When you say melons, I assume you mean cantaloupes. I let them set on what they will. I have seen a set of 17 before on one plant. Course, not all the later are likely to finish as well as the first ones unless the plant has and keeps vibrant health.

Where melons have been raised previously, the fight is on against disease, but that may be another story here.

With watermelons, I find 2 to full sized types to be best. Sometimes with extra vigor, a second setting may or may not happen. I once had a watermelon of great vigor that I picked off about 20 small melons and still wound up with 11...weighing 234 pounds.

It takes about 30 to 45 days to grow and ripen the melon.

Depends a lot on the temperature. Also, be careful about the "until I can pick them". You don't really "pick" them. You "retrieve" them when they fall off the vine when you handle them. That's the "slip". They tell you in no uncertain terms when they're ripe. Very different than other kinds of vegetable harvest where you pull or cut fruit off.

For cantaloupes, I routinely have five or six on a vine. But the ability of the vine to support fruit will depend a lot on the quality of soil it is in, the nutrients available, and whether it is in a container.

Most muskmelons slip off when moved...when ripe. Still, there are cantaloupes that must be picked off...crenshaws, Santa Clause types, maybe honeydews, atc.

Thanks, Wayne. I should have pointed out that I was talking about regular cantaloupes. In fact, even Chantarais cantaloupes don't slip.

Hey everyone.

Question about this melon. It looks like it is getting a little bit yellow? The variety I am growing is the Kajari, which is a little bit orange, so I'm not sure if it is just starting to turn that color, or is dying.

ALSO! I found this bug on the plant this morning. I'm not sure what it is. I hope it isn't a beet leafhopper. Any ideas? I'm in the NJ area. Do those bugs even reside in that area?

Thanks.

Anybody?

Kajari melons are VERY colorful, with prominent stripes, according to pictures I see. So seeing a small colorful melon with stripes doesn't really seem that odd.

As to the bugs, look for damage. If you don't see any damage, then the bug is irrelevant.

My 1st Kajari to ripen. The yellowing of the small fruit usually harkens its imminent failure. On the other hand once it gets to a decent size, the yellowing is a sign of ripening as it turns orange within a few days.