When Is a Charleston Gray Watermelon Ripe?

Plant Maturation

Gardeners consider Charleston Gray an heirloom watermelon variety because it is no longer commonly sold as seed, unlike more modern hybrid cultivars. From seed germination to ripe melons for harvest, 85 to 100 days of warm or hot, sunny weather are required. Cool, cloudy and rainy weather can slow the develop of watermelons. Lots of sunshine and evenly moist soil that drains quickly promotes the timeliest development and sugary sweetness of any watermelon variety.

Charleston Gray watermelon fruits always become oblong in shape as they approach maturity, about 22 to 26 inches long and 10 inches in diameter. Never pick a round melon from this plant's vine. The skin has irregular crackling veins and is a bit more glossy when not fully ripe. On the bottom side of the melon, where it rests atop the soil, a bald spot that is light green to white appears. Only when this bald spot changes to pale yellow or cream is the melon ripe. Also, the nearby vine tendrils and stem connecting the ripe melon to the vine begin to shrivel or dry and the glossiness of the skin diminishes to more satin or matte.

The old garden wives' tale of testing a watermelon for ripeness by listening to the intonation of the thump on the rind is not a reliable indicator. It may or may not correlate to melon ripeness. Presumably, the deeper and heavier the thump, the riper the flesh inside. The thud can also indicate an overripe, mushy-centered melon. A "metallic" or high-pitched thud may mean more time is needed for the melon to ripen. As with all watermelons, a Charleston Gray melon does not further ripen once plucked from the vine.

The ripe Charleston Gray watermelon will be large and heavy. Slice and eat the melon immediately, or after chilling it for a couple hours. Uncut melons store best for up to two weeks in a cool, dry environment around 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerating uncut watermelons can shorten their storage life, according to the University of Illinois Extension Service. You can cover cut melons with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to three days without much detriment to the flavor or quality of the flesh.