How do you know a watermelon is mature?

There are a number of signs which can be used to tell whether watermelon is ripe or not. Maturity however depends on location, variety and plant growth. To check whether a watermelon is ripe, one could use the following indicators;

• Tendrils or pigtails on vines nearest the fruit are wilting and have changed color from green to brown.
  
• The ground spot on the belly of the watermelon has changed from white to light yellow.
  
• The thumbing sound changes from a metallic ringing when immature to a soft hollow sound when mature.
  
• The green bands on stripped varieties gradually break up as they intersect at the bottom of the watermelon.