeness, but there are other signs that tell when a melon is ready to harvest from the garden.
Harvest date of a cantaloupe variety can be predicted by counting forward days to harvest from the date of seedling emergence. For most cantaloupe varieties the days to harvest are 70 after seedling emergence. As an example, if seeds of a variety were sown in May and seedlings emerged on May 15, counting forward 70 days, the expected harvest date would be July 25.
Once a cantaloupe has been separated from the vine, it is as sweet as it will ever be. Harvested melons will soften but not ripen further. Underripe melons lack flavor, and the flesh is hard and crunchy. Overripe melons are pungent and squishy, with a texture that is soft and runny.
The perfect cantaloupe will be fragrant and sweet. These are the signs to look for when harvesting a justright melon:
• The navel scar is “full-slip.” Look at the junction where the melon is attached to the vine (its navel). A fully ripe melon will easily ‘slip’ off the vine, easily separates from the vine with little pressure, leaving behind a round scar. A full navel scar on a melon indicates the melon slipped off the vine rather than being yanked or cut off. A melon that is not quite ripe and was pulled off the vine will leave part of the stem attached to the melon, called “half-slip.”
• Netting. The netting on the rind is raised and distinct, with a rough feel when running a hand over it.
• Color. The background color of the skin under the netting is a warm orange-beige, tan.
• Odor. Melon smells sweet and musky at the stem end.
• Touch. Melon overall is firm except the blossom end that gives slightly when lightly pressed, but isn’t squishy.
• Vines senesce. As melons mature, leaves shrivel and dry.
• Weight. Melons are heavy for their size. After harvesting hold the cantaloupe in a cool, dry spot. Cantaloupes will not ripen any further but only soften with time. If a melon is to be held longer than a day it should be stored in the refrigerator.
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
