How long can I leave my watermelons to grow......?

Question

on the vine before I have to pick them?
They are about the size of a softball but I know I need to leave them to grow as long as I can but in case they are not big enough to harvest by the time the first freeze gets here ..usually in early nov. will they be ok and not freeze? I live in southeastern part of new mexico

Answer 1

Leave them on the vine as long as possible. Due to the small size, it's best to leave them to grow and hope that you have enough time for them to ripen. Be sure to bring them in before a freeze though.

Answer 2

Watermelon is ripe when the tendril dries and the spot were the melon touches the ground turns from shiny and pale green or white to dull and cream or yellow.
However, the Maryland Cooperative Extension site states that on some watermelon varieties, the tendril can dry up... 10 days before the watermelon is ripe:
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/PDFs/FS455.pdf

Ripe melon has a dull appearance...Unripe melon has a shiny appearance. Here's some pictures:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cornucop/msg0710205414678.html

Daniel Egel, Southwest-Purdue Agricultural Center, said a watermelon's appearance and feel are better gauges than the time-honored practice of tapping on the outer skin. "A watermelon that is ripe will be faded on the top. If the watermelon has stripes, look at the area between the stripes. This area should be a light green. Turn the watermelon over and look at the place where the fruit stood on the ground. If the watermelon is ripe, the 'belly spot' will be white or yellow. If you can see the stripes through the belly spot, it may not be ripe." A smooth rind usually indicates a good fruit. "You might try to avoid melons that are over-lumpy," Egel said. "Sometimes that may mean the rind on the inside is discolored, which is unappealing to some people."
Watermelons at the peak of ripeness are normally filled out and blunt on the ends. Melons with pointy ends may still be maturing and not as delicious, Egel said.

Consumers who still want to thump the watermelon should listen closely when their finger flicks the fruit. "An unripe watermelon will 'ping' when thumped. An overripe watermelon will 'thud.' The one you want is somewhere in between."
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/000714.Egel.watermelon.html
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Watermelons are ready to be picked when the curly Qs on the vine, nearest the melon are all brown and withered.

Answer 4

dont worry leave them til then