Each summer I take a STRAIGHT straw from a straw broom about 4 to 5 inches long and carry it in my pocket notebook which I use to check ripeness. I set the melon level and lay the straw across it on the highest part of the melon. The straw will try to turn the length of the melon. The more it turns the riper the melon. It has to do with the water content. The higher the water content , the riper the melon. It has worked for 50 plus years. Watch out for any breeze.
Each summer I take a STRAIGHT straw from a straw broom about 4 to 5 inches long and carry it in my pocket notebook which I use to check ripeness. I set the melon level and lay the straw across it on the highest part of the melon. The straw will try to turn the length of the melon. The more it turns the riper the melon. It has to do with the water content. The higher the water content , the riper the melon. It has worked for 50 plus years. Watch out for any breeze.