Uzbekistan has always been the leader in the production of the most delicious and sweet watermelons. Astrakhan and Volgograd regions are also famous for this berry. They are tirelessly followed by China, from where gourds are supplied to many countries. From Kazakhstan, 35% of the total production of watermelons is carried to the European part of Russia. Georgia follows. Warm sunny days and cool nights are ideal conditions for ripening juicy and sweet watermelons. The ripeness of a watermelon is determined by three criteria:
- color,
- sound when the peel is tapped.
The smell doesn't matter. There is a misconception that after picking a watermelon, it stops ripening. However, it often happens that a watermelon that has lain in the refrigerator for a long time becomes overripe. Watermelon gains sweetness only on melon. The side on which the watermelon lay on the melon should have a light yellow spot. A pale green spot on a watermelon indicates unripeness. If you remember a couple of tips for choosing a ripe watermelon from the ten presented, you can easily choose ripe juicy watermelon and do not be disappointed in the choice.
What is a watermelon? Vegetable or fruit? There is no single answer. The thing is that watermelons, like other vegetables: zucchini, pumpkins and cucumbers, are grown and harvested on the field. However, the sweet taste and aroma is more fruity.
In fact, watermelon is at the same time:
- Vegetable - from the point of view of agronomy,
- Fruit - in terms of cooking,
- Berry - from the point of view of botany, since the fruit of watermelon: pumpkin - refers to berries.
For many, watermelon is a favorite summer sweet since it contains 90% water. For those who do not like the large size of the watermelon, more miniature varieties have been bred with no less sweet taste.
Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins A and C. It contains a lot of dietary fiber and potassium, which regulates blood pressure levels. Watermelons contain more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. So, we present to your attention 1 0 tips for choosing a good, ripe watermelon.
10. Seek a professional
If you can't decide which one to choose, seek professional help. Most vendors will be able to identify a ripe watermelon without difficulty. In order not to be disappointed in the purchase, you can overpay and try the watermelon right at the fruit stand. Pay attention to the pulp - it should be rich red and firm.
9. Tap the watermelon
Most people, when choosing a watermelon, tap it and listen for the sound. If the watermelon is ripe, you will hear a loud crunch. But, unfortunately, it is not easy to determine the ripeness of a watermelon in this way. Take the watermelon with both hands and gently squeeze. If you hear a light, sonorous crunch, then the watermelon is ripe.
8. Choose heavier watermelons
The greater the weight of the watermelon, the riper and juicier it is. When choosing a watermelon, stop at more weighty fruits without tubercles and cones. But keep in mind that overripe watermelons can also be heavy.
7. Look for the yellow barrel
The barrel of watermelon, on which he lay on the melon, should be light yellow in color. This side lay on the ground while the darker side ripened in the sun. If the barrel is pale or completely absent, this means that the watermelon was picked too early and did not have time to ripen.
6. Pay attention to the "bee web"
Look for the so-called cobweb". This is a pattern in the form of brown interlaced threads. A bee, pollinating watermelon flowers, touches the not yet ripe fruit membranes and creates a similar pattern. The more pollination occurs, the more cobweb”, and the sweeter the watermelon.
5. Choose your watermelon by gender
Remember, girl watermelons are usually bigger, sweeter, and have fewer pits than boy watermelons. To determine the sex of a watermelon, pay attention to the butt of the fetus. If the ring is very small, then this is a boy, more - a girl. It is often difficult to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by this trait, so choose based on the presence of seeds. Remember, seed watermelons are often sweeter and cheaper.
4. Check the color of the watermelon
Be sure to pay attention to the color of the watermelon. The unripe fruit has a glossy peel. Ripe watermelons have a bright rind but no sheen.. True, it is often difficult to determine the ripeness of the fruit by the crust.
3. Choose trusted sellers
To buy watermelon, choose grocery stores where you usually buy fresh fruits and vegetables. The more choice in the store, the more likely it is to find a ripe watermelon. The best place to buy watermelons is from fruit stalls along the road where farmers sell them.
2. Avoid watermelons grown under a spray system
Such fruits are usually less sweet and juicy. The thing is that with this method of irrigation, part of the water evaporates and is carried by the wind. Much sweeter are watermelons irrigated by flooding, when special small trenches are dug through which water flows to watermelons. Modern farmers use drip irrigation with strip coverage.
1. Check the watermelon curl
If the watermelon is still on the melon, then its ripeness can be determined by the tendril that connects the watermelon to the bush. If the tendril is green, then the watermelon is not yet ripe. If the tendril is brown and dried out, the watermelon is ripe. Watermelons, like cucumbers, constantly bear fruit. After the harvest, new fruits begin to grow. So, in a ripe watermelon, the tail is dry and dull in color.
A green tail indicates the immaturity of the fetus. Watermelon can be a great nutritious snack, and watermelon juice will brighten up any holiday. Rich in vitamins and refreshing, ripe watermelons are loved by people of all ages. When choosing a ripe watermelon, it is better to follow not one, but at least three tips.
Irina Kamshilina
Cooking for someone is much more pleasant than for yourself))
Content
Sweet, juicy and velvety pulp of watermelon pleasantly refreshes on a hot day and quenches thirst. In addition, it is a source of iron, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, fiber, pectin and vitamin C. At the same time, it becomes necessary to solve the problem - how to choose a watermelon, because it is not so difficult to determine a juicy and tasty fruit. The main thing in this matter is a competent approach, otherwise, there is a great risk of getting light pink instead of scarlet pulp without any pleasant taste.
How to choose a good watermelon
It is necessary to choose such a berry correctly due to the fact that harmful substances may be present in some watermelons. Poisoning with nitrates, the content of which in the fetus sometimes exceeds the norm, causes headache, nausea and vomiting. In addition, do not buy melons near highways, because. Car exhaust contains heavy metals and harmful substances. To buy a ripe fruit, take into account the following main criteria:
- seasonal ripening;
- appearance;
- the sound that a watermelon makes when tapped on it;
- "floor";
- tail type.
Seasonality of ripening
In order not to buy an unripe fruit, take into account the month in which you decide to purchase melons. The most delicious watermelons ripen during the season, which starts from mid-August and lasts until the end of September. Early fruits are usually saturated with nitrates, because producers who want to harvest faster feed gourds with growth stimulants and nitrogen fertilizers. If you want to enjoy healthy products without any consequences for your health, then try to be patient and take into account the full ripening period.
Appearance
One of the signs of the ripeness of the fruit is the appearance. Examine it and make sure that there are bright contrasting stripes on the surface. They, like a shiny hard crust, are considered a sure sign of the ripeness of the fruit. If they are not found, then feel free to pass by and continue your search. Also, make sure that the surface of the watermelon is free of dents, soft spots, small cracks, scratches, and other damage. The fact is that through them microbes and bacteria can easily penetrate into the fetus.
It will be good if the fruit has a slightly elongated or spherical shape, even and uniform color - this is a huge plus in favor of choosing a specific product. Be sure to rub the crust, because. immature products will have a pronounced smell of fresh hay. In addition, do not buy cut fruits - in this case, even the presence of certificates may not protect against possible health problems.
What is the sound of a ripe watermelon
Do not forget that melons should be sold either on the counter of the store, or in stalls with an awning or on special decks located above the ground. In order not to choose an unripe or, conversely, overripe fruit, be sure to tap it with your fist. A ripe watermelon makes a sonorous, clear sound. If he turns out to be deaf, then refuse to buy and continue your search. In addition, put your ear to the fruit and lightly squeeze the berry - a slight crackle is a sign of quality.
The presence of nitrates in the berry
Try to choose melons of medium size. Large fruits, despite their tempting and appetizing appearance, are often grown using nitrates. As for the small ones, they often turn out to be not very sweet, although everything will depend on the variety. Pay attention to the cut watermelon (if the seller has it). If the bones turn out to be white, then the watermelon is either unripe or contains a lot of nitrates. Seeds should be black or dark brown.
Additionally, you should be alerted by the incredible bright color of the pulp with a lilac tint. Another point that may indicate an excess of nitrates is a smooth gloss on the cut surface. Do not forget that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, in this regard, leave the children with a juicy core - it is just the most delicious. You should not try a berry if its flesh is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers.
How to recognize a good watermelon
The process of finding a berry suitable for consumption can take a lot of time, because. you have to examine the fruit from all sides and make sure that there is a bright striped peel. The stem is of particular importance. If it is not there, then there is a possibility that it was torn off on purpose, because. the goods went through long storage and long transportation. To choose delicious gourds, pay attention to:
- yellow spot on the side;
- bright striped crust;
- crust;
- tail;
- sound;
- gender (boy or girl).
yellow spot on side
Since the fruit lies on one side, a light spot is formed over time at the point of contact with the ground, which has a yellow or orange tint. In another way, it is also called "cheek". You should be alerted by an unevenly colored, too light or large surface. This is a sign that the berry did not lie on the melon. The optimal size of such a spot is 5-10 cm. Another sure sign of ripeness is light spots of small sizes. They appear over the entire surface of the watermelon peel after the production of chlorophyll stops.
Bright stripes on the skin
Choosing the right watermelon is a little more difficult than it might seem at first glance. Another important sign of the ripeness of melons is the presence of contrasting stripes, and bright ones. The color should be bright green. If you haven't noticed them or they are only slightly visible, then continue with your selection. It is better to spend more time looking for a tasty and ripe berry than to be convinced later that the purchase made was a waste of money.
Thick and shiny crust
The rind should be smooth and shiny, but due to the fact that sellers constantly rub their products, choose a watermelon from the back of the display. In addition, the crust must be firm, because it hardens when the fruit reaches maturity and stops absorbing water. Try to pierce the crust with your fingernail, if this fails, then you have a product of really excellent quality. Despite the good density, such a crust can be easily scratched. Before choosing the product of interest, make sure that the peel does not have a matte coating, and the pattern is clear.
dry ponytail
The stalk is just as important when choosing the right watermelon as other criteria. The tail must be dry, because. it dries up when the melon product is fully ripe. If the stalk turned out to be green, then in front of you is a fruit that was plucked before full ripening, although in long-harvested unripe watermelons, the green tail gradually acquires a yellow tint. Another difference between ripe and unripe berries is that in a ripe fruit the stalk is fragile and breaks easily, while in an unripe one it is more sluggish.
Loud and deep sound
Tap each watermelon with your fist, listen carefully for the sound. For ripe melons, it should be clear, sonorous. In unripe watermelons, the sound is usually deaf. True, it is very difficult to hear the ringing through a strong and thick peel. Despite this, one should not neglect such a well-known method for checking the ripeness of the fruit. Additionally, you can squeeze the berry a little - it should crackle slightly.
"Boy" or "girl"?
Not every buyer of such products knows that watermelon has a gender. Distinguishing a "boy" from a "girl" is not so difficult. The female fruit has a perfectly flat bottom with a large circle of brown on the skin. Male watermelons are characterized by a convex lower part and a very small circle. It is better to choose female berries, because. they are the sweetest and most delicious. In addition, they have an order of magnitude fewer seeds.
The most delicious varieties
To choose a ripe and sweet watermelon, check out the distinctive features and characteristics of popular varieties. Find out how much they weigh on average, what skin color they have, etc. When choosing, keep in mind that a ripe berry should be heavy, but an overripe version is in most cases much lighter. In addition, never ask to cut the fruit to determine the ripeness - this opens up access to microbes, which develop especially rapidly in the hot season. Popular and widespread varieties are:
- Crimson Gloria;
- Astrakhan;
- Kherson;
- Skorik;
- Photon;
- Chill.
Crimson Gloria
This variety was bred on the Crimean peninsula. It has a long shelf life and good disease resistance, thanks to which it is perfectly transported over long distances. It has gained considerable distribution in the south of the country - one of these regions is the Volgograd region. The average weight of the variety ranges from 10-17 kg. The crust is thicker compared to the Astrakhan species, thanks to which the fruit is reliably protected from damage during long-term transportation. The pulp is tender and sweet.
Astrakhan
This type of fruit is one of the most popular and in demand in Russia. By the end of August, as a rule, sweet and largest Astrakhan watermelons begin to appear on the shelves. As a separate variety, it was bred in 1977 through the efforts of one of the country's leading breeders at that time. This fruit has a spherical or slightly oblong shape. The pulp of a ripe berry is juicy, fragrant, coarse-grained. Its color is bright red.
The color of the Astrakhan fruit is green. The pattern on the surface consists of spike-like stripes that have a dark green tint. The average weight varies between 8-10 kg. In the dry season, voids may appear inside the fruit, but they do not have any effect on the taste. In general, it is better to buy a good quality fruit with sweet and tasty flesh without any voids.
Kherson
The berries of this species never grow too large - in most cases their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If you are shown a 15-20-kilogram giant and at the same time assure that you have a Kherson variety, then do not believe this - it is either of a different type, or it was grown using a large amount of nitrates. Watermelon has a rounded shape and an average bark thickness of 9-12 mm. The pulp is red, sweet, juicy, grainy, so this species is very popular.
Early maturing varieties Skorik and Foton
Among the varieties available today, there are many precocious ones. One of them is Skorik, which has pronounced taste properties. The fruits are striped and large, and the seeds are black. The shape is spherical or spherical-flattened. Skorik is the earliest Russian type of watermelon. The pulp is dense, bright red. The average weight is from 2 to 4 kg. This species is valued for its relatively large size, rich watermelon flavor and juicy honey-sweet flesh. The surface is smooth, the background is green, and the pattern is presented in the form of dark green stripes with blurry edges.
Deciding to choose an early grade product, pay attention to Photon. The fruit is medium in size, slightly oblong in shape, weighing approximately 4 kg. A light green pattern in the form of wide stripes of a dark green hue. The seeds are round and black, and the flesh is red, friable and tender. After harvesting Photon is stored for about 2-3 weeks. Transportation is well tolerated. Ripe Photon has a pleasant and sweet taste, fresh aroma.
Hybrid variety Kholodok
If you plan to choose a mid-late look, then you will like Kholodok. The average weight is about 4.2 kg, so we can assume that this species is large. Chill has an elongated spherical shape with a medium and leathery bark, so it is not so difficult to distinguish this variety from others. Its flesh is granular, juicy, intense red in color with a pink tint. The seeds are large - they reach 1.5 cm in length, and sometimes more.
Where is the best place to buy watermelon?
Before you learn how to choose a watermelon, you need to decide on the place of purchase. To do this, you need to go to specialized stores or walk along the rows of stalls, which must be equipped with an awning. If melons and gourds are presented on special decks, then make sure that they are located at a height of at least 15 cm from the ground.
In addition, retail outlets should be located away from highways, because. transport exhausts are absorbed by melons instantly. Also, do not forget that the tender watermelon pulp is the optimal breeding ground for microorganisms that enter through inconspicuous cracks along with dirt and dust. It is unlikely that you will be able to choose and buy safe products in such places. Although, many buyers neglect this recommendation.
Quality certificate
To choose melons that are really safe for health, pay attention to the watermelon certificate. Ask the seller to show it. If it is, then familiarize yourself with the data indicated in it: the place of collection, the harvest period, the content of nitrates and other characteristics. Based on them, you will be able to make a final conclusion whether to choose one or another product from a particular seller or not. If you are offered a photocopy of the certificate, then it must be in color, and the text must be clear.
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How to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon - ways to determine by sound, dry tail and stripe color
Well, I finally figured out how to determine when the watermelons ripened in the garden and when it's time to pick them and eat)) Until recently, it was a dark forest for me, and I asked everyone who was at least a little in the subject about it. Moreover, tapping a watermelon for me is generally an ineffective way to determine its ripeness, because in this case I guess in 50% of cases, and in 50% the watermelon turns out to be unripe at all.
Here are 4 ways to determine the maturity of a watermelon in the garden that work for me:
1) withered tendril opposite the watermelon (closest to it). So far, it has never been such that with a dried tendril, a watermelon was immature. At the same time, the tail that connects the watermelon itself to the “bush” always remains green. It's crazy that it should be dry! They become dry not from a good life - when a watermelon has long been plucked and lies, lies, lies ... The landmark is precisely
a completely dried mustache, not a tail.
2) Yellow spot (where the watermelon is in contact with the ground), or light yellowing watermelon pattern (unless it is a completely dark-skinned variety).
3) When squeezed, the watermelon emits crackling. This is just a guarantee of a ripe watermelon! At first, we both thought this method was stupid and were afraid to squeeze the watermelon, because. they thought that from this he would deteriorate, if he had not yet matured. But really, it's a great way!
4) Hardening of the bark. If the watermelon is unripe, then it is very easy to miss with a fingernail. If it is ripe, then it is difficult to do this.
And of course the fact that the watermelon has completely stopped growing. When you notice that the growth of the fetus has stopped, then after that you need to observe the appearance of the above signs.
The most-most significant for me is point number 1.
Even these mini-watermelons are delicious)) But, by the way, not all watermelons are sweet. Those that are larger turned out to be just less sweet ... it is not clear why ...
This is what the yellowing of a watermelon looks like: 
Dried mustache (most often it is curly): 
And with melons, in general, everything is simple - when they fully ripen, they themselves fall off the twig. Or it happens when you take a melon in your hand. And a ripe melon begins to smell fragrant. So it's much easier with them than with watermelons.
By the way, in the very first photo, our home-grown melon Torpedo (have not tried it yet).
This is our Ice Cream Melon: 
And also, if you want to make a good, unusual and at the same time really necessary gift for a girl, then be sure to visit this site. He has already helped many of my friends to choose an amazing gift.
Determining the ripeness of a watermelon without picking or cutting it can be difficult even for experienced gardeners. Most often, problems arise with new varieties, so it is better to take a small amount of seeds “for testing”. And next year, when it becomes clear how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden, it will be possible to buy more of them.
Real signs of ripeness
There are a lot of ways to determine the ripeness of a watermelon, but not all of them are equally effective. With the greatest degree of probability, the following signs help to determine ripeness:
- Watermelon almost stops growing in size. After the fruit sharply slows down its growth, it is necessary to wait only 2-3 weeks, after which it can be safely plucked.
- Yellow spot on the side. In an unripe watermelon, this spot will be greenish or white, and a change in color indicates that the fruit is fully ripe.
- The condition of the tendril closest to the fetus. If the tendril, located in the same leaf axil as the tail of the watermelon, has dried up, then the fruit itself has definitely ripened.
- The condition of the crust. A ripe watermelon has a fairly dense rind. Therefore, if you try to run a fingernail over it, then it will not be so easy to do it. If the crust is easily cut through with a fingernail, then it is better to leave the fruit in the garden - it has not yet ripened.
- Skin color. When ripe, the watermelon skin, previously matte, acquires a glossy sheen, and the stripes on it become clearer.
How not to define ripeness?
Some folk methods for determining ripeness work only in 50% of cases or do not work at all. You can try to apply them, but the result is not guaranteed. The chances of determining maturity by the following features are low:
- By average. If the watermelons of your chosen variety ripen within 35-40 days, this does not mean at all that you will definitely get a ripe fruit during this period. Weather, humidity, soil characteristics and many other factors can shift the ripening time by several days.
- According to the condition of the tail. In mature watermelons, the tail really dries up, but a dry tail can indicate both ripeness and the fact that it simply lacks moisture.
- By sound. A ripe fruit is one that makes a booming sound when tapped. To determine ripeness by this criterion, you need a good ear for music and a certain amount of luck, since in almost half of the cases the method does not work.
- By the ratio of diameter and weight. You can find a special table that indicates the optimal values \u200b\u200bof this ratio, but this table can not always be used. For example, for varieties with an oblong fruit shape, it is completely useless.
- To size. You can determine ripeness by the size of the fruit if you have been growing this variety for more than a year. In other cases, this trait is too unreliable, since it depends both on the characteristics of a particular variety and on the conditions in which the watermelon was grown.
Recently, many in suburban areas, in the middle lane, grow watermelons. Many names and varieties. Of course, they must first be grown as seedlings, at a temperature not lower than + 22 degrees, and then at the end of May or the beginning of June, when at least three leaves appear, watermelons are planted either in a greenhouse or in open ground.
In open ground, crops are covered with spunbond. So, from the beginning of sowing them into the ground or a greenhouse, 60 days should pass until they ripen. Of course, this period is relative, since in hot weather the period may be shorter, and in rainy weather longer, however, it is after 60 days that the ripeness of the berry should be determined.
The next indicator of ripeness is the luster of the watermelon peel, when it ceases to be matte and shines, it is at this moment that the ripening process occurs. Many people determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the scratches on the peel that crows leave when they start pecking at them. How they determine the ripeness of a watermelon remains a mystery, but they are never wrong.
The next indicator of ripeness is the yellow side, the place where the watermelon lies. And a more practical definition is a dried ponytail. Undoubtedly, the taste is also reflected in the larger spot on the opposite side, from the tail, of the watermelon. Since it determines, with its large size, a woman's affiliation.
Many people prefer to tap on a watermelon, saying that it has become sonorous and ripe. This is an erroneous conclusion, since during the ripening period, almost all watermelons have a more sonorous sound, and if you can compare it on melon for the first time, and then a week later, this will give a result.
And if you hear this sound for the first time, then it will be problematic to determine the ripeness of a watermelon, since after a sonorous sound (the ripening process), a duller sound should be heard (when it is already ripe), since when ripe, the inner part of the pulp bursts and we hear a more empty , muffled, not ringing sound. Of course, very green and overripe watermelons also have a dull sound.
RVT
