The Best Time to Harvest, According to Pros

Cantaloupes can be finicky when it comes to picking, according to gardening expert Angela Judd from Growing in the Garden. If you pick it too soon, the flavor won’t fully develop and the fruit won’t be sweet. Too late, and the fruit may crack or become mushy.

For best results, Judd says cantaloupe should be harvested when the fruit easily slips from the vine. Other signs, like a yellowing rind and a sweet, musky smell can also aid in determining whether it’s time to pick, she says.

Here, she shares other surefire signs that it’s harvest time for your cantaloupe, the best method for picking a cantaloupe, and more.

When Should You Harvest Cantaloupe?

According to Judd, you should harvest your cantaloupe when you can gently try to remove it from the vine and it easily slips off—this means it’s ready to go. If it resists, it’s best to let it continue to mature.

Because an overripe cantaloupe is also a scenario worth avoiding, you’ll want to check your fruit every day until it hits its peak picking time to ensure you don’t miss the window.

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6 Surefire Signs Cantaloupe Is Ready to Pick

Yellow Rind

Look for a golden-colored rind between the webbing. If your rind seems more green to gray-green, it’s best to let it sit and check back for ripeness. 

Rough Netting

When it comes to determining a cantaloupe’s ripeness, all the senses come into play—touch included. Feel the netting or web-like texture of the melon. If it feels rough, this is another sign your cantaloupe is good to go.

Stem Easily Separates from the Melon

There shouldn’t be much if any resistance when removing the stem from the melon. It should easily give way if your cantaloupe is ready to pick.

Slightly Soft Blossom End

The end of the cantaloupe opposite of the stem is called the blossom end. You’ll also want to take into consideration the feel of this part of the fruit. Look for a slight give or softness to it to indicate it’s time to pick.

Sweet Aroma

The smell of a ripe melon is second to none. Slightly musky and thoroughly sweet, the scent of your cantaloupe can easily help you determine whether or not it’s go time.

If your cantaloupe vines are surrounded by other highly scented plants and produce, don’t be afraid to get your nose in there to ensure you’re not missing this tell-tale sign.

Dried Out Tendrils

Like other vine-growing fruits and veggies, cantaloupes will have little tendrils that grow along their vines. This is yet another way Judd recommends identifying when your melon is ready to pick.

Keep an eye on these little curly cues and be ready to pick when they’ve dried out—just make sure other indicators point to go-time, too, as you don’t want to solely rely on this one factor.

Signs Your Cantaloupe Is Not Ready to Pick

While it’s important to know the signs for when a cantaloupe is ready to pick, it might also be helpful to know when your melon is going to require additional ripening time. Judd says if the rind is still green or gray, the stem has to be cut off, and the netting is smooth you’ll want to give it more time.

Just make sure you don’t give it too much time—a heavy, overripe cantaloupe might drop from the vine on its own, and you’ll want to avoid the cantaloupe sitting on the ground for too long as it can quickly become susceptible to pests and rotting.

The Best Method for Picking a Cantaloupe

Judd says the best method for picking a cantaloupe is going to take into consideration both the visual aspects of the fruit as well as feel.

“Look for signs of readiness (color, texture) and then give the stem a slight tug,” she says. “If it’s ready, it will come off.”

If, based on this method, you don’t think your cantaloupe is ready, let it mature for another day before checking again. You’ll want to try to harvest at the peak of ripeness, Judd says, as this will offer the best and sweetest flavor.