Hales Best Cantaloupe When To Harvest
Ripe cantaloupes are aromatic at.
Hales best cantaloupe when to harvest. Look for a crack at the base of the stem. Harvest cantaloupes when the fruits change from green to yellow or tan and they break away easily from the vine. When cantaloupe are immature they will be green. A ripe cantaloupe should slip right off the vine.
As the fruit mature the surface netting becomes a tan ish brown color and the. Cantaloupe can be stored uncut for 5 or 6 days. Honeydew melons are ripe when the skin turns to a creamy yellow color and the blossom end is slightly soft. When to harvest cantaloupe this sun loving fruit takes about 65 90 days from germination to reach maturity depending on the variety and when you consider the size and complexity of a melon that s impressive.
Harvest muskmelon or cantaloupe when the stem pulls easily and cleanly from the fruit. To harvest a honeydew clip off leaving about an inch of stem attached to keep melons from rotting if they ll sit before use. Harvest when rind changes from gray green to yellow buff and the netting pattern becomes more pronounced. The fruit should be easy to separate from the vine but if they fall off by themselves they are usually overripe.
Once melons form on the vine only water when the soil is dry or leaves appear slightly wilted. Because the flesh of the cantaloupe is often pastel like in color compared to the more vibrant color of fruits like oranges we sometimes forget how important cantaloupe can be as a fruit source of vitamin a in the form of carotenoids. Harvest melon when vines are dry and be careful not to damage them. Hales best cantaloupe takes around 90 days to reach maturity.
In addition mature muskmelons have a distinct musky aroma and the end opposite the stem should be slightly soft. There are a few key indicators that will help you to know when a cantaloupe is ready to harvest. How do you know when to harvest the cantaloupe. If the stem has to be removed forcibly from the melon it is not fully mature.
Melons will soften after harvesting but will not continue to sweeten off the vine. Harvest winter melons when they turn the appropriate color and their blossom ends are soft. Fully ripened fruits measure from five to seven inches across.