harvesting cantaloupes. When are they ready to pick?

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cwgarden11 Fredericksburg, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 17, 2011

I am growing burpee hybrid and hales best cantaloupes in my garden this year. I have about 4 cantaloupes growing on each kind of plant. On of my burpee hybrid cantaloupes is turning yellow but the stem is still green. Is the cantaloupe ready to pick yet or is it still ripening? Also, my cantaloupe plants are producing very few flowers and they are not producing any new fruit. Is this a result from hot weather or a lack of pollination or overwatering? Any help on this topic will be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot.
Sincerely,
Conor Waters
Fredericksburg, Virginia

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cwgarden11 Fredericksburg, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 17, 2011

Ok, I know there has to be someone out there with some knowledge about harvesting cantaloupes. This is my first year growing cantaloupes and I really need some help. Please share your knowledge of this subject. It will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Conor

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Jul 17, 2011

Don't want you to feel ignored--- I get mine at the farmers market (sans the stem) (but yellow) and so no help to you --sorry. I think ripe has a "ripe" fragrance -- some people 'thunk' the melon with a knuckle... ..some lift and just "know" (or seem to) others push on the end like a doc checking a baby's soft spot! I just look for a melon that is heavy feeling in relationship to the size and smells 'done'. Maybe you can google....'how to tell when melon is ripe?'

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cwgarden11 Fredericksburg, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 17, 2011

thanks for your input missingrosie.

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Jul 18, 2011

My pleasure - ittle as it was. I figured if I wrote something it would bump it up for you so more could see it. Maybe instead of Beginner Fruit there is a forum for farming. The farmers may know. Lots sell at the Farmers Markets and have melons.

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shune Burien, WA(Zone 7b) Jul 18, 2011

I think this forum is fairly new so I'm not sure if very many folks are checking it. It might be worth a try posting the same question on the beginner vegetables or beginner gardening forums.

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Jul 18, 2011

I thought it might be new...but then figured perhaps just overlooked by me since not growing. Topic got my interest to learn how to choose the melon once harvested

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Jul 19, 2011

Cantaloupes are ready to pick when the fruit falls easily away from the stem. You can pick them just a little sooner if you want--at this point the fruit will still break away fairly easily. If it's not ready it's pretty tough to get the cantaloupe to break from the stem.

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