Is ripe.

What do you go by to tell when they are ready pick?

Stem is brown, belly has a yellow(ish) spot, hollow when thumped, and heavy.

If the spot on the belly is white, it ain't ripe.

stem and thump, my grandpa taught me how.

I was always told the bigger the spot is on the bottom the longer it sat in the ground. Who knows?!?!?!?

Lay a broom straw perpendicular, on the middle of the melon.

If it lays still it in not ripe.

If it spins it is ripe.

Works every time.

There is "vine" checking.
There is "store" checking.

We all just hope we pick one that satisfies our taste buds upon first bite.

My Dad grows red and yellow meat watermelons, not every year, but every other. I'm guessing many of you have never seen the "vine" test, but some of you have.

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Growing Sugar Baby melons, they have hit 90 days. Picked one of the best and we'll see.

It has to be from a real straw broom. Not one of the new plastic brooms.

And the yellow bottom is a good indicator. Hollow sound just means that it's full of water, not necessarily ripe.

I look at that curly q thing just ahead of the melon, if it is dried up, it should be close. Then take the melon and twist it a little, and if the stem comes off with little effort, it is ready.

Thanks. That reminded me to send a buddy of mine a July 4th text.

Johnson grass stem works also