Learning when to pick cantaloupe will ensure the melon is deeply orange inside and the flesh is full of flavor. But when is cantaloupe ready to pick? Most cantaloupe varieties are ripening 80-90 days after seeding. This will all depend upon your zone, how warm your region gets, whether the plants are receiving enough light, and other factors. Another time marker is 35 days after the flowers have been pollinated.
Melons shipped for the market are not ripe, lest they go bad during shipping. They are harvested at “ half slip” or when the stem needs to be forcibly pulled from the fruit. They are not fully ripe but are mature enough for harvest. They generally need around 3 more days to ripen fully.

How to Tell If a Cantaloupe Is Ripe
When to harvest cantaloupe? The fruit is ready when it is “full slip” or when you can easily separate it from the stem. The flowering end, or the end opposite the stem, should be slightly soft when gently pressed. The skin should be fully netted in appearance and changed from green to yellowish brown. If you get your head down near the fruit, you will detect the signature musky smell. A really musky smelling melon is guaranteed to be delicious.

How to Pick a Cantaloupe
If you are not going to be consuming the melon within a couple of days, harvest it at half slip. The blossom end will have a bit of give but not much. The netting should be present but there might be hints of green peeking out from the yellowing skin. Use firm pressure with your thumb to detach the fruit.
If you want to pick it for immediate consumption, the blossom end should be soft and the fruit should practically fall off the vine when you handle it. Deep netting in the rind and golding up in the skin will be present, as well as the deep aroma of a ripe cantaloupe. You will need to exert little to no pressure to remove the melon.

Storing Cantaloupes After Harvest
Cantaloupe and most other melons should be stored at temperatures between 36-45 degrees Fahrenheit ( 2-7 C). Usually we store them in the refrigerator, but a root cellar will also suffice. You can store the melon in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Place the melon in a bag to prevent the muskiness from affecting other foods.