will cantaloupe ripen off the vine?

[gagin37]

it seems like i should know this, but i don't i was turning over a not quite ripe melon today in the garden and it fell off the vine. it's all nice and veiny, just still a bit of green underneath. if i leave it in the sun will it continue to ripen, or is this it?

[cristeen]

Yes, it will. It will never be as flavorful as if it had ripened on the vine, though.

Cantaloupes you see in the grocery store were all picked green.