My 2025 and 2026 harvest indicator : tendril opposite to the fruit being dry.
A slightly hollow sound with an adequate rebound feeling tends to confirm maturity, as well as a yellow ground spot. This may not be of much value in other climates, as seen before, and yes cues of maturity are way harder to find in a grex than in a known variety, so if we want to get better harvest year after year (i.e. do "selection") we better be serious from start to keep the consistency of our maturity assessment criteria, i.e. cues that trigger our harvest. I’d love to get experienced breeders there to get a glimpse of their own understanding, and knowledge that could apply to our “landrace” thing.
Anyway I hope the few of us following that thread will enjoy eating exceptional watermelons this year… Far better than those in the grocery store. That is still pretty easIly achievable!
More harvest pics there .