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Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Wow! Isn't she a beaut! Toplef10Wow! Isn't she a beaut! 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Wow! Isn't she a beaut! I22gcj10Wow! Isn't she a beaut! 14dhcg10

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Wow! Isn't she a beaut!

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Post  songstriss 8/14/2012, 12:05 am

This is my very first muskmelon. It measures 8.5" long and 6.5" across, that's 13" around! It's huge!!! BIG hug
To me anyway.
It has started turning color so I'm hoping to harvest it soon. How do I know when to pick it? Do I need to back off on watering it?

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Post  LittleGardener 8/14/2012, 1:00 am

songstriss wrote:This is my very first muskmelon.
It measures 8.5" long and 6.5" across, that's 13" around! It's huge!!! BIG hug
To me anyway.
It has started turning color so I'm hoping to harvest it soon. How do I know when to pick it? Do I need to back off on watering it?

Wow! Isn't she a beaut! Imag1411
Congratulations! Very Happy - How to tell when melons are ripe depends on what kind Smile
Listen:
Honeydew will rattle from loose seeds when ripe. Cantaloupes you thump. A deep and thick dense sound is good. A hollow sound can mean insufficient moisture. If ripe, it will resonate with a hollow thump.
Smell the fruit: Both cantaloupes and honeydew have a strong sweet smell.
As the fruit matures, the skins become smooth & slippery, and some varieties change color to orange.
the muskmelon & Galia types are easy to tell when ripe as the fruit pulls off easily or "slips" from the vine.
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Post  songstriss 8/14/2012, 5:37 pm

Thank you. I've read that with some fruits you're supposed to back off on watering while they are ripening. Do I need to do that with this muskmelon?
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Post  Pollinator 8/14/2012, 10:21 pm

songstriss wrote:I've read that with some fruits you're supposed to back off on watering while they are ripening. Do I need to do that with this muskmelon?

Yes, definitely. Too much water and the fruit won't be very sweet. I will spoil faster, and it might even split. No water, once it starts to turn.
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Post  CapeCoddess 8/15/2012, 12:16 pm

Pollinator, once it starts to turn what? Also, does this no watering pertain to squash, too?

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Post  songstriss 8/22/2012, 9:54 pm

Here are some photos of the muskmelon to date. It has been 10 days since it started turning color and has grown even larger.

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It doesn't give when I try to pull it from the vine. It has a hollow sound when I thump on it. Do I wait longer to harvest it or is it ready?
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Post  camprn 8/22/2012, 9:55 pm

Nice! I am so jealous! Enjoy it!!! What a Face

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Post  songstriss 8/22/2012, 10:28 pm

So does that mean I should harvest it or leave it on the vine longer?
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Post  GWN 8/22/2012, 11:53 pm

I TOO am envious, is a muskmellon sort of like a cantaloupe?
I have 3 canteloupes and the whole hollow sound thing to me is just difficult to know.

when I make bread they say to tap on the bottom and if it has a hollow sound it is done, I just never know. :scratch:
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Post  songstriss 8/23/2012, 9:34 am

Yes muskmelon is a cantaloupe. I think the difference is that the muskmelon is more elongated, whereas cantaloupe is more round.
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Post  donnainzone5 8/23/2012, 11:24 am

I'd wait a bit longer, until the rind is more golden and less green, to harvest it.
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Post  No_Such_Reality 8/23/2012, 12:49 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:I'd wait a bit longer, until the rind is more golden and less green, to harvest it.

That would be my advice. That melon isn't fully ripe, IMHO, the dark green under the netting means it will get much sweeter and tastier if you wait. However, I suspect it's also quite eatable right now and probably better than store bought. Melons are a challenge and they can go from beginning ripe to over ripe really quick.

For an additional concern, how's the neighborhood pest situation? Skunks, opossums, etc? As it ripens it's going to smell, I've lost many a melon I was waiting for full ripen to come out in the morning and see something half ate it. Oh the frustration.

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Post  llama momma 8/23/2012, 1:01 pm

Looks soo delicious, when its ripe you must tell us how it tasted
good job!
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Post  Misia Pedro 8/23/2012, 10:32 pm

Awesome!
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Post  thegreatcob 9/3/2012, 8:42 pm

actually a muskmelon is not a cantaloupe.cantaloupe don't have netting.
now a honey dew is cantaloupe with green flesh.
there are several other difference like cantaloupes easily come off the vine when ripe
muskmelons don't.

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