Harvest the crop in about 75-100 days after sowing depending upon cultivar and season. Fruits should be harvested at full maturity for local markets; while for transporting to distant markets, harvest slightly earlier. Maturity indices of watermelon are withering of tendril and change in belly colour. The mature fruits on thumping give dull sound as against metallic sound of unripe fruits, which is also a good indication. Fruits should be harvested from the vines with the help of a knife.
The yield of watermelon varies between 20-25 t/ha according to variety, season, etc. Harvested melons are graded according to their size, external appearances, symmetry and uniformity in appearance. The surface should be waxy and bright in appearance; devoid of scars, sunburn, transit abrasions or other surface defects. Watermelons can be stored for 14 days at 15°C. While transporting in truck, stack the fruits on dried grass to avoid bruising and damages. For short term storage or transit to distant markets, fruits can be stored at 7.2°C with 85-90 % relative humidity. Extended holding at this temperature will induce chilling injury. Do not store watermelons with apples and bananas as the ethylene produced from these fruits hastens softening and development of off flavour to watermelons.