How to know when a watermelon is ripe. How do you know when a watermelon is ripe? Is watermelon good for you?

Many people don’t know, but according to experts, watermelons are divided, relatively speaking, by gender.

There are "boys" and "girls". You can tell which one is which when you cut a watermelon.

Those that are sweeter and contain fewer seeds are “girls”.

Others, also professionals in their field, say that all this is fiction, in fact, watermelons are hermaphrodites.

We simple gardeners are of little interest to these disputes; the most important thing for us is to find out ripe watermelon or not.

Amateur gardeners who grow these large berries in their dachas have long known how to determine ripeness. These signs are described below.

The watermelon is ripe if:

• A good ripe watermelon, usually of the correct shape, that is, it has a slightly elongated ball shape.

• The fruit should not be small, preferably medium, about 8-12 kg. Small ones are usually not very sweet. If you choose a watermelon on the market, do not take large specimens, more than 12 kg, as they may contain a large amount of harmful nitrates.

• The ripeness of a watermelon is also indicated by its tail. When ripe and sweet, it is dried out. These appear on the shelves after mid-August. If the tail is greenish and not dry, then it was removed before it was ripe.

• The crust should not have any damage (dents, cracks, stains). Such a watermelon, even if ripe, loses its taste. It might be sour.

• Well, the last sign is the well-known knock on the watermelon. The sound of a ripened watermelon is ringing, as if crispy. A dull sound indicates that the fruit is limp and stale. In addition, storage conditions were violated.

By the way, watermelons can be stored for a long time. For this purpose, watermelons without external damage, and if possible without a yellow spot on the side, or so that it is as small as possible. Weight is about 7 kg.

We place it in a net and hang it in a dark place with a temperature no higher than +5C. The watermelon should not be in contact with the wall or anything else.

If stored properly, you can enjoy watermelon on New Year's Day.

If anyone else is interested in the gender of a watermelon, it is determined by its butt. In the “girl” watermelon it is flatter and has a large spot, while in the “boy” there is a depression inside and turns into a small point.

After choosing a ripe watermelon, it’s time to prepare a cocktail for guests called “ drunk watermelon».

Cut a round hole in the watermelon, the size of a bottle neck, and about 7cm deep. After this, turn the bottle of vodka over and insert the neck into this hole.

Make sure that the depth is sufficient and the contents do not spill out. We wait until everything is absorbed.

Seal the hole and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

After the time has passed, the watermelon cocktail is ready for use, all that remains is to cut it into slices. The watermelon must be ripe.

There is about a week left before the official start of the watermelon selling season, but unauthorized trade in melons on the streets of Moscow has been going on since mid-July. Consumers are outraged not only by the high price, but also by the quality of the fruit: watermelons that are artificially ripened with the help of nitrates pose a health hazard.

At the same time, sellers of watermelon crumbles in most cases cannot present either a trade permit or quality certificates.

The permit to trade melons will be valid from August 1. The Moscow Department of Consumer Market and Services explained that it is not recommended to buy watermelons before this date - it is better to wait until the end of summer, when they are definitely ripe.

The number of melon fields in the capital this summer will be almost two times less compared to last year. - total 450 . In addition, retail outlets will operate according to new rules. Sellers are required to work in special clothing, carry a medical book and documents confirming the quality of the products.

Where to choose watermelons

In Moscow, the sale of melons “from the ground” is prohibited. Retail outlets should be equipped with mesh chests and special scales instead of household, medical and postal scales. Sellers should not cut and sell watermelons and melons in parts, as slices.

In addition, visual information about the operating hours of the retail outlet and the legal address of the trading organization must be placed on the tray or spreader.

To protect yourself, it is best not to buy watermelons at “spontaneous” stores, where the products are not checked by sanitary services, and always ask if they have documents. And even more so, you should not buy at roadside stands: there the products absorb toxins.

Some producers stimulate the ripening of melons with nitrogen fertilizers, which leads to the accumulation of nitrates in watermelons. The consequences of their use can be severe - acute infectious poisoning or chronic intoxication, which doctors call the “cumulative effect.”

How to identify a nitrate "bomb"

It is impossible to identify a nitrate watermelon by eye unless it is cut. You should not even try the berry if its pulp is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers or has a purple tint.

If you soak the pulp of a nitrate watermelon in water, it will turn red or pink due to the increased content of nitrates. A “healthy” watermelon will make the water slightly cloudy.

If you tap on a nitrate watermelon, it feels like you're hitting a deflated ball. Such a watermelon may look ripe, but if it doesn’t crack when squeezed, it means it’s not ripe without someone else’s “help.”

What a watermelon should look like without flaws

There is a widespread belief that a large watermelon is “nitrate”. This is not true: for example, for the “chill” variety, 10-20 kilograms is far from the limit.

An ideal watermelon should be large enough, not very heavy and with a clearly defined striped pattern. In order to determine the natural ripeness of a watermelon, first of all you need to pay attention to the stalk - the tail at the top of the fruit should be dry.

The purchased watermelon should not have cuts or cracks - through which microbes that cause intestinal infections get inside.

There is a myth that a ripe watermelon should ring if you slap it with your palm. In fact, the sound depends on whether the flesh inside has softened or not. It is the green fruit that will ring, but a ripe watermelon should be dull.

The cracking sound that a watermelon makes when you squeeze it with your hands is a good sign. You can safely buy such a product.

The soil spot on the bottom of the side should preferably be yellow, not white.

And one last thing. A ripe watermelon can be easily scratched - by running your fingernail over it, you can easily remove the top layer of the peel.

When choosing a melon, experts advise paying attention to the aroma that its peel should exude, the softness that is felt to the touch, and the absence of light brown spots.

What to do in case of “nitrate” poisoning

In addition to nitrates, watermelons may contain microbes and even heavy metals. In case of poisoning, it is necessary to drink as much water as possible to prevent dehydration and reduce the symptoms of the disease.

Is watermelon good for you?

There is conflicting information about the benefits of watermelons. Some say that watermelon fiber contains potassium, which is washed out of the body when taking diuretics. Therefore, it is recommended to consume watermelons for diseases such as cystitis and nephritis.

At the same time, there is an opinion that although all melons and melons contain fiber, it is poorly absorbed, loading the stomach. That is why doctors advise children and elderly people over 50 years old to refuse juicy fruits.

The material was prepared by the online editors of www.rian.ru based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

To get a good harvest of watermelons, you need to take care of the seedlings already in May. When three leaves appear on the plant, it can be transplanted into open ground or a greenhouse. This point usually occurs at the end of May or beginning of June. From that period you need to wait about 60 days. Only after this period can the ripeness of the watermelon be determined.

Of course, the number of days may vary more or less depending on weather conditions and the type of berry. If it has been hot all summer, then the first harvest will not take long to arrive. The size of the fruit does not indicate its ripeness, so you should learn how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon.

How to determine ripeness

You can determine the ripeness of a green berry in the garden by its peel. When the ripening process begins, it turns from matte to shiny. A good indicator of ripeness are scratches on a watermelon. They remain from the crow's beak. Birds will not peck an unripe watermelon. How they calculate this is anyone's guess. To avoid damage to the crop by birds, it is necessary to build a scarecrow. To prevent over-ripening, or, conversely, to avoid picking a green watermelon, you should pay attention to the stalk. It should be dry.

A dry stalk indicates that the watermelon has already absorbed all the nutrients and is now ripening.

Tapping sound

You can twist the watermelon in the garden to find the small yellow side where the watermelon came into contact with the ground. It will be an indicator of the ripeness of the watermelon. The tapping method is also practiced. True, it needs to be carried out several times at different times. During the ripening period, all watermelons will make a ringing sound. Therefore, you need to knock on the watermelon, and then repeat this a week later and compare the sonority of the sound. In a ripe watermelon, the flesh bursts and because of this the sound will be somewhat muffled.

A green, unripe watermelon also makes a hollow, dull sound, so you should be especially careful.

A ripe watermelon has a bright rind, with a distinct pattern and very hard. If you can easily pierce it with your fingernail, then the watermelon should not be picked, let it ripen. The rind is thickened to retain moisture inside the fruit. When you pat a ripe watermelon, it will even spring back slightly.

In central Russia, it is very risky to grow watermelons, because weather anomalies can lead to damage to the crop. But don’t be disappointed at the first failure; next time you will probably be able to grow this sweet berry in your region.

Recently, many people have been growing watermelons in suburban areas in the middle zone. There are 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 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 in the ground or greenhouse, 60 days must pass until they ripen. Of course, this period is relative, since in hot weather the period may be shorter, and in rainy weather longer, but it is after 60 days that it is worth determining the ripeness of the berry.

The next indicator of ripeness is the shine of the watermelon peel, when it ceases to be dull 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 skin that crows leave when they begin to peck 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 tail. Undoubtedly, the larger spot on the opposite side, from the tail, of the watermelon also affects the taste. Since it determines, with its large size, female affiliation.

Many people prefer to knock on the watermelon, saying that it has become ringing 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 a melon field for the first time, and then after a week, this will give a result.

And if you hear this sound for the first time, then determining the ripeness of a watermelon will be problematic, since after a ringing sound (the ripening process), a duller sound should be heard (when it is already ripe), since during ripening the inner part of the pulp bursts and we hear a more empty sound , muffled rather than ringing sound. Of course, a very green and overripe watermelon also has a dull sound.
RVT

(from Brazil or Spain), but to local ones, including Central Asian watermelons.

Although watermelon is very healthy and is relatively inexpensive, there are a few things worth knowing about it.

For example, you may come across an unripe watermelon, or it may be loaded with nitrates, which do not bring anything useful and, even more, deprive the watermelon of its advantages.

It will be interesting to note the fact that watermelon is not a berry, but member of the pumpkin family.

In order not to make a mistake when choosing a watermelon, it is worth knowing a few useful things, which will be discussed below.

How to choose a ripe watermelon

It is almost impossible to determine by eye whether a watermelon is ripe or not.

Previously, it was allowed to make a small cut to show how red the watermelon is, but now this is prohibited because... the peel and knife of the seller at the market can hardly be called clean, not to mention simple hygiene.

This means you need to use other methods.

1. Tapping

This method can help, but not always. Yes, it happens that a ripe watermelon, when tapped, makes a ringing sound. But sometimes a not quite ripe watermelon can make the same sound, so it is not advisable to completely rely on this method.

2. Looking at the ponytail

This method also cannot be called the best, although it is used quite often. It is believed that a ripe watermelon has a dry tail, which is true.

But if we take into account that the watermelon did not ripen under natural conditions (not in a melon field), then its tail is also dry, and the watermelon is not ripe.

3. Squeezing a watermelon with your hands

This traditional method of determining ripeness is perhaps the most reliable.

You need to squeeze the watermelon with your hands - if it makes a cracking noise, it means it is ripe.

4. Spot on the side

Also pay attention to the side of the watermelon - there should be a stain that appears when the watermelon has been lying on the ground for a long time. It is desirable that this spot be yellow.

It is worth noting that this spot is called the “field point” and the watermelon rested on the ground with it, ripening in the sun’s rays. The darker the stain, the better.

A white spot or absence of a spot means that the fruit was picked early and did not have time to ripen.

5. Scratch the crust

If you scratch the rind of a watermelon a little, you can determine its ripeness - a ripe watermelon has a thin rind that can be removed quite easily.

How to choose the right watermelon

* choose a watermelon with a more or less symmetrical shape. Do not take small watermelons; as a rule, they are not very sweet. However, watermelons that are too large may contain nitrates.

* watermelons that have very contrasting color patterns on the rind are most likely very ripe. This means you should look for a dark watermelon with light stripes.

*DO NOT accept watermelon with cracks, stains or dents. Stains on the watermelon mean that it was not stored and transported carefully, and it could lose its taste and turn out to be sour. Also, these indicators may mean that the fruit was not watered correctly.

*Do NOT allow the seller to cut out the test piece. As already mentioned, the knife may be dirty, and dust may get into the watermelon on the way home.

* Choose a watermelon that is heavier - such a fruit is full of juices. Take two identical watermelons - the heavier one is the ripest. This advice is relevant for many fruits and vegetables.

The benefits of watermelon

Despite the fact that watermelon looks like a large berry with a lot of seeds, in fact, “common watermelon” refers to representatives of the Cucurbitaceae family, and its fruit is called pumpkin, and as you might guess, its closest relative is pumpkin.

* Since traditional watermelon contains small amount of sugar, it can be eaten by those who suffer from diabetes, but of course within reasonable limits.

*It's also worth noting that watermelon juice boasts very high alkalinity. Basically, vegetables, fruits and berries have an acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction, but watermelon is ahead of everyone in this sense.

You've probably heard of such a criterion as an indicator of the acidity of the environment - it is designated as pH. It is worth noting that a change of just 1 pH unit means that the acidity level has changed 10 times.

Since watermelon is highly alkaline, it is a very good diuretic, which means it is incredibly beneficial for those who suffer from liver and kidney diseases, as well as people with arthritis, atherosclerosis and hypertension.

And don't forget that ripe watermelon - very sweet. But this is only when it does not contain large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers, which are used for faster ripening.