Visions of soft, sweet, juicy fruit are crushed when you pick up the cantaloupe, turning it over in your hands and find holes. Large or small holes might result from birds, boring bugs or other animals.
Why does my cantaloupe have holes in it?
Raccoons and birds make holes in the tops of melons and scoop or suck juices from the fruit’s inside. If you are unsure of the animal culprit, sprinkle a light dusting of limestone powder around your melon plants and try to identify the animal based on the footprints left behind.
How can you tell if a cantaloupe has gone bad?
How to tell if cut cantaloupe is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the cut cantaloupe: discard any cantaloupe that has an off smell or appearance; if mold appears, discard the cut cantaloupe.
Why are there holes in my watermelon?
In the case of seedless watermelons, many patches don’t contain enough pollinating vines that set flowers at the same time as the fruiting plants, and a lack of viable pollen is the end result. Fruits will initiate when only a portion of the seeds are fertilized, but this usually results in empty cavities where seeds
Why are my cantaloupes splitting open?
Melon splitting occurs when the vine takes up too much water too quickly. The fruit rind is unable to expand rapidly enough to accommodate the growing flesh. A heavy rainfall just before harvest is often responsible for this. Even if fruit does not split, heavy rain or irrigation will decrease its sweetness.
Are there worms in cantaloupe?
On cantaloupe they’re referred to as rindworms because they feed on just the surface of the tough-skinned melon, only causing scarring. The caterpillars may tunnel through flowers, buds, and stems, but most usually prefer fruits.
Can you get listeria from cantaloupe?
Listeria can get in cantaloupe
Cantaloupes may look innocent, but they are the source of the most deadly foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. In 2011, a listeria outbreak in cantaloupes caused foodborne illness in 147 people and killed more than 30. Shockwaves from the outbreak are still felt today.
Can you get sick from eating bad cantaloupe?
The bacteria have a long incubation period, which means that it may take as long as four weeks for people who have eaten contaminated cantaloupe to feel ill. Listeriosis typically causes fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Can overripe cantaloupe make you sick?
Overripe fruits are prone to developing moldy patches. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat them or that they will make you sick if you do. According to the Food and Drug Administration, it’s fine to eat fruit with moldy patches as long as you remove the affected area.
What happens if you eat spoiled cantaloupe?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person infected with the bacteria usually has a fever and muscle aches, which are often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Additional symptoms can be a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Is it safe to eat hollow heart watermelon?
Hollow heart watermelon is totally fine to eat
According to Watermelon.org, internally cracked watermelons are safe to eat and may even taste sweeter than a regular watermelon since the melon’s sugars consolidate along the surface of the cracked flesh.
When should you not eat a 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). These traits also apply to pre-cut and pre-packaged watermelon.
How do you get rid of melon worms?
Spraying Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) or Steinernema carpocapsae, a beneficial nematode is a great solution according to a vegetable crop specialist at the University of Florida. To control an infestation, spray Bt or beneficial nematodes in the early evening on susceptible plants.
How can we protect melons from pests?
All you need to do is place a melon cage over each of your watermelon plants. This common method of protection will not guard against insect damage but it is effective against rodents and birds. Place this melon cage over your plants to protect melon plants from birds and mammals.
How often should cantaloupe be watered?
Cantaloupes need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week. If you don’t receive that much rain weekly, water deeply, but infrequently, to reach that amount. As fruits mature, gradually reduce and stop watering, since too much moisture can cause the rinds to split.
Can you over water cantaloupe?
Your cantaloupe plants will need lots of water up until the time they start to bear fruit. However, if you over-water, the root systems will become waterlogged and the plants will die. Cantaloupe plants do well if they get about an inch of rainfall per week.
What does a pickle worm look like?
The pickleworm adult is a flashy moth with wide triangular wings and a wingspan of about one inch (Fig. 1). The wings are mostly iridescent brown, with a central band of semi-transparant yellow.
What do Pickleworm eggs look like?
Their color is white initially, but changes to yellow after about 24 hours. The eggs are distributed in small clusters, usually two to seven per cluster. They are deposited principally on the buds, flowers, and other actively growing portions of the plant.
Should you wash your cantaloupe before cutting it?
Many of the illnesses have been associated with cantaloupe consumption. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before cutting melons. Before cutting, wash the outer surface of the melon thoroughly with cool tap water to remove surface dirt; scrub with a clean produce brush.
How do you prevent Listeria in cantaloupe?
To help prevent infection, the CDC recommends you do the following:
- Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.
- Scrub farm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.
How do you disinfect cantaloupe?
- Using a clean vegetable brush, scrub cantaloupe rind under running water, then rinse under running water.
- Immerse the whole cantaloupe in a sanitizing solution made by mixing ½ teaspoon of regular, unscented laundry bleach for each gallon of water for 2 minutes.
- Dispose of sanitizing solution.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.