Harvesting
Determining optimum maturity of a watermelon can be difficult. Watermelons reach harvest maturity five to six weeks after pollination, depending upon variety and season. Varieties may differ in certain characteristics that indicate maturity. An experienced person can identify a ripe melon just by glancing at the glossy rind surface. Other indications of ripeness include a change in the colour of the ground spot from white to light yellow; a change of tendrils nearest the fruit from green to brown and dry; thumping the fruit, a metallic, ringing sound indicates immaturity and a more muffled or dull sound indicates maturity or overmaturity. Thumping is a reliable method to detect overmaturity in round-shaped melons. The best method is to cut a few melons in various parts of the field. Harvesting and marketing green or overripe melons lessens the demand by the consum- ing public. Sugar content does not increase after harvest; however, a red colour will continue to develop after a slightly immature melon is picked.
Harvesting methods
Watermelons do not slip from the vine or emit an odour when ripening, unlike muskmelons. Indicators for picking watermelons include colour change (the most reliable), blossom-end conditions, rind roughness and drying of the nearest tendril to the fruit (less reliable). A sharp knife should be used to cut melons from the vines; melons pulled from the vine may crack open. Harvested fruit is windrowed to nearby roadways, often located 10 beds apart. A pitching crew follows the cutters and pitches the melons from hand to hand, then loads them in trucks to be transported to a shed. Melons should never be stacked on the blossom end, as excessive breakage may occur.
Loss of foliage covering the melons can increase sunburn. Exposed melons should be covered with vines, straw, or excelsior as they start to mature to prevent sunburn. Each time the field is harvested, the exposed melons must be re-covered. Most fields are picked at least twice. Some fields may be harvested a third or fourth time, depending upon field condi- tion and market prices.
Harvest recommendations
Melons should be cut from the vine rather than pulled, twisted, or broken off to reduce the chances of stem decay. Leave a long stem on the fruit. To avoid bruising melons, handle carefully at all times. Never stand melons on end to avoid bruising and flesh separation from the rind. Do not place melons with the bottom sides turned up as the ground spot is easily sun scalded. Haul melons from the field in straw or paper-padded vehicles to reduce bruising, punctures and rind abrasion. To help prevent bruising, do not allow field hands to ride on top of the load. After harvest, load melons directly into trucks for shipment to the market or haul them to a central grading station for reloading and shipment. Melons are usually graded and sized during the loading operation. Traditionally, melons have been bulk hauled in trucks. The use of containers has gained popularity because they are more efficient in unloading and damage related to rough handling during loading and unloading is reduced. Bulk bins made of corrugated fibreboard and holding around 450 kg as well as cartons holding three to five melons are used.
Harvest indexes could be used
• Tapping—a dull or hollow sound is an indication of maturity.
• Colour—the fruit part resting on the ground becomes a distinct yellow patch as in sugar baby.
• Tendril right behind each fruit is dried down up to the base.
Yield
38 - 40 tonnes of watermelon is harvested from one hectare of land
Determining optimum maturity of a watermelon can be difficult. Watermelons reach harvest maturity five to six weeks after pollination, depending upon variety and season. Varieties may differ in certain characteristics that indicate maturity. An experienced person can identify a ripe melon just by glancing at the glossy rind surface. Other indications of ripeness include a change in the colour of the ground spot from white to light yellow; a change of tendrils nearest the fruit from green to brown and dry; thumping the fruit, a metallic, ringing sound indicates immaturity and a more muffled or dull sound indicates maturity or overmaturity. Thumping is a reliable method to detect overmaturity in round-shaped melons. The best method is to cut a few melons in various parts of the field. Harvesting and marketing green or overripe melons lessens the demand by the consum- ing public. Sugar content does not increase after harvest; however, a red colour will continue to develop after a slightly immature melon is picked.
Harvesting methods
Watermelons do not slip from the vine or emit an odour when ripening, unlike muskmelons. Indicators for picking watermelons include colour change (the most reliable), blossom-end conditions, rind roughness and drying of the nearest tendril to the fruit (less reliable). A sharp knife should be used to cut melons from the vines; melons pulled from the vine may crack open. Harvested fruit is windrowed to nearby roadways, often located 10 beds apart. A pitching crew follows the cutters and pitches the melons from hand to hand, then loads them in trucks to be transported to a shed. Melons should never be stacked on the blossom end, as excessive breakage may occur.
Loss of foliage covering the melons can increase sunburn. Exposed melons should be covered with vines, straw, or excelsior as they start to mature to prevent sunburn. Each time the field is harvested, the exposed melons must be re-covered. Most fields are picked at least twice. Some fields may be harvested a third or fourth time, depending upon field condi- tion and market prices.
Harvest recommendations
Melons should be cut from the vine rather than pulled, twisted, or broken off to reduce the chances of stem decay. Leave a long stem on the fruit. To avoid bruising melons, handle carefully at all times. Never stand melons on end to avoid bruising and flesh separation from the rind. Do not place melons with the bottom sides turned up as the ground spot is easily sun scalded. Haul melons from the field in straw or paper-padded vehicles to reduce bruising, punctures and rind abrasion. To help prevent bruising, do not allow field hands to ride on top of the load. After harvest, load melons directly into trucks for shipment to the market or haul them to a central grading station for reloading and shipment. Melons are usually graded and sized during the loading operation. Traditionally, melons have been bulk hauled in trucks. The use of containers has gained popularity because they are more efficient in unloading and damage related to rough handling during loading and unloading is reduced. Bulk bins made of corrugated fibreboard and holding around 450 kg as well as cartons holding three to five melons are used.
Harvest indexes could be used
• Tapping—a dull or hollow sound is an indication of maturity.
• Colour—the fruit part resting on the ground becomes a distinct yellow patch as in sugar baby.
• Tendril right behind each fruit is dried down up to the base.
Yield
38 - 40 tonnes of watermelon is harvested from one hectare of land