October to-do

Fruit trees:

Check soil moisture; start cutting back on water
Clean up wind fall fruit at least weekly
Harvest apples - fruit ripe when seeds are dark brown to black

September to-do

Fruit trees:

Check soil moisture; start cutting back on water
Clean up wind fall fruit at least weekly
Harvest apples - fruit ripe when seeds are dark brown to black

July to-do

Fruit trees:

Check and adjust watering system as needed
Monitor for pests
Cover ripening cherries and stone fruits with bird netting
Harvest stone fruits as they ripen

Melons - how to tell they're ready to harvest

Melons
When trying to determine a melon’s ripeness, look at the condition of the stem and skin color. Cantaloupes “slip” from the vine, leaving a scar where the stem was attached. The bottom, or end opposite the stem, will be soft and fragrant. Their straw-colored skin should be bright. A ripe honeydew may remain attached to the vine, but should also be soft on the bottom side, opposite the stem. While on the vine, watermelons will have a small, curled tendril extending from the vine opposite from where the stem is attached to the vine. This tendril will turn brown and dry out when the melon is ripe. The stem should still be green and difficult to remove from the vine. The skin touching the ground should be buttery yellow. All melons continue to ripen after they have been removed from the vine, and should be stored in the refrigerator or a cool place.

From an article by Leslie Allen, Aug. 16 for Aug. 23, 2007 publication in the Reno Gazette-Journal

How to tell a melon is ready to harvest

Watermelon is ready to harvest when:

"the small leaf and curlyque located at the top of the stem is dry"

"The underside of the fruit that makes contact with the ground turns from white to buttery yellow"

"Thump the watermelon - "ping" is unripe, "pong" is ripe, dull "thud" is too late.

2008 watermelons imature in September. Start 6-8 weeks before last frost -- mid-April to early May