NCSU Home Muskmelon Harvest and Post-Harvest Fruits mature in 35 to 55 days from full bloom, depending on cultivar and environment. Commercially, muskmelons are generally picked at the 'half slip' stage. At half slip, part of the pedicel remains attached to the fruit, i.e. the abscission layer is not fully developed. Sugars and flavors are not optimal at half slip and will increase on the vine up to the time of full slip.
Full slip is the stage at which the stem separates cleanly from the fruit with little or no pulling.
At this stage however, the fruit of most cultivars has a very short shelf life and melons will be overripe by the time they reach the consumer. The cultivar Mainstream' was developed to be unripe at full slip and allowed to ripen in storage. A melon picked at half-slip can be left at room temperature for several days to soften and improve in aroma and flavor. However, muskmelons will not produce any additional sugars off the vine since there are no starch reserves to break down. Ripeness is difficult to judge once the melon has been picked.