[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Starting to pick a little okra, but looking wistfully at the watermelons. They are the right size but probably not ripe yet. I usually pick them at the wrong time--usually too soon. Waiting, waiting...

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Giant sunflower

[SisterK]

I cannot pick out a watermelon in the grocery store, but I do well picking them in the field. You might know this trick already, but I look at the little tendril or curly Q closest to the fruit. If the tendril is green, the watermelon is still green. You look for the tendril to be brown and drying out. I hope this helps...Cantaloupe is a little different - when they are ripe, they will easily fall away from the vine (no cutting or pulling).
happy gardening!