How to tell if your watermelon is ripe in 5 seconds
A quick reliable way to tell if your watermelon is ripe.
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@scottglover4025 Жыл бұрын
Having commercially grown and picked thousands of watermelons in my life the tendril is one indicator pickers use to initially calibrate their eyeballs when they begin picking. As a watermelon ripens its skin colors will become duller and will take on a more waxy appearance and at the same time develop little goosebumps on its surface. If raised in contact with the soil the melon will generally have some areas of black dots on its belly that we called pepper and the belly color will generally develop a more yellow or cream color as it ripens. The traditional seeded watermelons, which sadly now many people have never seen, would belly out or go from a stove pipe appearance to a pronounced egg shape once it was ripe. As far as the fake seedless melons you see in stores now, I could probably tell you if one is no good but I doubt if I could tell you if one is good. Big watermelons like we used to grow and that people wanted are not in the stores anymore because the big chains will not buy them due to fears some one might sue for hurting their back trying to pick one up. The stores used to want a 32 lb average for watermelons you sold them, now they won't accept anything above 20 lbs. Most city folks have never had or seen a good watermelon. If you want a good watermelon get it at a farmers market or drive into melon country and buy one at a roadside stand and be prepared to spit some seeds. By the way, the fellow in the video needs to spray his melon vines with some fungicide or they won't be around much longer.
@leonlowenstadter9223
Жыл бұрын
I would agree! Funny to see that's the same all around the globe. Here in Germany seedcontaining melons (melons usually are grown in Spain or Italy) are still seen every now and then but I think customers prefer convenience over taste.
@billwelch9431
Жыл бұрын
What kind of organic fungicide would you recommend?
@williambixby3785
Жыл бұрын
The altered melons don’t even taste the same to me. I mean it’s still watermelon, but that’s like eating a yellow one, they all have a particular flavor… I grew up on a farm and spitting seeds as I ate my slice and that’s the only way I like mine lol!
@ragnarflorida
Жыл бұрын
If you find a seeded 1 , collect the seeds and plant them .
@terran5569
Жыл бұрын
As a kid, long ago, we would buy our watermelons off of the back of a flatbed truck piled high with giant Texas watermelons and everyone would have that ear-to-ear red watermelon smile. I personally would swallow half of the seeds. Grandma said if I didn't spit them out a watermelon plant would grow out of my ear. Not true!
@davidulvestad294411 ай бұрын
Very good explanation. Me and my dad have a pretty big watermelon farm and we've learned a few ways to tell when they are ready as well. Of course, it depends entirely on what variety the watermelon is, but I can give you some general advice. PS: numbers 2 and 3 are the only good ways to tell when the watermelon is ready, not including the tendril you covered in this video. Numbers 1 and 4 are "do not waste your time" things. 1. Knocking on it: Throughout thousands of watermelons of different varieties, we have not found that to tell us anything useful as they all have different sounds regardless of if they're done or not. 2. Checking the spoon: Checking the spoon if a good way to tell if a watermelon is done or not. The spoon is located around where the tendril is and will dry up when the watermelon is done growing similarly to the tendril. The spoon looks like a small leaf unlike any other watermelon leaf. 3. Squishing the butt. Squishing the butt of the watermelon tests if the watermelon is done growing as well. The butt will be squishy when the watermelon still has room to grow, and the butt will be stiffer when the watermelon is done growing. The butt is located at the opposite end of the watermelon as where the stem connects to it. It's got a black spot around where the butt is. 4. Checking the bottom: Checking the bottom is a pretty bad way to check if a watermelon is ripe. The bottom looks more yellow or white because it doesn't get sunlight, or it has been sitting in water. It tells nothing. Also, the watermelon you picked in this video is not ripe. It's very obvious to tell for me. It didn't split open when you cut it because the watermelon was hot, it split open because it had too much water. Maybe it rained too much, or maybe you watered it too much. A good way to try to prevent your watermelon plants from getting too much water is to put the plants themselves in mounds of dirt that measure 1 foot off the ground. Of course, too much water leads to them getting overripe, but if that's the case, it's because you didn't pick it in time. I bet you didn't check the spoon or the butt when you picked the watermelon for this video. Also, you don't need to put the watermelon in the plant buckets if you lay black plastic over everything. Over were the plants come out of the ground (of course cut a hole for the plant to come out of the plastic, and over everywhere where the watermelon plant might reach its leaves. This prevents weeds and dirt from getting on the plant. Also eliminates a lot of bugs. Also, might want to try a different variety. Good luck!
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for this post! Great info!!
@rosskstar
11 ай бұрын
Will they continue to ripen after you pick them, like other fruit?
@davidulvestad2944
11 ай бұрын
@@rosskstar No. They stop when you pick them. That’s why you gotta eat it in like a week
@brittneyrussell17662 жыл бұрын
When it comes to picking a ripe one in the store push with your thumb on the "button" that's the opposite where the vine was attached. If it gives any then it's good to eat. The more you can push it in the riper it is. If you can push it in a lot it may be too ripe. If it doesn't budge at all it's typically not ripened enough. This always works!
@trixserv2 жыл бұрын
Simple explanation and love how you showed samples of different stages of ripeness. Thanks!
@TinMan445 Жыл бұрын
Only thing I would add to this is you get a much cleaner red to green rind if you let the melon cord dry up after the tendril. Typically when the tendril dries up you know you can turn your watering way down and let the plant pour all its nutrients into the fruit
@timothyshanley11323 жыл бұрын
Direct to the point, and no filler that was a perfect example, thx so much
@diann5462 жыл бұрын
I cut a melon with a brown tendril last year. It was still green.
@Mygardenspace2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video! Very good information. I’m a first time watermelon grower and your explanation of the tendril is perfect.
@evelenejohnson7148
Жыл бұрын
I watched your video and all the ripen signs were there, but the watermelon was light pink/some red . Are there a type of watermelon that doesn't get completely red.
@joshflener3359
Жыл бұрын
@@evelenejohnson7148 yes a few actually.. orange tendersweet to name one
@crackfuct2001
Жыл бұрын
Me too, 1st time grower, very helpful video!
@TD-nf1qo2 жыл бұрын
If only I had watched this before picking my first watermelon last week! The middle was pink-ish, the rest was green. No flavor whatsoever, but I ate it anyway... this is so helpful, thank you!
@joryjones4911
2 жыл бұрын
Same lol
@vaccinefraud5570
2 жыл бұрын
I tell myself that they're oversizec cucumbers so that I don't get disappointed when they're not sweet.
@blackkennedy3966
Жыл бұрын
@@vaccinefraud5570water melons are just sweeter cucumbers anyway they’re related and there are watermelon cultivars that aren’t sweet used just like cucumbers as a vegetable
@minionkevin66233 жыл бұрын
Great video! I kept reading about it, but no one was explaining it. You had lots of good examples. Thanks for taking the time to make the video!
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome. So glad it helped.
@medahenderson3055 Жыл бұрын
Dude, if your neighbors think you're "crazy" or weird for checking your watermelons and garden- you need new neighbors! That's silly
@mickyskickreviews4826
Жыл бұрын
It made sense to me lol
@floydholder597
Жыл бұрын
Pretty much my same thoughts, why worry about ignorant neighbors when it affects the quality of the food on your table?
@G.G.G.zone7
Жыл бұрын
Because people have anxiety which make thoughts like this.
@jerex112
Жыл бұрын
He’s making a joke about the neighbors… are you guys boomers or just retarded?
@rebeccaspratling2865
10 ай бұрын
@@G.G.G.zone7yes it's a response to your childhood but it's not healthy. Gotta evolve. 🙏
@happinessishealthnature43702 жыл бұрын
This is the best “when is watermelon ripe” explanation, quick & easy tutorial… Thanks!!
@Marie-or6hz2 жыл бұрын
This is a simple, yet completely accurate way. Thank you for posting this, and making it easy for the rest of us. Peace and bountiful blessings.
@ricsgarden7394
Жыл бұрын
Its not accurate. That melon isnt close to ripe.
@libido7110
Жыл бұрын
@@ricsgarden7394thanks u are right
@leonarddaneman8102 жыл бұрын
The yellow patch means the watermelon was allowed to ripen while on the ground, not picked too early.
@ryetea4002 жыл бұрын
Thank you for being direct and not having a lot of filler. I was standing out in the Texas sun because my bf didn't want me to pick it without proving it was ripe.
@Itried20takennames Жыл бұрын
As a tween, I decided to container grow a watermelon on my parents damp, oak-tree shaded deck (it was pre-Internet, and I didn’t know better). It did okay as far as leaf growth, but made one sorry little “watermelon” the size of a lemon, which was really adorable.
@laurap164711 ай бұрын
I checked my gardens right after your clip and followed your helpful suggestion. They were ripe according to you- and they were perfectly ripe. 🥰 Thank you
@LB-vl3qn2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip. It looks like you may have made the same mistake I did in overwatering your watermelon. At least yours waited until you brought in inside to crack open. I found mine gaping open, cracked from stem to stern right out in the garden. You grew some very nice watermelons. ~ Lisa
@Dimension855
Жыл бұрын
Trying my best to not crack mine, I have one that's light green almost yellow looking an hard to press a nail into it but the little tandral is still green very tempting to pick 😢. Then there is one on vine that is dark green an soft you put your finger nail in easy
@LB-vl3qn
Жыл бұрын
@@Dimension855 Best of luck to you! I hope your watermelons are delicious. ~ LIsa
@truenorth22753 жыл бұрын
Best to wait like a week after tendril has completely dried out
@chrisrawls3766 Жыл бұрын
Best watermelon video on KZread. Short and to the point. A+. Ty for sharing your experience!
@philmatthews3537 Жыл бұрын
'Watermelon being almost synonymous with having a garden'... literally never heard that before.
@ChristyJ2 жыл бұрын
That pot idea is brilliant! Thank you!
@nicokyriakАй бұрын
Anyone can make good watermelons, but only a good and experienced farmer can make good sweet watermelons.
@Big88Country22 күн бұрын
Absolute best way to tell if it is ripe, the tendril has to be brown, AND if you hook your finger under the vine going into the melon and pull up if it pops off easily the melon is ripe. If you have to tug pretty hard don't break it, it is still ripening. Best way right there!!
@benedicttokauwarwakai2953 Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much. I planted my watermelon garden and I continue to make mistake with harvesting unripe ones. The enlightening video has correctly showed me how to identify a ripe watermelon.
@jimevans57332 жыл бұрын
Tried it last evening in our patch. Was the perfect ripe melon. Thanks for the info.
@suzannehale78707 күн бұрын
Thank you! This helps so much. This is the first year I'm successful with growing watermelon and I was afraid to ruin my work by picking too early. This video is just what I needed.
@tavolo222 жыл бұрын
I heard that, if you hold a baby by it’s feet, over the watermelon and it swings to the right, the melon’s not ripe. To the left and it’s ready.
@donnavorce8856 Жыл бұрын
The resonance of the thump is my method. But I'm watching yours. It's always good to have more than one arrow in the quiver!
@emilygossman74402 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Well explained! helped out a lot for us to see if our melons are ready!
@meatman20242 жыл бұрын
Straight to the point no fluff
@dawnmariemartinez6285 Жыл бұрын
Why does it say it only takes 5 secs, who watched the 5 min video just to be disappointed because the vines aren’t on the STORE MELONS duh!!
@wolfwalker59242 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Short, sweet, and to the point.
@volcanolehua13 күн бұрын
this was so helpful! thanks for showing the difference in the tendrils! First time growing, didn't realize it needed to be dried all the way back to the main stem.
@waynemorgan15773 жыл бұрын
I picked watermelons growing up one summer. The way to tell is to look at the stem. If it is brown then it is ripe.
@ronallens62042 жыл бұрын
Interesting. Always waited for the stem to start to dry, this way lookes more reliable for early picking. As for store bought, there is no relyable method i have found to find a ripe (not over or under) ,, tired of dry or grainy ones, even harder is to find a sweet one... met an ole timer who told me the reason its hard to find sweet ones is they need to have lime applyed as the vine fruits to make them sweet. A coupke years ago i got a rattlesnake mellon so sweet it was like eating watermellon candy, the sweetest one i ever had of any variety i have eaten.
@libido7110
Жыл бұрын
Like ur pfpf
@clarkl41772 жыл бұрын
Whoa! Nice timing--was just about to get mine off the vine WITH NO IDEA how to test ripeness-- except it's been "long enough". I will now go check ✅ Just one question: how'd you figure this out 🧐
@dorismailloux4666 Жыл бұрын
Helpful & concise info! Thanks. I’m a new cropper so this was gold for me!
@jasonlagasse36232 жыл бұрын
Thought my wife was yelling to me in the background at the end and was really confused when I realized she wasn't home.
@taramollerus17922 жыл бұрын
Thank you !!! Our first time growing this was so helpful ! Just pulled out first one and it is ripe and soooo sweet !!!
@-Scotty6 ай бұрын
bro just picked an unripe melon 🤣
@weilihuang17692 жыл бұрын
Funny how your video just popped up after I picked my first watermelon half an hour ago. Luckily there are still two Mellon’s on the vine to wait for the best time to harvest by your tip. Many thanks!
@jenjohnson2984 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this. First time growing watermelons and can’t wait for a ripe one!
@loyweaver2978 Жыл бұрын
We always waited until the vine near the melon started to turn lite brown. Much riper, redder and ready to eat.
@johnnyharris419811 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for your video I just subscribe I planting watermelon had no idea when it would be ready truly thank you for your knowledge❤
@acrad7187 Жыл бұрын
Thank you! I’ll know what to look for now when my watermelons get close.
@ast4613 Жыл бұрын
You are right about the ripening but the best method is when you see the watermelon garden sitting (stopping its vibrancy).
@henryspelter9638 Жыл бұрын
I don't know, that looked sort of pale red, especially around the periphery, not the deep red that indicates full ripeness. I am sure it was ready in the middle but did it fade toward the outside?
@leonlowenstadter9223
Жыл бұрын
That was what I thought, too. I would think he should have waited for the actual stem to turn a bit brown and make the "thumb sound test" for final "approval".
@vaccinefraud55702 жыл бұрын
I've been gardening since 1973 but NO ONE ever explained that trick until now. Thank you. Please tell us how you keep the cucumber beetles from destroying your crop.
@yolandapierce4258
Жыл бұрын
I take empty jugs of milk and spray pain them yellow. I put a little dish soap in water in and set them in various places in my garden to trap them.
@vaccinefraud5570
Жыл бұрын
@@yolandapierce4258 thanks
@thefitzs
Жыл бұрын
@@yolandapierce4258 do you leave the jug whole or do you cut it in half?
@Maspets
Жыл бұрын
@@yolandapierce4258 LEAVE THEM ALONE!
@Sg4809
Жыл бұрын
@Maspets lol good luck growing anything then lol
@captainkirk17172 жыл бұрын
Just curious…what do the plastic buckets do? Thanks for the great advice!
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
2 жыл бұрын
I had rats eating them. I put them in buckets like that to protect them from rats. It seemed to work.
@bwb00u4
Жыл бұрын
@@dirtygnomesgardens1667 thanks for the tip. We have field rats that have eaten through my watermelons before. I will give it a try. 💯
@kindredk9standardpoodles280
Жыл бұрын
I was thinking it was to add warmth.
@annedotcom51192 жыл бұрын
Thank you! So glad I saw this ... It was the difference between an 8lb watermelon that was not ripe and a 38.8lb perfectly ripe watermelon!!! Thanks!
@edwardverduzco8810 ай бұрын
The best wisdom is usually short, straight forward, and all encompassing. Kudos to you watermelon whispering guru! Can't wait to upload that into my kids brains. They'll probably pick up a cush dream job by dropping that hack on a rediculously rich CEO. Thanks!
@FurFeathersandFlowers6 ай бұрын
I've watched several videos tonight of people harvesting these unripe, LOL. Yours was the first with it ripe and of course explaining how to determine whether it is ready or not. Thank you, have seeds coming and will be trying this plant for the first time this year. Oh btw, to hell with what others think while you meddle in your garden!
@user-cv1xe9yf3f Жыл бұрын
After the tendril turns completely brown give it another week. Check the bottom for a cream yellow spot not a white spot.
@marycarver4532Ай бұрын
Omg! This is the best way to find out if it's ripe or not! Thank you
@XTheGabsterX Жыл бұрын
very informative thank you. I didn't know u could grow them in somethin that small. I'm def going to try that out, Thank you.
@darralpphillips2 жыл бұрын
Awesome thats is clear advice. Also I had a lot of problems with rats because I live next a river. I caged my patch but it didn't stop them. I like the pot idea cause I can mesh the top of the pot to keep them off the melons. Thanks from South Yunderup Western Australia 👍
@davidelkinton
2 жыл бұрын
If you use bird mesh please make sure to keep it off the ground. Lizards get stuck in it and it’s a terrible death. My ex wife did it after I warned her and I found 8 beautiful little blue belly’s dead. Told her again and cleaned it up. 3 days later she had done the same thing and there was 4 that time. I felt so terrible. I’ll never ever forget that lesson.
@darralpphillips
2 жыл бұрын
@@davidelkinton Ok Thanks
@JeffTheHokie
2 жыл бұрын
They tunneled into at least half of my winter squash last year.
@amberhovest76413 күн бұрын
Thank u!! We planted our 1st garden and I had no idea when to pick them
@JesusChristISTHEONETRUEGOD11 ай бұрын
Your neighbors surely know the reasoning behind checking ripeness 😂
@tenbears2335 Жыл бұрын
Awesome advice. Can't wait to test it.
@farmtalk491 Жыл бұрын
Wow, it really worked. I didn't think any of my watermelons would be ripe yet but went to check just to see if I could find that curly thing. I found one that was a dry stick and thought, that video said that means ripe, but it seems kind of small. I picked it, thinking the chickens would be grateful if it didn't work. But it was ripe. It might have needed a few more days, but was sweet enough. Thanks. I don't know why this isn't common knowledge.
@user-ok4ql8nw6q Жыл бұрын
Btw, home grew watermelons are very sweet even if they are pink inside, not red.
@MrAllan911 ай бұрын
That was great advice, thank you. 👌
@MySuewho Жыл бұрын
Super helpful! Best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you.
@tennesseelady999 Жыл бұрын
Thank you. As old as I am. I'm still learning something every day.
@rindamubarik1881 Жыл бұрын
I look crazy sitting outside my watermelon patch watching this show as my neighbors watch lol
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
Жыл бұрын
Haha, I love it.
@bjay869516 күн бұрын
Thank you, makes so much sense. The vine wants to drop its seed so it lets go and the melon drops, splits, seeds fall out or picked up by birds & life continues. Thanks
@8thcelisabeth Жыл бұрын
Great idea with the pots.
@user-cq3qm4ps3z3 күн бұрын
The dried tendril only tells that the melon is maturing, it is not an indicator of ripeness. The best method is the thumping method; as soon as you get the dull "thump", the melon is ripe. Of course, if you miss a melon and give it a thump two weeks after it was ripe, it will still give the dull "thump", but it will be over-ripe. Glad to see others giving their opinions on methods, but the "thump" is the one I use with 99% success.
@switchofftogettagrip1400 Жыл бұрын
Been considering growing Watermelons, since my dog will probably think its a soccer ball or something, Your pot idea overcomes that issue, I would grab the phone out if my dog decided it was a soccer ball !
@JeffMartinez648 Жыл бұрын
Best watermelon video on KZread! Thank you.
@zman597011 ай бұрын
I love the melon in a planter ! I lose so many to soil rot!! Great idea!😊
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
11 ай бұрын
Yes! I did it because I had rats eating them but it kept them from rotting too.
@janethsigrest7622 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the idea on identifying ripe watermelon.
@julayalo98602 жыл бұрын
Perfect, thanks so much this is my first year growing them
@mikeash74282 жыл бұрын
I like how you put them in pots. I'm going to go check the tendrils and put mine in pots.
@cellissec.18992 жыл бұрын
I did the tendril test and my watermelon was white on the inside! I was so dissapointed lol. The tendril was dark brown too!! And belly was yellow smh. Now Im paranoid to open any of my other watermelon 🍉 😔. Hey you win some you lose some.
@lynseychinnery57072 жыл бұрын
Fantastic! I have watermelon (1st time) and this is super helpful. 😊 thanks!
@frankaaaa38411 ай бұрын
Wow, 😳😳😳😳where have this channel been? Thank you and I’m subscribing now.😄😄😄😄😄
@jayalldayism Жыл бұрын
So glad I found your video! Can’t wait to check my two melons in the morning lol already made the mistake of thumping one thinking it was ready and it wasn’t 😩
@ProctorsGamble2 жыл бұрын
Don’t worry about what your neighbors think about you. They’ve already made up their minds 😝
@id10t98 Жыл бұрын
The one you cut open looked like it had a few weeks to go, imho. I look for the stem connection to the watermelon to almost get a brown ring around it (on the melon side of the stem, not the tendril) and as an OP here already said, if you can easily push that 'ring' into the melon, it's ripe.
@shizanepimp1 Жыл бұрын
I thought you were gonna fill up the bucket of water and see if it floated or not. Wonder what that would do 🤔
@sharondoan1447
Жыл бұрын
There is no way filling that small container with water is going to make that watermelon float. Not enough room for displacement, but I did wonder the same thing.😊
@ohyeah37502 жыл бұрын
I saw on another video that you should look at the stem. If brown, it is ready to pick. If in the store, look for the"belly button", should be brown. I always heard to look at the tendril. Tried it a few days ago in my garden . Tendril was brown but the stem was green. Was not ripe yet.
@Jsternshow Жыл бұрын
Look for a nice bright yellow spot on the bottom where it is in contact with the soil
@BrisLS1 Жыл бұрын
Letting it grow in a pot, seems like a good idea to keep critters away. Thanks for sharing.
@annacalubiran4668 Жыл бұрын
thank you. best, most helpful explanation ever!🍉
@darrylmackie9184 Жыл бұрын
No time for checking for minor details, when it's pitch black dark and the dogs are barking
@jimdavidson7771 Жыл бұрын
No tendrils at the Piggly Wiggly. To test for ripeness there, I roll the melon down an aisle. If it doesnt knock someone over, it's ripe.
@tkhiam91843 жыл бұрын
Guests at your neighbor: "You have a sniffy neighbor! "
@bencovington11213 жыл бұрын
Better to wait a day or two after it turns brown.
@Golden-dog886 ай бұрын
Watermelon + frezzer= MOST NATURAL BEST SUMMER FRUIT ICEBLOCK
@smokedbrisket30332 жыл бұрын
Fantastic. Just checked, and I had 2 ripe melons in the garden. Tiger baby and sugar baby, both pretty tasty.
@andielliott77212 жыл бұрын
Just what I needed to know at just the right time! Thank you.
@marninacollins64492 жыл бұрын
Awesome video. To the point and super informative. Thank you
@user-fq4ij8ez7w Жыл бұрын
Thank You so much, I learned a lot.
@NetworkOverflow Жыл бұрын
Yooo, watermelon has a built-in progress bar? How sweet is that?
@darkxiao2 жыл бұрын
I'm gonna start looking for tendrils in the store now :)
@judithadams659911 ай бұрын
The tendrils won't be there in the grocery store.
@samanthagastineau7714 Жыл бұрын
That was very educational. Thank you!
@teeb99695 сағат бұрын
Yeaup my first season growing them too and the thump and yellow spot is nonsense. That tendril is spot on. Everytime the tendril was brown I cut into it and it was ripe EVERY SINGLE TIME. 🎉I hope this helps someone
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Having commercially grown and picked thousands of watermelons in my life the tendril is one indicator pickers use to initially calibrate their eyeballs when they begin picking. As a watermelon ripens its skin colors will become duller and will take on a more waxy appearance and at the same time develop little goosebumps on its surface. If raised in contact with the soil the melon will generally have some areas of black dots on its belly that we called pepper and the belly color will generally develop a more yellow or cream color as it ripens. The traditional seeded watermelons, which sadly now many people have never seen, would belly out or go from a stove pipe appearance to a pronounced egg shape once it was ripe. As far as the fake seedless melons you see in stores now, I could probably tell you if one is no good but I doubt if I could tell you if one is good. Big watermelons like we used to grow and that people wanted are not in the stores anymore because the big chains will not buy them due to fears some one might sue for hurting their back trying to pick one up. The stores used to want a 32 lb average for watermelons you sold them, now they won't accept anything above 20 lbs. Most city folks have never had or seen a good watermelon. If you want a good watermelon get it at a farmers market or drive into melon country and buy one at a roadside stand and be prepared to spit some seeds. By the way, the fellow in the video needs to spray his melon vines with some fungicide or they won't be around much longer.
@leonlowenstadter9223
Жыл бұрын
I would agree! Funny to see that's the same all around the globe. Here in Germany seedcontaining melons (melons usually are grown in Spain or Italy) are still seen every now and then but I think customers prefer convenience over taste.
@billwelch9431
Жыл бұрын
What kind of organic fungicide would you recommend?
@williambixby3785
Жыл бұрын
The altered melons don’t even taste the same to me. I mean it’s still watermelon, but that’s like eating a yellow one, they all have a particular flavor… I grew up on a farm and spitting seeds as I ate my slice and that’s the only way I like mine lol!
@ragnarflorida
Жыл бұрын
If you find a seeded 1 , collect the seeds and plant them .
@terran5569
Жыл бұрын
As a kid, long ago, we would buy our watermelons off of the back of a flatbed truck piled high with giant Texas watermelons and everyone would have that ear-to-ear red watermelon smile. I personally would swallow half of the seeds. Grandma said if I didn't spit them out a watermelon plant would grow out of my ear. Not true!
Very good explanation. Me and my dad have a pretty big watermelon farm and we've learned a few ways to tell when they are ready as well. Of course, it depends entirely on what variety the watermelon is, but I can give you some general advice. PS: numbers 2 and 3 are the only good ways to tell when the watermelon is ready, not including the tendril you covered in this video. Numbers 1 and 4 are "do not waste your time" things. 1. Knocking on it: Throughout thousands of watermelons of different varieties, we have not found that to tell us anything useful as they all have different sounds regardless of if they're done or not. 2. Checking the spoon: Checking the spoon if a good way to tell if a watermelon is done or not. The spoon is located around where the tendril is and will dry up when the watermelon is done growing similarly to the tendril. The spoon looks like a small leaf unlike any other watermelon leaf. 3. Squishing the butt. Squishing the butt of the watermelon tests if the watermelon is done growing as well. The butt will be squishy when the watermelon still has room to grow, and the butt will be stiffer when the watermelon is done growing. The butt is located at the opposite end of the watermelon as where the stem connects to it. It's got a black spot around where the butt is. 4. Checking the bottom: Checking the bottom is a pretty bad way to check if a watermelon is ripe. The bottom looks more yellow or white because it doesn't get sunlight, or it has been sitting in water. It tells nothing. Also, the watermelon you picked in this video is not ripe. It's very obvious to tell for me. It didn't split open when you cut it because the watermelon was hot, it split open because it had too much water. Maybe it rained too much, or maybe you watered it too much. A good way to try to prevent your watermelon plants from getting too much water is to put the plants themselves in mounds of dirt that measure 1 foot off the ground. Of course, too much water leads to them getting overripe, but if that's the case, it's because you didn't pick it in time. I bet you didn't check the spoon or the butt when you picked the watermelon for this video. Also, you don't need to put the watermelon in the plant buckets if you lay black plastic over everything. Over were the plants come out of the ground (of course cut a hole for the plant to come out of the plastic, and over everywhere where the watermelon plant might reach its leaves. This prevents weeds and dirt from getting on the plant. Also eliminates a lot of bugs. Also, might want to try a different variety. Good luck!
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for this post! Great info!!
@rosskstar
11 ай бұрын
Will they continue to ripen after you pick them, like other fruit?
@davidulvestad2944
11 ай бұрын
@@rosskstar No. They stop when you pick them. That’s why you gotta eat it in like a week
When it comes to picking a ripe one in the store push with your thumb on the "button" that's the opposite where the vine was attached. If it gives any then it's good to eat. The more you can push it in the riper it is. If you can push it in a lot it may be too ripe. If it doesn't budge at all it's typically not ripened enough. This always works!
Simple explanation and love how you showed samples of different stages of ripeness. Thanks!
Only thing I would add to this is you get a much cleaner red to green rind if you let the melon cord dry up after the tendril. Typically when the tendril dries up you know you can turn your watering way down and let the plant pour all its nutrients into the fruit
Direct to the point, and no filler that was a perfect example, thx so much
I cut a melon with a brown tendril last year. It was still green.
Thank you for the video! Very good information. I’m a first time watermelon grower and your explanation of the tendril is perfect.
@evelenejohnson7148
Жыл бұрын
I watched your video and all the ripen signs were there, but the watermelon was light pink/some red . Are there a type of watermelon that doesn't get completely red.
@joshflener3359
Жыл бұрын
@@evelenejohnson7148 yes a few actually.. orange tendersweet to name one
@crackfuct2001
Жыл бұрын
Me too, 1st time grower, very helpful video!
If only I had watched this before picking my first watermelon last week! The middle was pink-ish, the rest was green. No flavor whatsoever, but I ate it anyway... this is so helpful, thank you!
@joryjones4911
2 жыл бұрын
Same lol
@vaccinefraud5570
2 жыл бұрын
I tell myself that they're oversizec cucumbers so that I don't get disappointed when they're not sweet.
@blackkennedy3966
Жыл бұрын
@@vaccinefraud5570water melons are just sweeter cucumbers anyway they’re related and there are watermelon cultivars that aren’t sweet used just like cucumbers as a vegetable
Great video! I kept reading about it, but no one was explaining it. You had lots of good examples. Thanks for taking the time to make the video!
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome. So glad it helped.
Dude, if your neighbors think you're "crazy" or weird for checking your watermelons and garden- you need new neighbors! That's silly
@mickyskickreviews4826
Жыл бұрын
It made sense to me lol
@floydholder597
Жыл бұрын
Pretty much my same thoughts, why worry about ignorant neighbors when it affects the quality of the food on your table?
@G.G.G.zone7
Жыл бұрын
Because people have anxiety which make thoughts like this.
@jerex112
Жыл бұрын
He’s making a joke about the neighbors… are you guys boomers or just retarded?
@rebeccaspratling2865
10 ай бұрын
@@G.G.G.zone7yes it's a response to your childhood but it's not healthy. Gotta evolve. 🙏
This is the best “when is watermelon ripe” explanation, quick & easy tutorial… Thanks!!
This is a simple, yet completely accurate way. Thank you for posting this, and making it easy for the rest of us. Peace and bountiful blessings.
@ricsgarden7394
Жыл бұрын
Its not accurate. That melon isnt close to ripe.
@libido7110
Жыл бұрын
@@ricsgarden7394thanks u are right
The yellow patch means the watermelon was allowed to ripen while on the ground, not picked too early.
Thank you for being direct and not having a lot of filler. I was standing out in the Texas sun because my bf didn't want me to pick it without proving it was ripe.
As a tween, I decided to container grow a watermelon on my parents damp, oak-tree shaded deck (it was pre-Internet, and I didn’t know better). It did okay as far as leaf growth, but made one sorry little “watermelon” the size of a lemon, which was really adorable.
I checked my gardens right after your clip and followed your helpful suggestion. They were ripe according to you- and they were perfectly ripe. 🥰 Thank you
Thanks for the tip. It looks like you may have made the same mistake I did in overwatering your watermelon. At least yours waited until you brought in inside to crack open. I found mine gaping open, cracked from stem to stern right out in the garden. You grew some very nice watermelons. ~ Lisa
@Dimension855
Жыл бұрын
Trying my best to not crack mine, I have one that's light green almost yellow looking an hard to press a nail into it but the little tandral is still green very tempting to pick 😢. Then there is one on vine that is dark green an soft you put your finger nail in easy
@LB-vl3qn
Жыл бұрын
@@Dimension855 Best of luck to you! I hope your watermelons are delicious. ~ LIsa
Best to wait like a week after tendril has completely dried out
Best watermelon video on KZread. Short and to the point. A+. Ty for sharing your experience!
'Watermelon being almost synonymous with having a garden'... literally never heard that before.
That pot idea is brilliant! Thank you!
Anyone can make good watermelons, but only a good and experienced farmer can make good sweet watermelons.
Absolute best way to tell if it is ripe, the tendril has to be brown, AND if you hook your finger under the vine going into the melon and pull up if it pops off easily the melon is ripe. If you have to tug pretty hard don't break it, it is still ripening. Best way right there!!
Thank you so much. I planted my watermelon garden and I continue to make mistake with harvesting unripe ones. The enlightening video has correctly showed me how to identify a ripe watermelon.
Tried it last evening in our patch. Was the perfect ripe melon. Thanks for the info.
Thank you! This helps so much. This is the first year I'm successful with growing watermelon and I was afraid to ruin my work by picking too early. This video is just what I needed.
I heard that, if you hold a baby by it’s feet, over the watermelon and it swings to the right, the melon’s not ripe. To the left and it’s ready.
The resonance of the thump is my method. But I'm watching yours. It's always good to have more than one arrow in the quiver!
Thank you! Well explained! helped out a lot for us to see if our melons are ready!
Straight to the point no fluff
Why does it say it only takes 5 secs, who watched the 5 min video just to be disappointed because the vines aren’t on the STORE MELONS duh!!
Thank you. Short, sweet, and to the point.
this was so helpful! thanks for showing the difference in the tendrils! First time growing, didn't realize it needed to be dried all the way back to the main stem.
I picked watermelons growing up one summer. The way to tell is to look at the stem. If it is brown then it is ripe.
Interesting. Always waited for the stem to start to dry, this way lookes more reliable for early picking. As for store bought, there is no relyable method i have found to find a ripe (not over or under) ,, tired of dry or grainy ones, even harder is to find a sweet one... met an ole timer who told me the reason its hard to find sweet ones is they need to have lime applyed as the vine fruits to make them sweet. A coupke years ago i got a rattlesnake mellon so sweet it was like eating watermellon candy, the sweetest one i ever had of any variety i have eaten.
@libido7110
Жыл бұрын
Like ur pfpf
Whoa! Nice timing--was just about to get mine off the vine WITH NO IDEA how to test ripeness-- except it's been "long enough". I will now go check ✅ Just one question: how'd you figure this out 🧐
Helpful & concise info! Thanks. I’m a new cropper so this was gold for me!
Thought my wife was yelling to me in the background at the end and was really confused when I realized she wasn't home.
Thank you !!! Our first time growing this was so helpful ! Just pulled out first one and it is ripe and soooo sweet !!!
bro just picked an unripe melon 🤣
Funny how your video just popped up after I picked my first watermelon half an hour ago. Luckily there are still two Mellon’s on the vine to wait for the best time to harvest by your tip. Many thanks!
Thank you for this. First time growing watermelons and can’t wait for a ripe one!
We always waited until the vine near the melon started to turn lite brown. Much riper, redder and ready to eat.
Thank you so much for your video I just subscribe I planting watermelon had no idea when it would be ready truly thank you for your knowledge❤
Thank you! I’ll know what to look for now when my watermelons get close.
You are right about the ripening but the best method is when you see the watermelon garden sitting (stopping its vibrancy).
I don't know, that looked sort of pale red, especially around the periphery, not the deep red that indicates full ripeness. I am sure it was ready in the middle but did it fade toward the outside?
@leonlowenstadter9223
Жыл бұрын
That was what I thought, too. I would think he should have waited for the actual stem to turn a bit brown and make the "thumb sound test" for final "approval".
I've been gardening since 1973 but NO ONE ever explained that trick until now. Thank you. Please tell us how you keep the cucumber beetles from destroying your crop.
@yolandapierce4258
Жыл бұрын
I take empty jugs of milk and spray pain them yellow. I put a little dish soap in water in and set them in various places in my garden to trap them.
@vaccinefraud5570
Жыл бұрын
@@yolandapierce4258 thanks
@thefitzs
Жыл бұрын
@@yolandapierce4258 do you leave the jug whole or do you cut it in half?
@Maspets
Жыл бұрын
@@yolandapierce4258 LEAVE THEM ALONE!
@Sg4809
Жыл бұрын
@Maspets lol good luck growing anything then lol
Just curious…what do the plastic buckets do? Thanks for the great advice!
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
2 жыл бұрын
I had rats eating them. I put them in buckets like that to protect them from rats. It seemed to work.
@bwb00u4
Жыл бұрын
@@dirtygnomesgardens1667 thanks for the tip. We have field rats that have eaten through my watermelons before. I will give it a try. 💯
@kindredk9standardpoodles280
Жыл бұрын
I was thinking it was to add warmth.
Thank you! So glad I saw this ... It was the difference between an 8lb watermelon that was not ripe and a 38.8lb perfectly ripe watermelon!!! Thanks!
The best wisdom is usually short, straight forward, and all encompassing. Kudos to you watermelon whispering guru! Can't wait to upload that into my kids brains. They'll probably pick up a cush dream job by dropping that hack on a rediculously rich CEO. Thanks!
I've watched several videos tonight of people harvesting these unripe, LOL. Yours was the first with it ripe and of course explaining how to determine whether it is ready or not. Thank you, have seeds coming and will be trying this plant for the first time this year. Oh btw, to hell with what others think while you meddle in your garden!
After the tendril turns completely brown give it another week. Check the bottom for a cream yellow spot not a white spot.
Omg! This is the best way to find out if it's ripe or not! Thank you
very informative thank you. I didn't know u could grow them in somethin that small. I'm def going to try that out, Thank you.
Awesome thats is clear advice. Also I had a lot of problems with rats because I live next a river. I caged my patch but it didn't stop them. I like the pot idea cause I can mesh the top of the pot to keep them off the melons. Thanks from South Yunderup Western Australia 👍
@davidelkinton
2 жыл бұрын
If you use bird mesh please make sure to keep it off the ground. Lizards get stuck in it and it’s a terrible death. My ex wife did it after I warned her and I found 8 beautiful little blue belly’s dead. Told her again and cleaned it up. 3 days later she had done the same thing and there was 4 that time. I felt so terrible. I’ll never ever forget that lesson.
@darralpphillips
2 жыл бұрын
@@davidelkinton Ok Thanks
@JeffTheHokie
2 жыл бұрын
They tunneled into at least half of my winter squash last year.
Thank u!! We planted our 1st garden and I had no idea when to pick them
Your neighbors surely know the reasoning behind checking ripeness 😂
Awesome advice. Can't wait to test it.
Wow, it really worked. I didn't think any of my watermelons would be ripe yet but went to check just to see if I could find that curly thing. I found one that was a dry stick and thought, that video said that means ripe, but it seems kind of small. I picked it, thinking the chickens would be grateful if it didn't work. But it was ripe. It might have needed a few more days, but was sweet enough. Thanks. I don't know why this isn't common knowledge.
Btw, home grew watermelons are very sweet even if they are pink inside, not red.
That was great advice, thank you. 👌
Super helpful! Best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you.
Thank you. As old as I am. I'm still learning something every day.
I look crazy sitting outside my watermelon patch watching this show as my neighbors watch lol
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
Жыл бұрын
Haha, I love it.
Thank you, makes so much sense. The vine wants to drop its seed so it lets go and the melon drops, splits, seeds fall out or picked up by birds & life continues. Thanks
Great idea with the pots.
The dried tendril only tells that the melon is maturing, it is not an indicator of ripeness. The best method is the thumping method; as soon as you get the dull "thump", the melon is ripe. Of course, if you miss a melon and give it a thump two weeks after it was ripe, it will still give the dull "thump", but it will be over-ripe. Glad to see others giving their opinions on methods, but the "thump" is the one I use with 99% success.
Been considering growing Watermelons, since my dog will probably think its a soccer ball or something, Your pot idea overcomes that issue, I would grab the phone out if my dog decided it was a soccer ball !
Best watermelon video on KZread! Thank you.
I love the melon in a planter ! I lose so many to soil rot!! Great idea!😊
@dirtygnomesgardens1667
11 ай бұрын
Yes! I did it because I had rats eating them but it kept them from rotting too.
Thank you for the idea on identifying ripe watermelon.
Perfect, thanks so much this is my first year growing them
I like how you put them in pots. I'm going to go check the tendrils and put mine in pots.
I did the tendril test and my watermelon was white on the inside! I was so dissapointed lol. The tendril was dark brown too!! And belly was yellow smh. Now Im paranoid to open any of my other watermelon 🍉 😔. Hey you win some you lose some.
Fantastic! I have watermelon (1st time) and this is super helpful. 😊 thanks!
Wow, 😳😳😳😳where have this channel been? Thank you and I’m subscribing now.😄😄😄😄😄
So glad I found your video! Can’t wait to check my two melons in the morning lol already made the mistake of thumping one thinking it was ready and it wasn’t 😩
Don’t worry about what your neighbors think about you. They’ve already made up their minds 😝
The one you cut open looked like it had a few weeks to go, imho. I look for the stem connection to the watermelon to almost get a brown ring around it (on the melon side of the stem, not the tendril) and as an OP here already said, if you can easily push that 'ring' into the melon, it's ripe.
I thought you were gonna fill up the bucket of water and see if it floated or not. Wonder what that would do 🤔
@sharondoan1447
Жыл бұрын
There is no way filling that small container with water is going to make that watermelon float. Not enough room for displacement, but I did wonder the same thing.😊
I saw on another video that you should look at the stem. If brown, it is ready to pick. If in the store, look for the"belly button", should be brown. I always heard to look at the tendril. Tried it a few days ago in my garden . Tendril was brown but the stem was green. Was not ripe yet.
Look for a nice bright yellow spot on the bottom where it is in contact with the soil
Letting it grow in a pot, seems like a good idea to keep critters away. Thanks for sharing.
thank you. best, most helpful explanation ever!🍉
No time for checking for minor details, when it's pitch black dark and the dogs are barking
No tendrils at the Piggly Wiggly. To test for ripeness there, I roll the melon down an aisle. If it doesnt knock someone over, it's ripe.
Guests at your neighbor: "You have a sniffy neighbor! "
Better to wait a day or two after it turns brown.
Watermelon + frezzer= MOST NATURAL BEST SUMMER FRUIT ICEBLOCK
Fantastic. Just checked, and I had 2 ripe melons in the garden. Tiger baby and sugar baby, both pretty tasty.
Just what I needed to know at just the right time! Thank you.
Awesome video. To the point and super informative. Thank you
Thank You so much, I learned a lot.
Yooo, watermelon has a built-in progress bar? How sweet is that?
I'm gonna start looking for tendrils in the store now :)
The tendrils won't be there in the grocery store.
That was very educational. Thank you!
Yeaup my first season growing them too and the thump and yellow spot is nonsense. That tendril is spot on. Everytime the tendril was brown I cut into it and it was ripe EVERY SINGLE TIME. 🎉I hope this helps someone