Farmall Cub

My cantaloupe have done real well this year, only had 4 hills, and have been getting enough for us and neighbors for a week or two. Birds, as well as other critters have been working on tomatoes as they ripen, but now they have figured out the cantaloupe are good also. I threw away one that had about a third missing, and of the 8 I picked 4 had some damage from something, birds I think, or maybe raccoons.

Coons for sure. The only way I have found to deal with this is to pick them a week before they are really ripe. Put them in a cool dark place and they will ripen just fine. I have never known a coon to eat one that wasn't almost over ripe.

DanR wrote:...... I have never known a coon to eat one that wasn't almost over ripe.

Maybe I need to wear a Lone Ranger mask around my eyes like a raccoon's face, because that is the way I like them too.

coyotes are a pest in a growing area near here. So much the county has a bounty on them.

Coyotes are getting to be a pest here too. Most farmers in the area will take a shot at them if the occasion arises, but if there were a bounty I would get a lot more aggressive about it.

Muskmelons rotted on the vine. Yesterday harvested two honeydew type melons. No damage. Red and yellow watermelons still appear to still be in good condition.

Been a tough gardening year due to the drought.