How To Harvest And Store Watermelon

Pick up a punchcard at the first store you visit — four punches earns you a free t-shirt and enters you to win one of the artworks. The works will be on view from June 17-July 15. Hobo Hollar Farms (124 Old Converse Rd. in Spartanburg) is offering a summer bounty in fruits and vegetables from Spartanburg and some neighboring states.

Choose pieces with bright red flesh and dark brown or black seeds. Avoid pieces with white streaks and an abundance of white seeds. You should also steer clear if the flesh looks dried out or mealy, or is separating from the seeds. No, watermelons only ripen on the vine so it is important you know how to pick the perfect melon at the grocery store. Finally, the surface color of the watermelon will become dull. The underside of the watermelon that was on the ground will also turn light green or yellow if it is time to pick the watermelon.

Spots Are A Good Sign

The pulp is just sweetened fruit solids, so you can save it in an ice cube tray in the freezer and then add it to smoothies or frozen cocktails later. Storing watermelons– Store watermelons at temperatures from degrees F. Temperatures below 50 degrees or above 90 degrees for extended periods will increase flesh deterioration.

If you don’t have a fruit stand or farmers market close by then you can definitely get a delicious watermelon at your local grocery store, too. To cut your watermelon into bite-size chunks, first place the watermelon on a chopping board and cut off the top and bottom using a sharp knife. Next cut the watermelon into round disks, then cut the disks into 1-inch cubes. And contrary to popular belief, picking out the prettiest and most perfect looking melon is not the key indicator for a sweet and juicy fruit. Animal rescuer and cinematographer Douglas Thron’s passion for animals began when he was a little kid.

When the tendril closest to the fruit just begins to turn brown and wither, harvest will come in about a week. A week before harvest, decrease watering—water just enough to prevent the vine from wilting. Withholding water from a melon will cause the sugars in the fruit to concentrate. Watermelons are usually ripe and ready for harvest when the underside turns from white to yellow and at least three tendrils on each side of the melon are dead. First things first in picking this sweet fruit is picking it up.

Although cut watermelon can be frozen , you should never freeze a whole watermelon. Doing so will only cause a chilling injury to the fruit. If not using immediately, place what is shelf life of cbd oil the cut watermelon in a covered container and refrigerate. A whole, uncut watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, before it needs to be used.

National Watermelon Promotion Board

To select the perfect watermelon, look for a firm, symmetrical fruit free from bruises, cuts, or dents. The outside of the fruit should be dark green and dull, rather than shiny. When you lift the watermelon, it should seem heavy for its size, which means it is full of water and therefore ripe. The underside of the melon should have a creamy yellow spot, known as the field spot, which is where the melon sat on the ground while it ripened.

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A ripe watermelon should have a thick rind that doesn’t give easily when pressured. If you prefer though, you can always buy a seedless watermelon. A good watermelon will sound hollow when you flick your index finger against it. You’re looking for a ringing hollow sound, like a drum, rather than a dull sound.

Only when cut, that you can see the hollowness of the melon. As ripened fruits are most often tastiest and juiciest, a forchlorfenuron-treated watermelon that has been forced to grow faster and prematurely, will lack flavor. When buying a watermelon, you may be tempted to pick a seedless watermelon. I know it is annoying to spit out those seeds, but those seeds are proof that it is a “real” watermelon.

Checking the firmness of a watermelon refers to the resistance of the rind or skin . Elaine Goller took the challenge to a higher, hotter level, preparing a spicy watermelon salsa salad with herbs, hot peppers, raw ginger and garlic. “It was served in bowls accompanying barbecued meats, corn and baked beans,” she said. You’ll want one that has a yellow-ish spot on one side. There are five main ways we love to cut a watermelon.

Goller even suggested saving the strained juice from the mixture to add to adult beverages. Julie Overton-Newland sliced watermelon into french fry-shaped sticks and served them alongside a cool coconut lime dip. It’s also a great way to begin a poolside party. She used a recipe from Pinterest that looked as good as it tasted. My only addition is that no matter which cut you choose, set your cutting board in a rimmed baking sheet to catch the juices and make cleanup a little easier. The Johnson Collection is celebrating summer in their newest exhibition, Reflections on a Southern Summer, which opened last Wednesday.

Other than cutting open a watermelon to see the inside, the field spot is perhaps the best indicator of the ripeness. The underside or the belly of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun. If the belly is white or pale it is underripe.

Watermelon Growing

Add the rest of the ingredients to a large bowl. Pour the food processor mixture over the fruit and veggies in the bowl and mix gently. Refrigerate for several hours, stirring occasionally.

The shapes of the watermelons—whether oblong or round—don’t really indicate the juiciness or sweetness of the melons. There are hundreds of watermelon varieties, and so many factors that can affect the juiciness and sweetness of the melons. It is said that the “male” watermelons are oblong in shape, is watery and less sweet. Whereas, the “female” watermelons are round in shape and sweeter. It is a refreshing satisfying snack to have on a hot day.

Ideal Conditions For Watermelon Plants

Once cut, refrigerate it in wedge form or in small chunks in plastic covered containers. Handle carefully to avoid rolling, bumping or dropping to prevent internal bruising. If you are familiar with how tapping a good watermelon should sound, then this one would sound hollow. After considering all the above tips on the appearance of a watermelon, do the tapping method. When buying fruits, we often want our fruits to look flawless. But, on a watermelon, you may see brown marks like “scars” that farmers call “webbing” .

You should be greeted with sweet, juicy flesh that’s soft but not mushy or grainy. Also, the best melon of the bunch will most likely be heavier than the rest. On average, a watermelon is92% water, which is what makes them so juicy. A heavier melon likely holds more water, which will make it juicier. However, some external signs may help differentiate the ripe ones from the immature, overripe, or spoiled ones.

Pruning generally isn’t necessary for watermelon plants, but vine productivity may be improved if you do not allow lateral vines to grow and stick to the main vine. When the plant is young, just cut off the end buds kratom for alcohol withdrawal as they form . You can also pinch off some blossoms to focus the energy on fewer melons (though it’s a challenge to kill off a potential fruit). Vines produce male and female flowers separately on the same plant.

Add to the processor the fresh herbs, lemon zest, honey or sugar, lemon or lime juice and vinegars and pulse until well blended. Scoop out and chop the watermelon flesh into chunks, discarding the peel. Melon 1 has the reach and resources to bring you the sweetest, freshest watermelon, fresh off the vine, year-round. The Reid Family name has been synonymous with farming for over 200 years. Today, Mr. Dennis Reid and his brother Rick Reid and his son Denny Reid farm together with Stephen Abt, Scott Abt, Zach Blanchfield and Vance Monroe.

The temperature requirement for watermelon germination is between 26°C -33°C, with night temperature expected not to be lower than 25. Watermelons can be stored uncut for about 10 days. If cut, they can last in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Stems should be cut with a sharp knife close to the fruit.

Appearance Of Watermelons

Watermelon is a delicious low-calorie treat with numerous benefits. Here are the top 9 ways that watermelon can improve your health. This spot shows where the watermelon rested on the ground before being harvested. Watermelons are 91% water — a characteristic that explains its name.

They were common in Texas when I was growing up. Seedless watermelons sound like a good idea, but have ruined the watermelon experience. Today’s kids have no memories of what a really sweet watermelon tastes like, or of seed spitting contests.

Once cut they should be stored in the refrigerator. This list is undoubtedly the best pick watermelon available in the market today. However, if you don’t want to spend more time on filtering and finding which one is good pick watermelon, then you should absolutely go for our Top list of the winner.

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With this quick rundown, harvesting melon in summer won’t be as daunting as it seems. This mixture of cells creates a sterile fruit that is incapable of further producing seeds. Therefore, you cannot grow a watermelon from a hybrid, seedless watermelon. All ripe watermelons have a “field patch” or “field spot” that is pale-yellowish in color, ranging from white to yellow, to orangey.

The show features works by 27 artists that celebrate the best parts of summer in the south, from days at the lake to dripping ice cream cones. Give the green spot at the top a sniff — Hill said the ones with a strong, sweet smell are ready to serve. From tips to help you prepare for the Fourth of July to downtown events and shows, this week’s edition of The Cultural Report will get you ready to jump into summer fun.

If you choose to fertilize , make sure it delivers more nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium, as this will encourage leaf and vine growth. However, after flowering begins, use a fertilizer with less nitrogen to instead encourage flowers and fruit. Water at the vine’s base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. After transplanting, cover the plants with row covers to keep pests at bay. Remember to remove the row covers when you see both male and female flowers on the vine, as pollinators will need to access the flowers.

While watermelon can still continue to ripen a bit even after it’s been picked, it won’t receive any additional nutrients from the soil through its stem. Instead of getting sweeter, this off-the-vine ripening process might just mean that the melon’s flesh turns soft and mealy rather than crisp and flavorful. Like with all fruits and vegetables, the best tasting watermelons are ones that had a chance to ripen fully before being picked.

This is where the melon sat on the ground and ripened in the sun, so the darker it is the better! If the field spot is white, or even nonexistent, this probably means that the watermelon was picked too soon, and will not be ripe. 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.

You should pick a melon that has a strong stripe pattern with the green stripes being dark and deep while the pale stripes should be a creamy and light yellow color. You will also want to steer clear of a shiny melon because that is a sign that it is most likely under ripe. A perfect, ripe watermelon should be dark green in color and dull in appearance, rather than shiny. A shiny watermelon will usually be under ripe.

Other Tips And Tricks

Here you’ll find 700+ tested and approachable recipes from scratch, perfect for everyday occasions. Knock on It with Your Knuckles – Your knuckles should bounce off the melon, and the surface should be pretty hard/firm. Much prettier and cbd oil in coffee more typical of what I picture when I think of a watermelon, and that’s okay. I find that the best watermelons I buy can sometimes look really gnarly on one side where it was resting on the ground, and then unblemished on the other.

Avoid ever having to feel the remorse of wasting one again by learning how to pick a perfectly ripe watermelon from the bunch. A few simple visual and audible indicators are all you need to help ensure you leave the grocery store with the sweetest and most flavorful melon every time. It should feel heavy for its size and have a mild, sweet aroma. If you happen to find small, dry, brown lines in little patches on the rind, that’s a good sign of sweetness, showing where sugar has slowly seeped out of the fruit. First, the curly green tendrils will start to yellow and turn brown.

The denser it is for its size, the higher the water content, resulting in a sweeter watermelon. In order to choose a watermelon that has had sufficient time to ripen and mature, you will want to inspect its stem that should be dry and yellow-brown. A green stem may signify that the watermelon is not yet ripe and will lack flavor and sweetness.

Most people have no clue as to how grocery shopping is done. It requires an eye for detail and all the other senses to pick out the best fruits and vegetables. You don’t want to end up wasting your time and money just to get overly ripe fruit.

Keep in mind that not all ripe watermelon will make this sound, so if it doesn’t make a hollow sound it doesn’t mean the melon isn’t ripe. However, if it does make the sound, it is most assuredly ready to harvest. 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.

How To Choose The Right Watermelon

The deeper the colour is, the riper the watermelon is on that side. This year’s off-the-charts watermelon quality and sweetness may be the best news you will hear all day. Because watermelon season usually peaks during the summer months, do not miss out on this classic hydrating snack.

Eating water-rich foods like watermelon helps you achieve a greater feeling of fullness per serving while consuming fewer calories . Irregularities may indicate that the watermelon received inconsistent amounts of water or was not pollinated properly. On the other hand, cuts or dents may point to the presence of insects or fungus . Whichever you choose, stick to those with a firm and symmetrical shape, and avoid those with irregular bumps, dents, or cuts. Here are 6 tips to help you take home a delicious watermelon. Strain off some of the juice and add salt if desired.

When the first melon is ripe, the others ripen shortly. Inspect the stem because you will want to find one with a dried tail that is yellow-brown in color. A green stem means it is not fully ripe and will probably lack in flavor and sweetness. Now that you know where to buy a sweet melon and when to buy them- it is a good thing to know how to pick a juicy watermelon. Because no one likes a tasteless or squishy melon. If you are wanting to find a sweet watermelon your best bet is going to be during watermelon season during the summer months.