[8doubles]

The standard melon ripeness test is to cradle the fruit with your fingers and press the 'navel' end with your thumbs. If there is a bit of 'give' the melon is ripe.

Well done for getting melons to grow outside this year !

Can i borrow your wand ?  

You should never press any part of a fruit to test for ripeness, you will bruise it.  To test a pine apple you smell the fruit and if you can smell a pineapple smell it is ripe, if you smell nothing it is not. not sure if this work,s for melon's though.  If you came into my familie's greengrocer's and started pressing the fruit you would be politely asked to pay for it.

I did not suggest anyone should go out fruit throttling just a gentle test on melons like here,
 oSBZmGniDS4feature=related

I would do the same in your families greengrocery and if it was ripe i would pay for it, ............ if not i would politely tell them what they could do with it !