How to determine the ripeness of a melon in a vegetable garden

Autumn time is one of the most beautiful. Since this is the time to harvest the harvest, which was ripe with so much effort, the prolonged hot weather gives way to a blessed coolness, and nature pleases with bright colors. At this time, it is very important not to miss the moment of the beautiful melon, which decorates the garden with its fruits and by the beginning of autumn is already ready to delight with tasty and juicy fruits. In this article, we will analyze how to determine the ripeness of a melon, when and how this moment comes in different regions, as well as how to properly harvest and preserve the crop.

How to determine the ripeness of a melon or when a melon is ripe

No one can give you an answer to this question, even about a certain variety or region, there are too many factors on which the rate of ripeness of the fruit will depend. Here you need to take into account the weather conditions, and the quantity and quality of fertilizers applied, the time and amount of irrigation, as well as the structure and chemical composition of the land used.

So, depending on the above factors, while in the south of the country melons are already ripening with might and main, in more northern regions the fruits are just tied and begin a long path of their formation.

When they talk about proper care, they naturally mean following the standard rules, namely watering, pinching, feeding and so on. Subject to these simple rules, from the beginning of the season, in the second half of August, many early-maturing varieties will delight with ripe fruits. Medium and late varieties usually complete their development by mid-September. If you started growing melons in a greenhouse, which is one of the best options for the northern regions, then in greenhouse conditions the plants will delight you with their first harvest in mid-late July.

How to determine the maturity of a melon in the garden

So how do you determine the ripeness of a melon, or will it take longer? It's actually pretty simple to define. It is enough to show some attention.

• First, the ripeness of a melon can be determined by its smell. If you feel a clear sweet smell, then you can safely remove the fruit from the bush. The aroma of a ripe fruit depends on the variety, it can be with obvious hints of honey, spices or flowers, and if you feel a thick smell with hints of rot and sugary sweetness, then the fruit has already ripened and the decay process has begun. But if any pronounced smell is absent, then the fetus is not yet ready for removal.
• Also, take a closer look at the state of the melon peel, it is quite easy to determine whether the fruit is ripe by it, as well as by its aroma. The color of the skin depends on the variety and can be green, yellow or even orange. It is important that the shade of the peel is uniform, if the melons were tied, then without damaged areas.
• The ripe fruit is also easily separated from the cutting and is softer on its side than on the back.
• If ripeness has already come, you can scratch the peel with your fingernail, the more ripe the melon, the easier it is to remove the top layer, but if dents remain, then the fruit is lying in the garden.
• In addition, there is the tried and tested old method of tapping the fruit with an open palm, the more muffled the sound is, the more ripe the fruit is in your hands. If all of the above is confirmed, then the fruits can and even need to be collected from the beds so that they do not have time to overripe and begin to rot.

Storage

Now that we have figured out how to determine the ripeness of a melon and have harvested, it's time to figure out how to properly and correctly preserve the fruits and all their taste and useful properties. Who doesn't want to feast on juicy summer pulp filled with sun and summer memories in the middle of winter?

First you need to figure out which melons can be stored and which are not. When harvesting, we carefully select those fruits that do not show signs of damage, disease, rotting and other things, the melons should be as smooth and even as possible. Also, do not forget that early maturing varieties are stored worse and less in time. Melons harvested in mid-September are best suited for long-term storage.

Do not forget to prepare in advance a dark and dry room, with a rather low temperature and also low humidity in the air space. For storage, you will need shelves or yards under the ceiling. When preparing the premises, do not forget that during storage the fruits should not touch each other.

In order not to form rot, the fruits are stored in a mixture of sand, sawdust or clean cloth. It is necessary to regularly sort out melons, inspect and remove at least a little rotted, in order to protect the rest of the crop. We also advise you not to store these fruits next to other crops, vegetables or fruits, as then the melons will lose their smell. If you have already cut the body of the melon, you can store it for no more than seven days and only in the refrigerator, but the cut version will have real taste only for a couple of days. However, you can try freezing and then the taste will persist for several more weeks.

And back to the topic of storage, the best way is to hang the melons from the ceiling so that they do not touch each other and do not lie on the sides. Before storing, do not forget to thoroughly wash and dry the melons, then place each fruit in a separate net or cloth bag and hang from the ceiling in a prepared room. Remember to check the fruit from time to time and enjoy the ripe, sunny gifts of your garden.