Do I harvest or not?

blokesmom · September 11, 2012

We are growing Delicious 51 muskmelons and Waltham butternut squash. Mildew has taken its toll on each one, plus we had temps. in the low 40's overnight which didn't help any.

The squash have turned a buff color with very few green stripes, but the stems are still green. There are practically no viable leaves on the squash vines.

The melons have netting. Most of the fruits' rind is mostly green, although there are a few which have the typical ripe color. The fruit is still very well attached to the stems. No full slip yet. The leaves are still present but yellow.

Our daytime temps. have been in the 70's with possible mid 80's in a few days. Nights are in the 40's and 50's.

Would you harvest these yet, or not? I know healthy leaves are important for these cucurbits to develop their full flavor.

Your opinions, please.

barkeater · September 20, 2012

Don't worry about the butternuts. They need to cure anyway and can be left on the vine to do so whether the vines are dead or alive. Just pick before a hard freeze warning (extended hours of below freezing).

Your lopes are another story. This late in the year even if they ripen they likely will have little if any flavor. I'd cut any that look ripe and bring inside where it is warm and hope for the best.

blokesmom · September 20, 2012

Bark, thanks for your suggestions. However, about a week ago I had to come to a decision and went ahead and harvested both the butternuts and the melons.

You are correct that our melons do not have much flavor. Our growing season here doesn't seem quite long enough to properly ripen melons.

The squash were picked even though the stems were not brown yet. Right now they are curing in a sunny spot inside the house. Haven't eaten any yet. Next year I will follow your advice for keeping them on the vines longer, even if the vines appear to be dead.

I appreciate your taking the time to write.

ddsack · September 20, 2012

You might want to try a Sakata Sweet melon. They only get about the size of a softball, and I had so many ripe this year from only 3 or 4 plants that I could not keep up with them. Of course, we did have a hotter than normal summer. They are green fleshed and extremely sweet. They have a very thin rind, which I used a vegetable peeler to remove, so there was very little waste. I wish I had thought to freeze some chunks to use in winter smoothies. Great blended with some banana and a bit of fresh lime juice. I will definitely grow these again next year.

blokesmom · September 23, 2012

Dee, I will definitely consider the Sakata next year. Thank you for responding.

Longlake · October 4, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddsack

You might want to try a Sakata Sweet melon. They only get about the size of a softball, and I had so many ripe this year from only 3 or 4 plants that I could not keep up with them. Of course, we did have a hotter than normal summer. They are green fleshed and extremely sweet. They have a very thin rind, which I used a vegetable peeler to remove, so there was very little waste. I wish I had thought to freeze some chunks to use in winter smoothies. Great blended with some banana and a bit of fresh lime juice. I will definitely grow these again next year.

Dee - The Sakata Sweet melon sounds like something to try in my zone 3 garden next year. Two questions: Did the animals leave the melons alone? And can you recommend a seed source? Thanks!

ddsack · October 4, 2012

I got my seeds from Sandhill Preservation last year, I think I've seen them at Baker's Creek as well. It was hard to tell when they were ripe at first, because they never slip the stem easily like some. Then I figured out it was when they lost the green cast and became pale yellow. I probably could have started eating them a week or two earlier!

As an afterthought, I saved some seeds myself in case I couldn't get any next year, but since I was growing cucumbers and zucchini in the vicinity, I'm not sure I'll bother using those unless I end up with unused extra space for a possible cross.

I didn't have trouble with small four-footed animals, we do have electric fence for deer, but skunks and such can still get in. When the melons began to get overripe and get cracks near the stem, the hornets and butterflies were there in droves.

September 11, 2012	#1
blokesmom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: WMass zone 6a Posts: 26	Do I harvest or not? We are growing Delicious 51 muskmelons and Waltham butternut squash. Mildew has taken its toll on each one, plus we had temps. in the low 40's overnight which didn't help any. The squash have turned a buff color with very few green stripes, but the stems are still green. There are practically no viable leaves on the squash vines. The melons have netting. Most of the fruits' rind is mostly green, although there are a few which have the typical ripe color. The fruit is still very well attached to the stems. No full slip yet. The leaves are still present but yellow. Our daytime temps. have been in the 70's with possible mid 80's in a few days. Nights are in the 40's and 50's. Would you harvest these yet, or not? I know healthy leaves are important for these cucurbits to develop their full flavor. Your opinions, please.

September 20, 2012	#2
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Don't worry about the butternuts. They need to cure anyway and can be left on the vine to do so whether the vines are dead or alive. Just pick before a hard freeze warning (extended hours of below freezing). Your lopes are another story. This late in the year even if they ripen they likely will have little if any flavor. I'd cut any that look ripe and bring inside where it is warm and hope for the best. __________________ barkeater

September 20, 2012	#3
blokesmom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: WMass zone 6a Posts: 26	At least I got one out of two right. Bark, thanks for your suggestions. However, about a week ago I had to come to a decision and went ahead and harvested both the butternuts and the melons. You are correct that our melons do not have much flavor. Our growing season here doesn't seem quite long enough to properly ripen melons. The squash were picked even though the stems were not brown yet. Right now they are curing in a sunny spot inside the house. Haven't eaten any yet. Next year I will follow your advice for keeping them on the vines longer, even if the vines appear to be dead. I appreciate your taking the time to write.

September 20, 2012	#4
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	You might want to try a Sakata Sweet melon. They only get about the size of a softball, and I had so many ripe this year from only 3 or 4 plants that I could not keep up with them. Of course, we did have a hotter than normal summer. They are green fleshed and extremely sweet. They have a very thin rind, which I used a vegetable peeler to remove, so there was very little waste. I wish I had thought to freeze some chunks to use in winter smoothies. Great blended with some banana and a bit of fresh lime juice. I will definitely grow these again next year. __________________ Dee **************

October 4, 2012	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	I got my seeds from Sandhill Preservation last year, I think I've seen them at Baker's Creek as well. It was hard to tell when they were ripe at first, because they never slip the stem easily like some. Then I figured out it was when they lost the green cast and became pale yellow. I probably could have started eating them a week or two earlier! As an afterthought, I saved some seeds myself in case I couldn't get any next year, but since I was growing cucumbers and zucchini in the vicinity, I'm not sure I'll bother using those unless I end up with unused extra space for a possible cross. I didn't have trouble with small four-footed animals, we do have electric fence for deer, but skunks and such can still get in. When the melons began to get overripe and get cracks near the stem, the hornets and butterflies were there in droves. __________________ Dee **************

September 23, 2012	#5
blokesmom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: WMass zone 6a Posts: 26	Dee, I will definitely consider the Sakata next year. Thank you for responding.