Tropical and subtropical vegetables (2+1)

Maturity standards

In water melon, maturity is judged by several factors.
Dull sound when the fruit is thumped in contrast to metallic sound.
Withering of tendril at the fruit axil            
Ground spot (Where the fruit touches the ground) turning yellow.
Rind of the ripe melon yields to presume.
Cumulatively all these criteria will help to judge the fruit for picking. Most of the cultivars have deep pink or pink or pale pink flesh colour with slightly reddish tinge containing largely lycopene and anthocyanin pigments. The average sweetness will record around 9-10% TSS.