Does anyone know how to tell if a cantaloupe is ready to pick? moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
I have always understood that when the stem is yellowish and a bit shriveled...lift the vine near the cantaloupe--if the vine separates from the cantaloupe, it's ready to be picked. ...it's always a bit of a guessing game, though.
I'm growing a french variety this year and read that when the skin is starting to crack and form veins and as Sjoerd said, the stem separates easily from the stalk, it's ripe. Let us know how they turn out.
