cantaloupe

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

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.

[DanR]

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.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

...... 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.

[Virginia Mike]

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

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

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.

[Eugene]

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.