When immature, cantaloupe will still have blushes of green on its skin. The rind is inedible and should be discarded. Inside, the flesh is deep, peachy orange with a soft cucumber texture. At the center of the fruit is a seed cavity that contains hundreds of edible seeds that are tan and oblong with a point at one end.
What does an unripe cantaloupe look like?
The easiest indicator to assess is the cantaloupe’s look. If the fruit’s rind is green, that means that it’s unripe. A sweet and juicy cantaloupe will have a yellow, beige, or tan hue beneath its netted texture.
What does a cantaloupe look like when it’s ready to pick?
In fact, most cantaloupes are ready to be picked once they’re fully ripened, changing from green to a tan or yellowish-gray color between the netting. A ripe melon will also exhibit a sweet and pleasant aroma. One way to tell if a melon is overripe is by looking at the rind, which will appear quite yellow and soft.
What can I do with immature cantaloupe?
Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe
- Turning it into a soup — with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds.
- Making a melon jam or chutney.
- Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.
How long does it take for cantaloupes to mature?
about 80 to 90 days
Cantaloupe matures in about 80 to 90 days. Melons are normally ready to harvest when they start turning yellow on the bottom and the stem starts turning brown.
Can you eat an unripe cantaloupe?
Eating it unripe isn’t unsafe, but its quality won’t be that great. Once the fruit is ripe, you have a choice to make. Leaving it on the counter is okay if you know you’re going to eat it within a couple of days.
Will cantaloupe ripen after cutting?
Cantaloupe will not ripen after it has been cut open, so if you cut open your melon and discover that it is still unripe, there is nothing you can do to salvage it. As such, you must be very certain that the cantaloupe is ripe before cutting into it.
How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?
Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.
How do you tell if a cantaloupe is ripe from the outside?
A ripe cantaloupe should have a beige webbing pattern. That netting should look like raised ridges. And underneath, the cantaloupe should either be cream-colored, sandy gold, yellow, or tan. If the rind is still green or grey, it’s not ripe enough.
How do you make unripe cantaloupe taste better?
Other melon saving hacks include a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice, a spicy Mexican seasoning called Tajín, and herbs like mint. Try one or try them all, and trust us when we say that your taste buds—and your melon—will thank you.
Can melon ripen after you cut it?
Will a honeydew melon ripen once it’s cut? Nope. Unfortunately, melons don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so what you buy is what you get.
Why are my baby cantaloupe turning yellow?
Whiteflies can cause cantaloupe leaves to turn yellow. They weaken the plant by sucking sap and excreting sticky honeydew that grows black mold. These conditions interfere with photosynthesis, leading to yellow leaves.
How often should you water cantaloupe?
Water cantaloupe deeply and infrequently, 1-2 inches per week. Use drip irrigation if possible. Mulch around the plants will help conserve soil moisture and reduce weed growth. Irrigate so that moisture goes deeply into the soil.
Do cantaloupe come back every year?
A: Unfortunately, cantaloupes are an annual and will die off once the vine has finished producing its melons.
Should I trim my cantaloupe plant?
As mentioned, pruning cantaloupe plants isn’t absolutely necessary and, in fact, the more leaves that remain on the vine the sweeter the fruit. That said, cutting back cantaloupe plants results in fewer fruit which enables the plant to put all of its energy into a scant few, resulting in larger melons.
How can you tell if cantaloupe is good?
Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.
Should cantaloupe be refrigerated?
Melon: Melons, including watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, should be kept at room temperature until you cut into them to ensure they have the best flavor. Once they’ve been cut into, store them in the refrigerator and be sure to eat within four days.
How do you sweeten an unripe cantaloupe?
How Do You Sweeten a Cantaloupe? If your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances are it won’t be sweet. So you can sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe and toss it gently until it has been evenly distributed.
Does salt Make cantaloupe sweeter?
Salty To Sweet
By sprinkling a little salt on your melon you are creating a high-salt concentration area next to those cells. Their water is drawn up to the surface where you bite, bringing flavor with it. The melon has become miraculously sweeter thanks to salt!
How do you know when a melon is ripe?
When ripe, the color of the rind should be a creamy yellow rather than green, and the rind will become smooth and waxy rather than dusky. If you press on the bottom of a ripe honeydew (the opposite end from where it’s attached to the vine), it should feel slightly soft or at least a little springy.
What’s the best month to plant cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe does best when direct sown. Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65℉. In the low desert of Arizona, the best time to plant cantaloupe is from February 15 through July.