Question
How can you tell when a cantalope is ready to pick.
I have picked to early and have not picked in time, this year.

Answer
Dean:
If it is a true cantaloupe, it will slip right off the vine when it is ripe. Other muskmelons are not so considerate. Look for a color change, from green to tan. The veins should be tan, not just the skin. also the tendril closest to the stem will dry up. You can test them like you would in a store, by pushing on the blossom end to check for some give.

Elyse