How To Pick The Right Watermelon

This fungal disease usually kills the plants. If you are growing melons, click here for more information about charcoal rot and what to do when you see it. If you see any small white scars or brown dots/lines, this is evidence that the watermelon was so sweet and yummy that insects were trying to get some, too. You’ll know it’s ripe and sweet if you see these scars and lines.

• You can make slings out of many different items.
• We always go with the method of just picking the largest that doesn’t look horrible.
• More excuses to eat watermelon are always welcome!
• We ended up harvesting 40 pounds of squash and 105 pounds of watermelon in just 50 square feet!
• Nothing is worse than coming home with a fresh watermelon, only to realize it’s almost flavorless.
• If you start melons indoors, use individual cells or peat pots, not flats, as the roots are too succulent to divide.
• You can also cut the seeds out fairly easily this way, and create seed free pieces closer to the peel.
• Icebox watermelons were developed to be small enough to fit in your fridge (a.k.a. your icebox).
• Proponents of this method listen for a low-pitched hollow thud sound with a little give.
• Knowing what to look for in watermelon will help you find the best melon in the batch.
• The yellow-fleshed variety is high in beta-carotene, likewise a powerful disease fighter.
• Watermelon plants do not come back every year as they are tender annuals.
• Seedless watermelons will also require cross germination with a seeded watermelon variety in order to produce seedless watermelon fruit.
• Make sure that when you’re knocking the fruit that you are physically holding it (not while it’s resting on the counter or another surface).

Currently, she spends her days gardening, caring for her orchard and vineyard, raising chickens, ducks, goats, and bees. Jennifer is an avid canner who provides almost all food for delta 8 THC her family needs. She enjoys working on DIY remodeling projects to bring beauty to her homestead in her spare times. Like any new method, this may feel a little awkward at first.

Thus, chances are that it won’t be as ripe as you’d want your watermelon to be. The field spot is the part of the watermelon’s shell on which it was resting out in the farm or field. Field spot colors can range from creamy-white to creamy-yellow and golden-yellow. Go for the ones with the golden-yellow spots. Cantaloupe should feel heavier than it looks and smell musky and sweet.

If you shake a ripe honeydew, you may be able to feel the seeds rattling around. The color of cantaloupe is always tantalizing, but will it pass the taste test?. With watermelon season just beginning I can’t wait to try this out. So what makes watermelons split in gardens and what can be done about it? Find out what these are and how to treat it in this article.

Fortunately it’s also incredibly good for you. Here are eight of watermelon’s important health benefits, how to pick a perfectly ripe fruit, and a few ways to incorporate water into meals, snacks, drinks, and desserts. This is a more well-known technique that many watermelon lovers swear by.

One way to tell if a watermelon is ripe is by looking at its tendrils. When they turn brown and dry up, that means it’s ripe. Watermelons are generally planted from seeds when the ground has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. On average, it takes about 80 days for the seedlings to mature and produce ripe fruit. The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot.

Watermelons With Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease

Take note that unlike other fruits, watermelons do not continue the ripening process once they have been picked. It is not summertime yet, but a chilled and perfect piece of watermelon is still a welcome treat, whether eaten after a meal or on its own. It can also be used as part of a delicious salad. Its cool and sweet meat can refresh anyone, and can provide a guilt-free snack, as it does not contain many calories.

Check The tail

The size does not really matter, the farmers say you should just choose a medium sized one. There is no preference, the only advice they give is that the watermelon should feel heavy for its size. This is what the experts do–they “thump” the watermelons to see what they sound like. With a little experience, you can actually tell a difference in how they sound. This is just another tip to be sure you get a good watermelon. A dull thud is what you get when the flesh is soft–you don’t want that one.

Next cut the watermelon into round disks, then cut the disks into 1-inch cubes. Watermelon is picked off the vine when it’s ripe, so it’s best to eat it within a week of buying it at the grocery store. If you’re looking at a whole display of the same kind of watermelon, just look for a fairly smooth skin. Watermelons grow on vines that run along the ground, developing a light-colored patch on their undersides where the sun doesn’t reach. Pick up a watermelon and look for that patch, also called a field spot. The watermelons with a big creamy yellow or light orange ground spot are the best and most ripe ones.

How To Grow Watermelon: Quick Tips

Learning how to pick a watermelon is easy, but it does require some diligence on your part. After all, you’re making an investment in several pounds of fruit, so you want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Let me elaborate on the tips on the Whole Foods sign. The perfect watermelon will have a dark, large field spot. Check out the following picture from Fabulous Farm Girl.

Pick The Perfect Watermelon

You can make slings out of many different items. Some people use mesh onion bags, pieces of fabric, or even bird netting. I used to prune my watermelon similar to my squash plants (keep just one main vine every 6″ across the width of the trellis, and prune everything else off).

If it is light yellow or even white, make another selection. But there are plenty of other ways to use watermelon in meals, too, from drinks to dessert.One recipe we love is a savory yet refreshing watermelon and feta salad. Ingredients include watermelon, red onion, Can CBD Products Help With Anxiety? cucumber, feta, avocado, mint, basil, serrano pepper and a lime dressing. This salad should go well with classic summer foods like hamburgers and hotdogs, or even picnic sandwiches. To drink, Sedano’s suggests a watermelon fizz, a fruity drink for the whole family.

Carolina Cross Watermelon Size

Try to find a watermelon with lots of seeds for this . One of the joys of alfresco watermelon dining is seeing how far you can spit them, and who knows, you may end up with a surprise watermelon vine next spring. The health benefits that watermelon has to offer are endless; it protects against heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer. All images, recipes, and original text content are copyright protected. Do not copy or publish A Spicy Perspective content without prior consent.

Well defined stripes – with distinct color variations between the green lines and the yellow lines. You can also squeeze on some fresh lemon or lime juice to add some lovely tartness to the party. Then cut along the edge of the rind, deep into the watermelon on each side, to release the slices from the rind.

The most common reason for failure is too much water in the soil. Water should not be able to be squeezed out of a hand full of soil , and it should not fall apart in your hands . Rather, the soil should retain its shape in your hand after squeezing if the proper amount of moisture is present. Once germinated, temperatures should be returned to temperatures that are representative of their growing environment. Expect seedlings to be less vigorous than standard seeded varieties, and slightly more susceptible to disease. Seedless watermelons will also require cross germination with a seeded watermelon variety in order to produce seedless watermelon fruit.

I tried with my brightest worker, but he never got the knack of it. When he picked the watermelons, I got complaints. So I went back to thumping and marking the ones to pull. Interestingly Desert King, a yellow meated melon, would have a tone all its own.

Everyone starts growing watermelons in their garden thinking that the fruit will grow, they will pick it in the summertime, slice it up, and eat it. Basically, it’s that simple if you know what you’re doing. There’s a right time to pick a watermelon, when the watermelon is not too ripe or unripe. Few things are more disappointing than bringing home a tasteless watermelon. Avoid ever having to feel the remorse of wasting one again by learning how to pick a perfectly ripe watermelon from the bunch.

Look For The Yellow Spot

Watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamin-A , which is a powerful natural antioxidant. 100 g of fresh fruit provides 569 mg or 19 percent of daily required levels of this vitamin. Give the melon a pat and listen for a hollow, drumlike ring. A flat or dead thud can clue you in about bruising, overripeness, or a lack of juiciness. The same law is also equally applied to food. Once you’ve visually inspected the melon, give it a squeeze.

Balsamic Vinegar

Harden off transplants by reducing the frequency of watering to slow growth, and move the plants to an area with cooler temperatures for about a week. Transplants ready for the garden will be 4 in. Watermelon plants don’t like “wet feet” and are great candidates for raised beds. Transplants are great because the plants will bear watermelons about a week sooner than their direct-seeded counterparts. Start seeds four weeks before you plan to plant in the garden. Many types of containers work, as long as they have good drainage.

At the same time, the yellow color indicates the ripening level of the watermelon, we recommend that you buy the watermelon with the yellowest bottom. Watermelon will be more delicious and juicy if you buy more yellow bottoms of the watermelon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Not only do these fruits taste wonderful, but they are also healthy, low-calorie treats that are packed with vitamins. A cup of watermelon has about 45 calories and has significant amounts of vitamins A and C. In this video tutorial by Dave Hax, on YouTube, you will learn how to make this watermelon swan in a few easy steps. You will begin by cutting the wings of the swan by following the simple instructions in the video. One, often the seeded varieties are sweeter or more flavorful and two, sometimes seeded are the only ones available.

A wedge of juicy watermelon is the most refreshing thing on a scorching summer day and how much more pleasing if you’ve actually grown it yourself. About ninety days ago I planted watermelon seeds in a sandy bed here in Saudi Arabia. The vines have spread to cover a 100 square foot area and are covered in blooms.

The Most Expensive Food In The World

So, next time you are at the grocery store or at the farmer’s market, try these hacks and buy the sweetest, most ripe watermelon for yourself and your family. How To Grow Lots Of Watermelon Vertically On A Trellis In Garden Beds Containers Youtube from i.ytimg.com The larger and darker the patch, the better. This is a sign that the plant How should I eat CBD gummy bears? is no longer feeding the watermelons and that the right time to pick a watermelon is at hand. Cool watermelons immediately after harvest to remove field heat and prolong storage life. Second, if you pick up a watermelon and thump it with the palm of your hand, sometimes when they are ripe you will find that they make a hollow sound.

Frankly, I would rather use a little dust and have a bountiful harvest than dead plants and rotten food. Back in my late teens and early 20’s, my jobs at the family catering business included picking out the watermelons and carving the watermelon boats for parties. I was known as the resident watermelon expert, almost guaranteed to be able to pick out a good watermelon, if there was a good watermelon to be found. The last time I carved up a watermelon was for a Green Bay Packer party that we hosted for family and friends. A watermelon that’s TOO ripe it will give little resistance, and likely be “mealy” inside. This is a classic way to pick a good watermelon, and the internet is filled with descriptions of how a ripe watermelon should sound.

Ready To Use Your Watermelon? Try These 7 Easy Recipes

Spotted and striped cucumber beetles can attack vines, transmitting bacterial wilt disease, which causes vines to collapse without chance of recovery. Treat adult beetles with rotenone or a pyrethrum-based insecticide; apply at dusk to avoid harming honey bees. Watermelons are in the same plant family as squash and cucumbers, but they do not cross-pollinate successfully. Consistent water supply is critical to growing huge flavorful watermelon; install a soaker hose or drip irrigation for best results.

How to harvest watermelon harvest watermelons by cutting the stem with a garden lopper or sharp knife close to the fruit. So, how do you choose a watermelon that is ripe? Look for a melon that contains a yellow, not white, spot on the bottom. The golden yellow spot, called the field spot, signals that the melon is ripe. This is the part of the watermelon that sat on the ground while growing. Also look for a dull skin with plenty of brown scars or webbing.

It sounds silly, but shaking the watermelon at the store can help you decide if you’re going to buy it or not. Please don’t shake it too rough to cause damage to the watermelon. Instead, hold the watermelon with both hands and gently shake it from one side to the next. Keep the icebox watermelon at room temperature for up to two weeks. Chill it in the refrigerator only a few hours before you plan to cut and serve it.

What Is Best Fertilizer For Watermelons?

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Here are four ways to tell when a watermelon is at its peak ripeness. However, a woman has recently shared her methods for selecting a perfect watermelon to TikTok, and we had never heard them before. The best watermelons don’t have soft spots, so give it a once-over for firmness. Hopefully you’re harvesting delicious watermelon and not facing any of these problems.

I know, however, that it isn’t always possible. Any produce that is grown close to home will travel less and most likely taste better. Your daily dose of crafts, recipes, beauty, fashion, living tips and home guides.

Watermelon is a ‘non-climacteric fruit’- which means that it will not ripen after being plucked off the tree vine. Contrary to climacteric fruits non-climacteric fruits do not produce ethylene or ethylene treatment. In a nutshell, they are incapable of turning sweet and ripe in the store. The field spot is a secret sign that denotes the health of an individual watermelon. Precisely, the field spot is the time that watermelon has spent on the field.

The rind of a good watermelon is also very smooth. If there are any bumps, soft spots, or cuts in the watermelon’s skin, it’s a pass. Another way to select the best watermelon is to know what not to buy. A melon with dark spots, soaked flesh or an “off” smell could indicate fungus, bacteria or rot. A melon that’s mushy is giving you a warning; even if the softness is from damage during transport, the melon may be more prone to early rot. At MOTHER EARTH NEWSfor 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources.

Growing conditions and storage make a huge difference in watermelon flavor and texture, but these tips will help you choose the best available watermelon. There is no better time to pick up your favorite fruit than right now at your local Stater Bros. Picking watermelons at the grocery store doesn’t have to be an intimidating task.

Tip 1: Find The Field Spot

It is the signal that a watermelon is ready to eat. A good watermelon will have a pale yellow patch on the skin that indicates that it has been left on the ground to ripen in the sun. When you hold the watermelon, it should feel heavy relative to its size. This means that the fruit is fleshy and juicy on the inside. Compare it with the other watermelons in that batch and find the densest one. I’ve read that’s the way to choose a watermelon.

BUT I tap and listen for a sound as if a stress is on the peel anf just the right “hit” will cause it to burst from its own pressure! BUT they are not always sweet when they “sing” so, and sometimes REGRETTABLY only pink. One of the comments was made by a diabetic who ate watermelon 24/7.

This week, however, even though I melted all day, the evenings were perfect watermelon weather. Just in time for limes to drop back down to normal price so we could whip up a few batches of this mint and lime watermelon agua fresca. Perfect for a hot summer night, this recipe combines shrimp and Asian flavors with seedless watermelon for a refreshing twist on dinner. A ripe watermelon typically will develop a roughness on its surface near the base of the fruit.

Its green stripes darken to almost black when it is ripe, which makes the puzzle a little easier. Digging face first into a giant slice of watermelon on a hot summer day is one of those essential summertime food experiences. A good ol’ wedge of watermelon — all juicy, sweet and crisp — can be a serious thirst quencher when the sun is high in the sky. Unfortunately, it’s all-too-possible to end up with a less-than-perfect watermelon. But if you shop armed with the knowledge to ensure you buy a perfectly ripe watermelon, you’ll be good as gold. They say don’t judge a book by its cover and this is also true with watermelon.