Just as there are specific guidelines for growing melons, so are there valuable tips for harvesting and handling melons offered by the experts at the Miller Plant Farm here in York, PA.

• Pick cantaloupes in cool of morning, move to cool spot immediately. 
• Never!! Throw, drop or mishandle melons. The seed net loosens on hot cantaloupes, this causes the fruit to actually bleed internally resulting in watery and soft flesh.
• Pick only mature, full slip cantalopes for fresh use. Full slip is when stem separates completely from melon with very little effort.
• Pick every morning to eliminate overripes. Never wait until stem separates itself -- This is over ripe.