Once picked, watermelon fruits stop ripening and fruits picked too early may be destined for the compost pile instead of the dinner table. It’s important to allow your watermelon time to reach full maturity in the garden. Know the signs that your watermelon has ripened to avoid early harvest.
What to do if you pick a watermelon too early?
Watermelon does not ripen after harvesting, but it can get mushy in the refrigerator if it is a little overripe when picked, even before you cut into it. Store uncut watermelons in a warm, dry place for two to three weeks. Once you have cut the watermelon, you can store it in the refrigerator for two to three days.
Will watermelon ripen if picked too early?
Unlike many fruits, watermelons do not continue to ripen after they’ve been picked. That’s why it’s important to know whether a watermelon is ripe before picking or buying it. Once it’s been harvested from the vine, it will hardly change until it goes bad.
How can you tell when a watermelon is ready to be picked?
Answer: Harvest watermelons when the underside or belly of the fruit turns from a greenish white to buttery yellow or cream. This color change is especially pronounced on the dark green skinned varieties. In addition, the fruit tends to lose its slick appearance on top and becomes dull when ripe.
Will watermelon ripen more off the vine?
Unlike some fruits, watermelons do not ripen further once they are off the vine. Choose carefully, and store watermelons the right way to keep them flavorful.
Will a melon ripen after it is cut?
Will a honeydew melon ripen once it’s cut? Nope. Unfortunately, melons don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so what you buy is what you get.
How long can you keep watermelon after you pick it?
Once picked, uncut watermelon can be stored for about two weeks at room temperature, or refrigerated between 45 to 50°. Uncut watermelons have a shorter refrigerator life, so store at room temperature until ready to chill and eat.
Can you eat unripe watermelon?
Underripe watermelons are safe to eat, but they aren’t particularly enjoyable. Unripe melon tastes diluted and watery, instead of sweet.
Is a ripe watermelon dark or light green?
The ideal, perfectly ripe watermelon should be dark green in colour and dull looking. If it’s shiny, it’s not ripe yet. Another important thing to look for the field spot. This will be a yellow splotch on the underside of a watermelon.
What month is watermelon season?
Watermelon season starts as early as May in some places, and winds down in September. The very peak of the season is July and August. Grocery stores sell watermelons, mainly red seedless, year-round. Off-season watermelons mostly come from Mexico and Central America.
How many watermelons do you get per plant?
2-4 fruits
How Many Watermelons per Plant? Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant. The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
What can I do with underripe melon?
Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe
- Turning it into a soup — with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds.
- Making a melon jam or chutney.
- Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.
How long can watermelon sit out at room temperature uncut?
Watermelon will keep for 7-10 days at room temperature. After two days at 32°F, watermelons develop an off-flavor, become pitted and lose color. Freezing causes rind to break down and produces a mealy, mushy texture.
Does watermelon get sweeter over time?
“In general, melons will not change significantly once they’re harvested from the vine,” Green explains. She says that cantaloupes, honeydew, and watermelon are all non-climacteric fruits, which means that once they’re harvested, they won’t continue to become tastier or sweeter like peaches or bananas will.
How do you tell if a watermelon is bad when you cut it?
Checking the insides of the watermelon
If the flesh of your watermelon is slimy, off-colored, foul-smelling, or growing something fuzzy, this means it has gone bad and should be thrown away (after being wrapped in layers of plastic bags to avoid stinking up the whole kitchen).
What do the stripes on a watermelon mean?
If the watermelon is ripe, the ‘belly spot’ will be white or yellow. If you can see the stripes through the belly spot, it may not be ripe.” A smooth rind usually indicates a good fruit. “You might try to avoid melons that are over-lumpy,” Egel said.
What color are ripe watermelons?
yellow
If it is ripe, the color should be a creamy, almost butter-like yellow. The bigger the yellow belly and the creamier the color means the more time the melon spent ripening on the vine. However, if the spot is smaller or looks more white than yellow, then the melon may not be as ripe.
How do you make watermelon grow sweeter?
According to Modern Farmer, you should add four to six inches of composted manure to the planting bed before you plant for maximum sweetness. They state that watermelon is at its sweetest point when the vine shrivels at the fruit or the fruit detaches on it’s own.
Are immature watermelons edible?
Eating watermelon that isn’t fully ripe isn’t dangerous, but it’s not as good as a ripe melon. The first factor is obviously taste — there’s no point in snacking on a flavorless watermelon. But in addition to flavor, ripe melons also have more nutrients than unripe ones.
Why is my watermelon hard and crunchy?
When a watermelon gets too ripe for its own good, the juicy crisp texture of the flesh can turn gritty and dry. If you cut it open, you might see the flesh actually pulling away from the seeds. If your watermelon is mealy, it’s still safe to eat.
Why is my watermelon pink instead of red?
The inside, if you’re looking at a cut watermelon section, should be bright pink or red with a thick, pale rind. An over-ripe melon will have paler pink flesh, more a shell pink than hot pink. The rind may be greener, and the outside will be more splotchy or discolored.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.