There are a few steps required to find the perfect melon when it is in season (or even when its out-of-season).  My father figured this out and has shared his advice to me and now I pass this on to anyone who wants to read this.

We all hate melon when it's not ripe: it's not as sweet and it's hard to scoop with a spoon and it's an extra trip back to the market to find a better one.

Most people I have met follow two rules:

1. Feel the melon by the stem.  If it's soft, that's a good sign.  If it's still hard, it's not ready.
2. Smell the melon.  Sometimes you don't have to do this if you're at a farmstand if there are bees.  They usually are attracted to the most fragrant melons.
   

Most people at this point purchase the a melon that passes these two tests: soft at the stem and fragrant, but there is still a margin of error to get one that isn't quite ready.  You can always let it stand for a day or two on a shelf but you're still playing the guessing game you decided to take on when you purchased the melon.

Here's the secret:

    3.  Listen to the melon! Lift the melon and shake it, holding it close to your ear. If you hear the seeds sloshing and bouncing around inside, it means the melon is ready. If you don't hear the seeds sloshing around, it means that the melon is still not ripened, and probably will not be as sweet as you'd like. Now, don't worry about how you will look in the stores! My father has had to explain to many other shoppers just what he was doing - and you will, too!

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