Picking Cantaloupe (harvesting)

You can start picking cantaloupe when the outside skin starts to turn from green to yellow. A ripe canteloupe easily slips off the vine where it is attached. Caution needs to be taken while picking cantaloupe and when you are working in and around melon plants so as to not step on vines. The vines will most likely have other melons attached to them that need additional time to grow and ripen. Checking the plants every 2 to 3 days for ripening cantaloupes will help ensure you reap the maximum results.

After picking cantaloupe it is important to refrigerate them if you intend to store them for a few days before eating. Ripe cantaloupes do not store well for more that a week once taken off the vine and should be eaten as soon as possible.

Picking canteloupe should be done early in the day after the plants are dry with care being taken not to damage the vines.

Picking canteloupe every other day at the beginning of the season and then every day at peak season is a good schedule to follow.

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