Readers ask: How to tell when a cantaloupe is ready to pick?

How long does it take for a cantaloupe to ripen on the counter?

Leave the melon out at room temperature until ripe.

Usually, the process will only take about two days, if not quicker. Make sure that the place you store the melon is neither excessively cold or excessively hot. You should also avoid areas that are heavy in moisture or particularly drafty.

How do you ripen a cantaloupe from the store?

Place the fruit in a brown paper bag rolled closed at the top to help the melon to ripen faster for eating. Once you’ve already cut the cantaloupe it needs to be refrigerated, which slows any further softening.

Will a cantaloupe ripen after you pick it?

Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften.

How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?

One plant can produce up to 8 cantaloupes, but it depends on your area’s cantaloupe variety and conditions.

How do you sweeten a cantaloupe?

Sometimes the cantaloupe is not as sweet as you may want it, but this can be fixed. Put the cantaloupe pieces into a airtight container. Sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe. Toss the cantaloupe gently with the sugar until it has been evenly distributed.

Is cantaloupe in season right now?

From June through August, cantaloupes are at their peak of flavor. Along with tasting great, they’re an excellent source of vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Whether you enjoy them sliced, cubed or halved, cantaloupes are a refreshing, healthy addition to salads, desserts, beverages and more.

Is it OK to eat unripe cantaloupe?

It is generally safe to eat unripe and even has curative properties. If you accidentally purchase a green cantaloupe with hopes of eating it quickly, there is still hope to soften the fruit before cutting, though it does little to change the flavor.

How do you pick out good cantaloupe?

The best way to pick a cantaloupe is by smell. The fruit should have a sweet, slightly musky scent. A good cantaloupe feels heavy for its size, has a rind that resembles raised netting, and has a stem end that yields slightly when pressed with your thumb.

How do you ripen a cantaloupe quickly?

Set the cantaloupe in a paper bag once you want to speed up the ripening process. Keep it at room temperature during this process. Place ethylene-producing fruits such as an apple or banana in the paper bag with the cantaloupe to further speed up the ripening.

What can I make with unripe cantaloupe?

Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe

1. Turning it into a soup — with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds.
2. Making a melon jam or chutney.
3. Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.

Do bananas ripen after being picked?

Apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, pears, plantains and plums continue to ripen after they’re picked. To speed up the ripening of fruits such as peaches, pears, and plums, put them in a ripening bowl or in a loosely closed brown paper bag at room temperature. Plastic bags don’t work for ripening.

Can dogs eat cantaloupe?

So, can dogs eat cantaloupe? Yes, the tasty melon is safe for pups to eat in moderation and can be a healthy alternative to traditional treats, especially if your dog is overweight. Even the seeds are harmless, but you should avoid feeding them to your dog intentionally, as they can be a choking hazard.

Can you grow cantaloupe from store bought?

Growing cantaloupe from seeds can be a fun and fruitful experiment, so don’t throw out the seeds from the one you just bought from the store! Grow them in your garden this growing season for fresh and free cantaloupes!

How do you tell the difference between a male and female cantaloupe flower?

Male melon flowers will have a stamen, which is a pollen covered stalk that sticks up in the center of the flower. Female flowers will have a sticky knob, called a stigma, inside the flower (that the pollen will stick to) and the female flower will also sit on top of an immature, tiny melon.

What month do you plant cantaloupe seeds?

Cantaloupe prefers warm weather, so don’t plant it before temperatures have warmed in the spring. Cantaloupe does best when direct sown. Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65℉.