*******************Edited to add that the one with the dead tendril was 11 inches in diameter...I thought they were supposed to be small??

They are small ( 10 lb ) They are also among the most difficult to determine ripeness just like its big brother the Black Diamond. The dead tendril works for most melons but not these. Best indicate is a bright yellow bottom where it sits on the ground.
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Farmerdill,

I.am.jealous.

Mike

I had the exact same problem. Picked when tendril was dead and dry, melon was yellow although not bright yellow on bottom but the melon was completely green/white inside.

Any other signs? I grow my melons up large metal trellis...so they never have yellow spots on them.

Lucky devil. We had an extended heat wave and drought here. Even with daily watering, my melons didn't make it.

That's one of the problems with trellising watermelons - no ground spot. It's the only sign I can rely on.

Wow nice melons!

I would love to see a pic of your watermelons on the trellice. Those seem pretty big for trellised melons. I assume you make slings for the melons?

Yes...I use knee-high/panty hose feet to make little bags for them. The vines are surprisingly strong though, and I don't usually support them unless the vine seems weak. My trellis is 4 feet high and then 7 feet in length...so a long rectangle. And I have a few together. So a long line of melons. I used metal ground stakes to make sure it was super sturdy. They grow right up and never had one fall off!

I've never raised Sugar Babies, but have raised Jade Star and Fordhook Hybrid which are similar but larger...16 pounds. These round and dark green watermelons can be harder to gauge for ripeness than many others. I would suggest moving up to Crimson Sweet or better.

will they still get the yellow spot on the bottom if they sit on cement pavement?

and by the way, watermelon is a fruit right, not veggie....
not sure why this got posted on the veggie garden forum:)

Sorry charleslou. Many vegetables including watermelon, cantaloupes ,eggplants,pepper,squash, tomatoes, even green beans when you eat the pods are technically fruits but to farmers they are all vegetables. Fruits are perennials that are grown in orchards or vineyards. This is the place to post fruiting vegetables.

A bit snarky don’t you think