IMG 7692-Warmth helps ripen musk melons...

That's a big one Lori I bet that's tasty.

Our wonky weather is a threat to this little beauty. It's been terribly hot with waves of thunderstorms bringing heavy rain at a time when the fruit is ripening. This is said to produce fruit that is less tasty. The best weather for sweetening and ripening melons is said to be hot and dry. with a watering schedule that is controlled so that the fruit will ripen and sweeten at just the right time. I'm just going to accept what I get. The fruit is a bonus. I was convinced that I was experimenting and never expected the fruit to develop so well. I'm going to save the seeds and next year I'll plant three hills, instead of just one.

Here is how to tell when it's ripe Lori

https://youtu.be/11-XzxukFoM

Yes weather always plays a major factor on crops shame you are getting unreliable weather for it. That will be exciting to see you growing more next time.

The season is long enough and hot enough in Ontario for melons?..pretty good.
Next year I need to try something different like that..just tomatoes and zucchini is getting stale.

Perhaps not, Stan. I covered the tomatoes and melons for the last two nights. This morning the temp was 6 degrees C. and with a strong north wind it felt like 3 degrees! The sun is now full up and I'm waiting to remove the covers as they had ice droplets on them. I've found that this is usual for the first weeks of Sept. Sometimes there's even a killing frost. Then it warms up again for a couple of weeks then Wham! right into winter by the 17th. of November! ...on the other hand, I live in East Central Ontario (the province is bigger in area than California) We grow peaches, apples and grapes in South Western Ontario on the Niagara Peniinsula and Point Pelee on Lake Erie is at the same latitude as northern California. Pointe Pelee is a large waterbird sanctuary.