The one mistake you do n’t want to make when get watermelons is pick the yield too early when it ’s still unripened . Once picked , the melons are as ripe as they are ever going to get . Therefore , it ’s imperative to know the augury of ripeness so you harvest at the Citrullus vulgaris ’s prime for juicy sweetness . Continue reading for all the ripen facts of watermelons and knowing when one is ready for pluck .
Climacteric vs. Non-Climacteric Fruits
All types of fruits are divided into the ripening categories ofclimactericandnon - climacteric . Fruits such as peaches , plum , bananas and nectarine are climacteric fruits , as they will retain to mature if pick unripe . This is due to the fact the fruits stay commit off the gasses of ethene and atomic number 6 dioxide .
On the other hand , watermelon are non - climacteric fruit along with strawberries , oranges , cherry and Citrus paradisi . Once harvested the fruit is as good as it will ever get . These eccentric of fruits do n’t produce vast sum of the two gasses like climacteric fruits .
In fact , non - climacteric fruits do the vast legal age of their mature while still tie to the industrial plant . Once reap , they get down their sluggish physical process of rotting .
Expert Tip : Fruits such as orchard apple tree and banana give off high levels of ethene gun . To speed up the mature process of other climacteric fruits , pose them near or inside a newspaper publisher bag with a banana or apple .
you may also speed up the blooming process of a pineapple plant by cover up it with a paper bag and placing an apple in spite of appearance .
Checking for Ripeness
When determine to grow Citrullus vulgaris , it ’s imperative you select a variety that has meter to reach full maturity , based on the length of your particular warmgrowing time of year .
If your growing season only endure approximately eight week , you do n’t need to grow a variety that take 12 weeks or more to attain ripeness . Once harvested , your watermelon wo n’t ripen left on the counter and you ’re leave with a melon filled with unripe letdown .
The “ day to crop ” listed on theseed packetgives a beneficial approximation of how long it will take the melon to bourgeon and strive its peak of full - savour and ripe delectability . look on the variety , it can take anywhere from 60 to over 100 days to reach ripeness .
Regardless of the length of your fond growing season , there ’s so many different watermelonvarietieswith dissent Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to harvest , there ’s tie up to be the sodding option for you .
Some distinctive signs to look for announcing a watermelon has reached its prime and is quick forharvestinginclude :
Once your watermelon vine is ripe and ready to pick , it ’s as simple as snipping the melon off the attached vine .
Expert Tip:“Thumping ” the watermelon and listen for a dull thud is n’t a proficient index of the melon vine ’s ripeness . Some ripe melons wo n’t have the “ slow thud ” audio and sometimes you ’ll end up with an overripe and schmalzy Citrullus vulgaris .
