{"id":4610,"date":"2026-10-06T20:04:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T20:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=4610"},"modified":"2026-10-07T19:45:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:45:48","slug":"fallen-melons-ripen-off-the-vine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/fallen-melons-ripen-off-the-vine\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Unripe Fallen Melons Ripen Off the Vine and How to Save Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;4610&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Will Unripe Fallen Melons Ripen Off the Vine and How to Save Them&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Rate this<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1>Will Unripe Fallen Melons Ripen Off the Vine and How to Save Them<\/h1>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"DiscussionForumPosting\",\n  \"headline\": \"Will unripe melons continue to ripen if they fall off the vine?\",\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/fallen-melons-ripen-off-the-vine\/\",\n  \"datePublished\": \"2021-07-31T19:24:00+03:00\",\n  \"author\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Person\",\n    \"name\": \"Mariya Suvorova\"\n  },\n  \"interactionStatistic\": {\n    \"@type\": \"InteractionCounter\",\n    \"interactionType\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/CommentAction\",\n    \"userInteractionCount\": 7\n  },\n  \"comment\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Comment\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Aleksan9ra\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2021-07-31T20:10:00+03:00\",\n      \"text\": \"Masha, they most likely will not ripen. Even though they put on weight, they are still very green. The only one that might have a chance is...\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Comment\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Yeseniya\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2021-08-01T09:00:00+03:00\",\n      \"text\": \"I live in Siberia, and because of our short summers, we are constantly ripening melons indoors off the vine. Based on your photo, those will definitely ripen!\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"tldr-box\" style=\"background: #f4f9f4; padding: 20px; border-left: 5px solid #4CAF50; margin-bottom: 30px; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<h3>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary: Dropped Unripe Melons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf48 <strong>The Ripening Rule:<\/strong> Gardeners in cold climates (like Zone 4 or Siberia) often deal with heavy green melons snapping off the vine before the end of the short season. But unlike green tomatoes, melons behave completely differently once detached. <em>(Read the Editor&#8217;s Botanical Note below to understand how the &#8220;Slip Stage&#8221; determines if your melon will survive).<\/em><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc43 <strong>The Smell Test:<\/strong> Before you throw that dropped green melon into the compost, you need to check its scent and bottom color. Forum members discuss the exact signs that indicate a fallen melon can still successfully soften indoors.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf6c <strong>Alternative Uses:<\/strong> If the melon is rock-hard and a lost cause for fresh eating, don&#8217;t waste it! Growers share a brilliant recipe for turning unripe melons into sweet candied fruit (succade), or how to safely feed them to your backyard flock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Mariya Suvorova <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Legend (10,548 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tver Region (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 July 31, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Russi wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nMy chickens absolutely hate pumpkin, they demand zucchini instead&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>My chickens love zucchini too! Honestly, they love everything, but cucumbers and tomatoes are their absolute favorites.<\/p>\n<p>I just had a tragedy in the greenhouse &#8211; three of my melons rolled off the crates they were resting on and snapped right off the vine! \ud83d\ude2d Will they ripen now?? They seem to have put on some decent weight&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"forum-images\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 8px; margin-bottom: 10px; display: block;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_07\/36872983_3107.jpg.cb7153bc1466f688ce726ee2b97fec7c.jpg\" alt=\"Three unripe green melons sitting on a greenhouse shelf\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Ludmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Expert \/ Author (15,056 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4b) | \ud83d\udcc5 July 31, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Masha, they most likely will not ripen. Even though they put on weight, they are still very green.<br \/>\nI once had to harvest some unripe melons because they were growing outdoors and the autumn rains started &#8211; I ended up having to throw them all away. Have you ever tried to eat an unripe melon? It&#8217;s awful.<\/p>\n<p>The only one that *might* have a chance is the one in the foreground of the photo, and only if it had already started to change color. It is such a shame, I&#8217;m so sorry!<br \/>\nI actually just walked into my greenhouse and found another melon fully ripe &#8211; the smell is incredible! I&#8217;ll pick it tomorrow! I only have two left on the vine now and that&#8217;s it!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Marina111 (Marina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (7,392 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd St. Petersburg \/ Pskov (USDA Zone 4b) | \ud83d\udcc5 July 31, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Mariya Suvorova wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\n&#8230;three of my melons rolled off the crates&#8230; Will they ripen now??<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Masha, what if you boil them into jam and add some fresh orange to it? Do the melons smell sweet at all right now?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">G<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Galiy (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 VIP User (17,835 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Stupino, Moscow Reg. (USDA Zone 4b) | \ud83d\udcc5 July 31, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Marina111 wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nwhat if you boil them into jam&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Trying to make jam out of unripe melons is just a massive waste of good sugar. Trust me, I speak from experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Mariya Suvorova <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Legend (10,548 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tver Region (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 July 31, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Marina111 wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nwhat if you boil them into jam&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>No, Marina, no one in my house eats jam anyway (unless it&#8217;s strawberry, cherry, or apricot). We&#8217;ve already proven that!<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll just leave the melons in a warm room for a week. If I cut them open and they are inedible, I know my poultry flock will save the day and eat them! \ud83d\ude02 This season they enthusiastically devoured all my Swiss chard and Mizuna greens (I grew a huge amount of it, and no one wanted to eat it &#8211; I managed to sneak the Mizuna into a salad twice, but the chard was a total failure). So my chickens are probably out there wondering, *&#8221;What else did the boss lady plant for us?&#8221;* \ud83d\ude02 I&#8217;ll serve them the melons!<\/p>\n<p>But actually, the melons do have a faint sweet smell right now, so I&#8217;m holding out hope that they might actually ripen indoors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Mariel50 (Marina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,299 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tver Region (USDA Zone 4a) | \ud83d\udcc5 August 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Mariya Suvorova wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\n&#8230;maybe they will actually ripen indoors, I&#8217;m holding out hope.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Masha, if they don&#8217;t ripen properly, you could try making candied fruit (succade) out of them! I once made candied fruit pieces out of completely unripe, rock-hard pears, and they turned out incredibly delicious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"answer\" class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">Y<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Yeseniya (Ludmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,007 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Southern Krasnoyarsk Krai, Siberia | \ud83d\udcc5 August 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I live in Siberia, and because of our short summers, we are constantly ripening melons indoors off the vine. Based on your photo, those will definitely ripen!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"editor-note\" class=\"editor-note\" style=\"background: #eef7ff; padding: 20px; border-left: 5px solid #2196F3; margin-top: 25px; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.6; border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;\">\n<h4 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #1565c0;\">\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udd2c Editor&#8217;s Botanical Note: Do Melons Ripen Off the Vine?<\/h4>\n<p>When a green tomato falls off the vine, you can easily ripen it on your kitchen counter. But does this work for melons? Yes and no.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The &#8220;Slip&#8221; Stage:<\/strong> Melons do not store starch that converts into sugar *after* they are picked (unlike bananas or tomatoes). Once a melon is cut from the vine, its sugar content is permanently locked in. If a melon is completely hard, dark green, and odorless when it drops, it will never get sweet; it will only soften and eventually rot.<br \/>\nHowever, if the melon was getting close to the &#8220;full slip&#8221; stage (meaning it has started to emit a sweet musky scent at the blossom end, or the skin has started to slightly pale\/yellow), it *will* successfully soften and become juicy if left in a warm room for 7 to 10 days!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Will Unripe Fallen Melons Ripen Off the Vine and How to Save Them \ud83d\udccc Quick Summary: Dropped Unripe Melons \ud83c\udf48 The Ripening Rule: Gardeners in cold climates (like Zone 4 or Siberia) often deal with heavy green melons snapping off the vine before the end of the short season. But unlike green tomatoes, melons &#8230; <a title=\"Will Unripe Fallen Melons Ripen Off the Vine and How to Save Them\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/fallen-melons-ripen-off-the-vine\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Will Unripe Fallen Melons Ripen Off the Vine and How to Save Them\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[534],"tags":[1165],"class_list":["post-4610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-melons-watermelons","tag-unripe-melons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4610"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4714,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4610\/revisions\/4714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}