Hi, folks,

Gardening in San Jose, California -- USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 16.

I have a muskmelon (cantaloupe) vine which flowered late. Five fruits
appeared about 6 weeks ago. They're growing, and they have acquired
that netted outer skin, but recently they have slowed down. The
weather has been cooling, and the leaves on the vine have yellowed.

Once upon a time I remember reading about a trick that a Colorado
tomato grower used to extend his yield. If he had green fruit when the
weather got cold, he uprooted his entire vine and left it hanging from
the rafters in his garage. Fruie ripened indoors. Can I do something
similar with my melons here?

Thanks for any advice.

+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
| Ladasky Home Solar, Inc.: blowing sunshine up your |
| power grid since March 24, 2005. Fiat lux! |
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
| Uptime Downtime kWh generated kWh consumed |
| 213 days none 4837 3829 |
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+

I cant help you with your question, but I know that muskmelons picked before
the are ready to "slip" wont taste any better than the ones picked early to
sell in our stores. I checked them every day and would find 5 to 7 that had
"slipped" (come off the vine by themselves, or came loose when I picked them
up off the ground without pulling on the vine). I would take them in the
house and let them set for 2 days un-refrigerated, and then eat or give them
away. They were delicious. You might try one plant and leave the remainder
until they "slip".

Dwayne



wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, folks,

Gardening in San Jose, California -- USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 16.

I have a muskmelon (cantaloupe) vine which flowered late. Five fruits
appeared about 6 weeks ago. They're growing, and they have acquired
that netted outer skin, but recently they have slowed down. The
weather has been cooling, and the leaves on the vine have yellowed.

Once upon a time I remember reading about a trick that a Colorado
tomato grower used to extend his yield. If he had green fruit when the
weather got cold, he uprooted his entire vine and left it hanging from
the rafters in his garage. Fruie ripened indoors. Can I do something
similar with my melons here?

Thanks for any advice.

+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
| Ladasky Home Solar, Inc.: blowing sunshine up your |
| power grid since March 24, 2005. Fiat lux! |
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
| Uptime Downtime kWh generated kWh consumed |
| 213 days none 4837 3829 |
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+