Determining whether a watermelon is ripe or not is a subject that has befuddled farmers and home gardeners alike for centuries. There are numerous wive’s tales surrounding this age-old mystery. Some folks claim that you should tap or knock on a watermelon, gauging its ripeness by the sound produced. This method is less than perfect. When tapped, the fruit will make a ringing sound when it’s still too green. Once the fruit is overripe, that noise will promptly change to a dull thud. Other gardeners claim that the fruit is ripe once the small “tail” turns brown and dries up, though this can also be an unreliable means, as well. In some watermelon varieties, the stem will dry out as early as a week before the fruit is fully ripened.
In general, the best guide of a watermelon’s ripeness is its skin. Once ripe, watermelons usually become duller and darker in color. It’s also a good idea to check the underside of the fruit. The spot that the watermelon rests on will become a darker yellow color when the fruit is ripe. And if all else fails, plant a variety such as Sugar Baby (pictured above). This variety of melon has green strips that will darken to near black when the fruit is ripe, an unmistakable sign that your watermelons are ready for picking!
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