When Is a Galia Melon Ripe?

Color

• Galia melons feature a netted, or rough, rind. Although the netting is usually tan, the rind beneath the netting begins green and slowly develops a golden yellow coloration as the melon reaches maturity. Monitor the color as the fruit ripens and pick fruits with firm, yellow rinds. The ground spot, which is the section of the melon that rests on the soil, is often lighter and may remain slightly green even after the rest of the melon as fully matured.

Size

• Mature size varies, so color provides a better indication of ripeness, but most galia melons are about 5 pounds at full maturity. A 5-pound melon is slightly smaller than a volleyball, or about the size of a cantaloupe. The melon is round or slightly oblong as it reaches maturity. It should emit a sweet fragrance from the stem end of the fruit after harvest.

Vine

• Unlike other muskmelons that slip completely off the vine at maturity, the galia only half slips, so it remains partially attached. A fully slipped galia is often overripe. To check for slipping, give the vine a gentle tug near its attachment point. On a ripe fruit, the vine will partially detach. The melon requires a few more days of garden ripening if the vine doesn't detach with gentle pulling. Check the melons every other day as they approach maturity so you can pick them at peak ripeness.

Harvest Method

• After the vine begins to slip, you can harvest your galia while being reasonably assured that the fruit as developed its prime sweetness. Cut the remainder of the vine off flush to the melon rind with a sharp, clean knife. Avoid damaging the main plant, as it may continue to produce new melons throughout the remainder of the growing season. Like most melons, galias won't ripen further after picking. You can store the melon whole at room temperature for about one week or cut up in the refrigerator for two to three days.