When should I harvest water melons?
Make sure you harvest your watermelons before a freeze. Watermelons reach maturity approximately 45 days after blooming; highly dependent upon cultivar. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/rhodcv/hort41… Watermelons at the peak of ripeness are normally filled out and blunt on the ends. Melons with pointy ends may still be maturing and not as delicious. The tendrils should be BROWN when the melon is ripe. That thick stem should be dry. The melon should also have a melon-like smell. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/fruit-… The Maryland Cooperative Extension site states that on some watermelon varieties, the tendril can dry up… 10 days before the watermelon is ripe: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/mce/publications… Danie
