Gardening: Hints for harvesting and storing fall cucurbits

Fall is a bittersweet season for gardeners. On one hand, harvesting is a glorious reward for months of steady work and patience. On the other hand, the end of the growing season means no more fresh produce a few feet from your doorstep.
Luckily, some late vegetables can be enjoyed weeks or months after harvest if they are harvested and stored properly.
Harvesting muskmelon, cantaloupe and watermelon is a matter of picking the ripe fruit at the right time. Muskmelon and cantaloupe are ready to ha