QUESTION: What is the best way to determine if melons are ripe? I try thumping but I don't seem to always get a good melon.

ANSWER: My favorite way to determine if a watermelon is ripe is to look at the fruit and follow the vine back to a set of tendrils, which are on the vine near the stem end of the fruit. When these dry up and wither the watermelon is ripe. If you don't have a vine to look at observe the ground spot, which is the place the melon rested on the ground. When the ground spot has turned creamy white or yellow the melon is ready. Seedless watermelons are the most difficult to determine if they are ripe. A friend of mine swears that by placing the watermelon on the stem end and putting your ear to the blossom end and squeezing with both hands you can hear the juice of the watermelon. The more juicy sounding the riper the watermelon. As for thumping I guess those who are trained in this art need to teach the rest of us what to listen for!

Cantaloupes or muskmelons are ripe when the stem is slipping from the fruit. That means that when the fruit is separating from the plant it is fully ripe. At times amber or reddish "sap" will ooze from the stem onto the fruit. A sure fire method is to cut into the melon and eat some, noting the tendrils, ground spot color, and juice running off your elbows! Over watering or excessive rainfall during the last few weeks of melon growth can dilute the sugars and flavor of a melon. Reduce irrigation for the last several weeks of growth to insure sweet, flavorful melons. Also remember that there are great differences in melon varieties, so write down the varieties you grow and their qualities both good and bad so you can remember from year to year which melons you enjoy the most.