10 Telltale Signs That Your Watermelon Is Ripe and Ready to Pick

Watermelon is a popular melon that can be grown in any garden, as long as you have adequate space and sunlight. One tricky aspect of growing watermelon is knowing when the mature melons are ripe enough.

It’s important to pick them at the peak of ripeness because, like other melons, they don’t continue to ripen off the vine. We’re sharing 10 telltale signs to look out for when your watermelon is all ripe and ready to harvest.

Weight

If the watermelon feels dense and heavy for its size, this can be a good indicator of ripeness. The heavier the melon, the more juice has formed inside. But if you’re not sure how heavy a watermelon should be, find two melons of approximately the same size and weigh both in your hands.

You can practice this technique in the grocery store, too, to get a feel for how dense and heavy a ripe melon should feel.

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The Stem Is Mostly Brown

If the watermelon stem has turned brown or is more brown than green in color, this is also a potential sign of ripeness. This indicates more energy from the vine has gone into the melon.

Dried Out Tendrils

The tendril is the curly section of the stem opposite where the watermelon is attached to the vine. Once the tendril turns brown and dry, the watermelon is ready to harvest

The Ground Spot Is Yellow

The ground spot (also sometimes called the “field spot” or the “belly spot”) is usually a small round area on the watermelon where it has been lying in contact with the ground. Once this spot turns yellow, it’s a sign the melon has ripened while still on the vine.

Don’t pick the melon if this spot is still white. If your watermelon doesn’t have a ground spot, use some of the other signs to determine its ripeness. Note: this method won’t work for miniature watermelons that are grown vertically on a fence or trellis.

Smooth But Dull Skin Surface

The surface of the watermelon skin should be dull and not shiny. A shiny rind or skin is still too immature to be harvested. The skin should also be free of cuts or bruises.

Blossom End Firmness

The blossom end of the watermelon is the one opposite the stem. Press gently on this spot; if it’s mushy, the melon is overripe. If it’s solid, the melon is underripe. If it presses in slightly, the melon is ripe for harvest.

Smell

A ripe watermelon will have a sweet but not overpowering smell when you sniff the blossom end. If the smell is overly sweet, rich, or cloying, the melon may be overripe.

Vibrant Color

Your watermelon may have any number of color characteristics depending on the variety; some melons are solid color and some have stripes. Look for a photo online of the variety to get a sense of how deeply colored a ripe one is (often a seed packet will have a photo of a ripe melon also).

Wait until the melon reaches a vibrant color before harvesting. Even a watermelon that tends to be a paler green will reach a richer color as it gets ripe, so this is a sign along with the others listed to help you determine ripeness.

Uniformity of Shape

Different varieties of watermelon have different shapes: some are round, while some or more oval. You want to aim for a uniform shape with no unusual lumps or flat spots.

Hollow Interior Sound

Thump gently on the surface of the watermelon with your knuckles. A hollow, crisp, and resonating sound is a sign the watermelon is ripe. You will also feel a slight vibration. If the sound is dull and not resonant, the melon is not ready for harvest yet.

How to Harvest

When you’ve determined your watermelon is ripe enough to harvest, follow these techniques to do it properly.

1. Cut It Off

   Cut the melon from the vine with a sharp knife or pruning shears. The watermelon may not pull loose on its own.

2. Clean It Down

   Gently clean the melon with a soft cloth and mildly soapy water and rinse thoroughly. This is to remove any potentially harmful bacteria (that might be in the soil or left behind by garden wildlife) that might transfer from the skin into the fruit when you carve into it.

3. Store Properly

   Store your watermelon at a temperature of between 50-60F. If stored at temperatures above 75F, the shelf life is only about 5 days. It’s best to eat your watermelon as soon as possible after picking it. If you have any leftover cut portions, place them in the refrigerator.