I am growing watermelons for the first time this year (Sugar Baby variety). How do you know when it is time to harvest? Mine has had a yellow spot on the bottom for a long time now, but the leaves, vines and tendrils still look green.
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One thing people say is when the little tendril closest to the fruit shrivels and turns brown.
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Here’s what I do (quoting myself in an older thread):
My initial indicator is always the tendril nearest the melon. If completely dead, I check for a field spot/sugar spots. I also thump the melon and listen (as another grower once explained) for a resonance similar to smartly thumping one’s chest—a sound neither too sharp (under-ripe) nor too dull (over-ripe). Since it lacked a field spot (or noticeable sugar spots; and I have seen them without a field spot) I judged the Orangeglo on the basis of tendrils and sound.
Photo of said “sugar spots” (or what I call “sugar spots”) is at linked post. They often indicate a sweet melon, but are not always present—even in good melons. The tendril is the first sign, though. If the tendril nearest the melon is still alive, it is not ready.
By “field spot” I mean the yellow patch at the bottom of the melon. Generally, the yellower the better. Sometimes, however, the color of the “field spot” is deceptive—and sometimes is is even entirely absent. Depends on the melon and on growing conditions.
Tendrils sometimes die prematurely from insects or diseases. Also, some melons seem to ripen further a few days after the nearest tendril dies. Therefore, I like to use multiple methods to determine ripeness, with the final one—the deciding test—being sound.
You get better with experience. In terms of sounding them, compare the noise made by known green ones with the sound made by ripe/ripening ones in order to train your ears. Also, some melon cultivars are easier to judge than others. Been years since I grew Sugar Baby, but I think that one wasn’t too difficult. The only one I grow these days is Strawberry, and I seldom miss with that one.
Good luck!
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A ripe watermelon will change from glossy appearance to a dull matte. This varies a bit but color change occurs on all watermelons. It may not be very obvious on yellow skin varieties.
A ripe watermelon develops a lumpy/bumpy feel which you can feel with your hand but can’t usually see. Feel a few and you should get an idea how much change occurs between unripe and ripe. Caution that some commercial varieties like Dixielee stay smooth even when ripe.
The tendril that grows from the node where a watermelon is attached will turn brown to dark brown when ripe. I don’t know of any exceptions to this rule.
A ripe watermelon will feel heavier. Heft a few both ripe and unripe to train your ability to detect which are ripe.
A ripe watermelon will give a distinctly muffled sound compared to unripe when thumped. Thump a few and you should be able to tell the difference in sound.
A ripe watermelon develops a “ground spot” which may be white, yellow, or pale green depending on variety. Color is unimportant, size is. A larger ground spot indicates ripeness.
Malformed watermelons are often poorly pollinated and may have areas that are unripe. Normal shapes include round and oblong. Size of a ripe watermelon is determined by genetics and can range from 1 pound up to a bit over 200 pounds.
Some varieties of watermelon have been selected for very thick rind. Bradford is an example. People used to make watermelon rind pickles from these varieties. Bradford is a delicious watermelon and well worth growing, but be aware of the thick rind.
Source: I grew watermelons for the last 50 years, a few years commercially, currently grow watermelons to produce seed for commercial sale.
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I wish I could grow melons but after a couple years of groundhogs eating them, I gave up.
I’m sorry to hear that! Did you ever try fencing (maybe electric)? If space is problem in terms of fencing, maybe try a Bush Sugar Baby?
Watermelons are probably my favorite fruit. I’d fight over 'melons.
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When you cut them open and they look like this… Ripe 
I use the brown tendril method on charleston grey… works well. The tendril on CG will start browning on one end and over a few days increase until the entire tendril is brown. Once all brown should be good.
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Thank you so much for all your detailed replies. This is why this forum is so much better than google. 
I will wait for the 1st tendril to turn brown!
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if you are hard of hearing like me, put one hand under the melon cradling it gently, then knock hard on the top with the other.
it will feel a bit hollow to the touch, the vibration, if it’s ready.
It depends on how “ripe” you like them. I like my watermelon rich flavored and sweet, that often takes a little longer on the vine, meanwhile they start losing some of the juice and end up being a little drier inside, thats the way I like them.
The first year that I grew watermelon, I composted more 'melons than I care to think about because I picked them too soon.
I tried all the tricks and didnt have much luck, the dried up brown colored tendril was the best sign for me to start checking them.
To check them, I would put the heal of my hand on the top of the watermelon, give it a firm push. Kind of like you are giving it CPR. If it was “ripe” to my standards there would be a slight crunch sound from inside the 'melon, they will only make that sound one time, so listen carefully.