Home / Dough / Where and how the watermelon grows. All the most interesting about watermelons

Where and how the watermelon grows. All the most interesting about watermelons

Where watermelons grow - in the south, in the middle lane, in the greenhouse and in the ground.

In regions with a harsher climate, only experienced gardeners decide to plant southern berries, not completely believing in their gambling venture. For a long time, it was believed that watermelons grow only in a greenhouse. Here you first need to make trellises, because watermelon vines are tied up because of space saving so that they grow up. One or two lashes are left near the bush, and the growing balls are placed in nets and suspended.

How much water should you water for a watermelon growing in a greenhouse? No more than 2 times a week under the root, spending 7-8 liters for each watermelon.

During the growing season and flowering, the plant must be fed by diluting mineral complexes in water. An overabundance of nutrients can lead to the fact that the bush becomes fat. Do not overdo it.

In the open field

Those gardeners who tried to grow watermelons in the open field did not regret their decision. With proper care, the culture will give a long-awaited harvest here. For her, they choose the sunniest place and make warm beds - different for different varieties, otherwise they can get dusty. This means that a compost “pillow” of 40 centimeters is prepared for the seedling from old straw, hay, weeds and any other organic matter, which is covered with manure and fertile soil. Keep a sufficient distance between such "pillows" - at least 70 cm. At first, the sprouts are sheltered from cold weather and from direct sunlight. On the melon, they float in time, loosen and mulch the ground with sawdust.

How many shoots can you leave to get full, sweet-tasting fruit? No more than 2-3, each of which has 5 ovaries, otherwise the watermelons will not ripen. Each bush can grow 5-6 fruits. It is recommended to walk on the melons very carefully, because the branches of the plant are very fragile, despite the apparent power.

Growing conditions in the greenhouse and in the open field are united by the fact that seedlings are prepared for planting. At the end of April, watermelon seeds are soaked in water, disinfected in potassium permanganate, and then germinated for 3-4 days. Each seed is planted in separate containers, which are placed on the sunniest windowsill. It is important that the sprouts do not touch. With the appearance of 3-5 leaves, the seedlings are ready for planting.

Replies mail. ru where watermelons and melons grow in russia I know that watermelons grow in astrakhan and where else watermelons and melons grow in russia

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Watermelon wikipedia

Watermelon - wikipedia

Varieties and cultivarsEdit

Varieties

Within the framework of the species, two varieties are distinguished:

    Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (L. H. Bailey) Mansf.- Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa (Cape Province, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal); also known as Melon tsamma
      Citrullus vulgaris var. citroides L. H. Bailey

    Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus- found only in cultural form

      Citrullus lanatus var. caffer (Schrad.) Mansf.

Famous varieties of melon watermelons - Astrakhan, or Bykovsky(White), Monastyrsky(green with white stripes and red or gray seeds), Kamyshinsky(the same color), Kherson, Melitopol, Mozdoksky, Uryupinsky other. Some part of watermelons goes to salt, like cucumbers, and for cooking, by boiling and thickening juicy pulp, watermelon honey (nardek, bekmes). With the cultivation of watermelon in the garden or greenhouse, seeds are taken that are old (fresh ones give unfertile, albeit strong plant growth).

Of the varieties, the earliest deserve attention - Apple, Korean, Chernouska, Raspberry cream other.

Hokkaido cultivated a variety Densuke, the berries of which have an unusual black color of the rind. This is due to the fact that the stripes on the crust have such a dark shade of green that they are visually difficult to distinguish from black ones. About 10 thousand fruits of this variety are grown annually. Due to its unusual appearance and low production volume, this variety is the most expensive variety of watermelons in the world. In 2008, one of the first newly harvested watermelons was auctioned for JPY 650,000 (approximately US $ 6,300), and the average densuke fruit price is approximately JPY 25,000 (US $ 250) apiece.

TaxonomyEdit

View Common watermelon belongs to the genus Watermelon ( Citrullus) tribes Benincaseae subfamilies Cucurbitoideae family Pumpkin ( Cucurbitaceae) order Pumpkin ( Cucurbitales).

Where do watermelons and melons syl. ru

Where do watermelons and melons grow? :: syl. ru

Wild watermelon native to South Africa. Being the "king of the desert", over time, he spread to India, Australia, Central Asia. Where do wild watermelons grow? Currently, they are abundant in desert areas in Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa. It is here that genetic forms of watermelons with bitter and sweet pulp have been identified in large numbers.

The wild berry does not look like the cultivated species. It belongs to perennial plants that are not afraid of heat. A powerful root system is capable of entangling large areas. Fruits in the form of small balls stay on the stems for a long time, their ripening occurs within six months or more. During the period of desert winds, they roll over endless sands, bump into bumps, burst, spreading seeds around them. They have the ability to sprout quickly, forming whole plantations of wild berries that have a bitter taste. Poisonous and sweet varieties come across.

Where do watermelons grow in the world?

Today, 96 countries of the world are engaged in the cultivation of watermelons, but most of all - China, where the volume of production is about 63 million tons. The sweet berry is cultivated in large quantities in Turkey and Iran, Brazil and the USA, Egypt and Russia, Mexico, Uzbekistan, and the Republic of Korea. Why is watermelon so popular? Like any other plant, after pollination of a flower, a fruit is formed in its place. So, watermelon is grown for it. In this case, the fruit is a false berry, the pulp of which is juicy and sweet in taste.

Seedless watermelons

Such plants are triploid hybrids with an oblong shape. Their weight ranges from 5 to 10 kg. To say that they have no bones at all would be wrong. They are available, only in an underdeveloped form. In Russia, such watermelons are rare. Many people do not trust seedless crops, considering them genetically modified. But this is not the case. The seedless watermelon was obtained by scientists from America as a result of breeding work. They differ in that the seeds are suitable for consumption. The pulp is watery and contains a lot of sugar.

Where does the seedless watermelon grow? In Russia, this crop is grown in the Astrakhan region, namely in the Akhtuba region. The varieties used are bred by breeders from Israel. In the United States of America and neighboring countries with a warm climate (Paraguay, Uruguay), seedless watermelons are commonplace. Here they are sold all year round.

Melon

This plant is considered the queen of melon. I came to our country from Asia Minor and Central, although the centers of origin, besides Asia, are Iran and Afghanistan. Russian breeders have developed early ripening varieties that are more adapted to our climate.

Where do melons grow? Even the middle zone of Russia is suitable for normal growth. Here, for melons and gourds, areas that are well warmed by the sun are distinguished, which should not be exposed to the cold wind. If the southern regions are chosen for melon growth, the soil in the places of its cultivation should be fertile, it should be good for water and air to pass through. It is better if these are small hills on which water does not accumulate.

Melon is prized for its taste and dietary qualities. Scientifically classified, it is a false berry, although it is also called a dessert vegetable. The melon is consumed fresh. It is stored only in processed form (preserves, jams, compotes). It is a low-calorie berry, which contains 90% water.

" Watermelon

We all love tasty and healthy food. Closer to August, watermelons ripen, lovers of their bright taste and juicy sweet flesh again enter into an argument about this fruit belongs to berries or fruits? Or maybe some vegetables? Let's figure it out.

Opinions are divided on this issue, even botanists have not yet come to a unanimous opinion. In everyday communication, it can be called a berry. Scientists tend to classify it as a pumpkin, or class it as a false berry.

From a botanical point of view, calling it a berry is rash, why:

  • berries are consumed whole, they do not need to be cut and eaten in parts;
  • berry seeds are easily removed or digested;
  • the berries have a thin skin.

If we consider the fruit as a garden fruit with juicy pulp growing on a tree, then immediately it becomes clear that watermelon is not a fruit.

But if you omit the fact that it grows on melons, in everyday communication, it is permissible to call it a fruit.


Where it grows and what it looks like, which family it belongs to

In Russia, large-scale cultivation takes place in the Volga region and in the Urals, but the Astrakhan Territory is truly considered the center for the cultivation of this crop.

In terms of appearance, there are different varieties. The color of the rind and core may vary, but taste is not affected with proper plant care.

A common type of berry is its dark green color with light stripes.

Chemical composition, calorie content

It is often included in the diet menu, because it is more than 80% water... Office workers and people leading a sedentary lifestyle can afford a fairly large amount of this fruit.

Its pulp contains 27 to 38 calories per 100 grams.

It contains (nutritional value 100 grams):

  • proteins - 0.7 g;
  • fats - 0.2 g;
  • carbohydrates - 13 g (mainly fructose).

The pulp of the fruit is rich in vitamins:

  • retinol;
  • pectin;
  • thiamine;
  • folic acid;
  • vitamin B9;
  • potassium.

Minerals:

  • magnesium;
  • phosphorus;
  • iodine;
  • fluorine and cobalt.

Giant Watermelon Berry:

Benefit

The rich composition has a beneficial effect on almost the entire human body. It can be eaten by pregnant women, as well as by diseases of the kidneys, intestines, cardiovascular system and anemia.

You can also use pumpkin to relieve headaches, just apply a fresh crust to the forehead and temples for 7 minutes.

If after the holidays hangover torments, you need to taste a little watermelon.

It is also used to improve skin condition by adding pulp to various body and face masks.


Harm

Naturally grown plants are very beneficial... Unfortunately, they are often made using nitrates, which accelerate growth.

A person in good health, when eating such a fruit, may not notice the negative effect.

A healthy body gradually accumulates harmful substances, which at any time can manifest themselves in the form of weakness, insomnia and nervous disorders. Immunity may deteriorate sharply.

A person with digestive tract problems, a small child or a pregnant woman can almost immediately feel unwell, manifested by a deterioration in the general condition, vomiting and nausea.

Small children should be given this delicacy with caution., not earlier than a year.

This must be done gradually, you can pour the squeezed juice into a spoon for the child and monitor the baby's condition, because it can cause allergies.


You can not eat the fruits of the plant if you suffer from:

  • impaired renal function;
  • diabetes;
  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

There are several ways to save you from possible infections and poisoning:

  • in no case acquire a pumpkin that has external disturbances - cracks and cuts;
  • do not buy cut pieces, even if they are packed in cling film;
  • rinse the purchased watermelons thoroughly with soapy water, otherwise microorganisms can affect the rest of the products in the house;
  • make a purchase in the ripening season of late vegetables and fruits, starting from mid-August, ending in September.

You can check the ripeness of the watermelon by pressing on the fruit, if the bark is bursting, it is ripe.

You can make sure that there are no nitrates by dropping a little pulp into the water, if it turns pink - you should refrain from using it, if the water has only become cloudy, you can not be afraid.

About the benefits and harms of a false berry and the rules for choosing it:

Recipes with this fruit

Fruit icecream

To get a popular delicacy, it is enough to have equal amounts of sugar and fruit pulp in the house.

Preparation:

  • grind the pulp and granulated sugar in a blender;
  • pouring into molds;
  • insert wooden or plastic sticks;
  • leave in the refrigerator for 8-9 hours.

Watermelon and apple puree

To prepare this dish, you need to take 6kg of watermelon and 2kg of apples.

Preparation:

  • wash the fruits thoroughly;
  • cut off the skin, remove the seeds, cut the pulp into pieces;
  • extract the core and hard parts from apples;
  • rub apples on a coarse grater;
  • mix the ingredients in an enamel saucepan and put on fire;
  • stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a boil;
  • as soon as the noise started to form - turn off the stove and let the dish cool;
  • put the cooled puree in jars.

Why are other interesting facts called that?

The modern name "watermelon" was borrowed from the Turkic "χarbuz", and it, in turn, from the Persian language. In Persian, χarbūza meant melon. The word melon was understood as "huge cucumber".

Watermelons come in various shapes: round, oval, spherical. If grown in a special form, they will grow in the shape of a heart or even a human face, but require delicate care.

Square watermelons have gained popularity in Japan. Initially, they were conceived for convenience when stored in a refrigerator, but often they did not mature and they began to be sold as souvenirs.

Nutritionists consider it possible to consume up to 2.5 kg of fruit per day for a healthy person.

Choline, which is part of the fetus, is able to suppress chronic inflammation. Its use improves immunity and health.

Interesting Watermelon Facts:

If we turn to dictionaries, then in them we will see that watermelon is called a perennial creeping plant of the pumpkin family or melons.

You can approach this issue scientifically and call the fruit a false berry.

In general, no matter how the product is named, it is only important what pleasure and benefit we get by using it.

Fruits, both ordinary and exotic, are an integral part and decoration of the New Year's table. But do you know how pineapples, avocado dates or the royal fruit - durian - grow?

So, where does the fruit grow for our New Year's tables. And not just fruits.

How bananas grow

Bananas are native to the tropics of Southeast Asia. As food, bananas are cultivated in the tropics. At temperatures below 16 C, growth slows down significantly, and at 10 C, it stops altogether.

Contrary to popular belief, bananas do not grow on palms. The banana plant is a 5m tall herb that looks like a palm tree. With a thick grassy trunk up to 20 centimeters.

In Russia, bananas grow in the vicinity of Sochi, but the fruits do not ripen to the point of being edible.

How olives grow

Olives are the fruits of a cultivated type of olive tree - European olives. This is an evergreen subtropical tree with a height of 4-5 (10-12) meters. (Photo by Francesco Quarto):

According to international terminology, there are black olives - the ripe fruits of the olive tree and green olives - the unripe fruits of the olive tree. In Russia olives are called green fruits (unripe), black olives are called olives (ripe). This division exists only in Russia.

How avocado grows

The English name for the avocado tree and the fruit of the same name is alligator pear. Avocado is a fast growing tree reaching a height of 18 meters. The trunk is usually straight and highly branched.

Avocado is an oval or spherical fruit, often similar to a pear 5–20 cm long, weighing 0.05–1.8 kg.

Where does durian grow

Durian is a tropical tree of the Malvaceae family, the fruit of which is a fruit famous for both its taste and smell. Durian is native to Southeast Asia.

Durian grows on tall trees up to 45 meters tall.

These are great rewards. They weigh more than 5 kg and have a very hard shell covered with thorns. To understand the scale of durian. (Photo Herald)

How watermelons grow

Watermelon is a plant of the pumpkin family. The homeland of the watermelon is South Africa, where it is still found in the wild. The watermelon was often placed in the tombs of the pharaohs as a source of food in their afterlife. Watermelons were brought to Western Europe during the era of the Crusades.

Watermelons grow almost like cucumbers. The fields are called melons, on which long lashes stretch along the ground. Watermelons are formed on them:

Interesting fact: the world record for the mass of watermelons is approximately 119 kilograms. (Photo by Kderty):

How does a mango grow

Mango is a genus of tropical plants and is the name of a fruit with a sweet taste and fibrous structure. This plant is one of the national symbols in India and Pakistan.

The evergreen mango tree is 10-45 meters high; the crown of the tree reaches a radius of 10 meters. Blooming mango tree:

Ripe fruits hang on long stems and weigh up to 2 kg.

Where do dates grow?

As you might guess, dates grow on the date palm. Since ancient times, dates have been used by humans as a highly valuable food product. Usually sold as dried fruits.

The date palm was grown in the 4th century BC. in Mesopotamia, on the territory of which modern Iraq is located. The date palm produces high yields for 60-80 years.

How papaya grows

Papaya is native to southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America, but is now grown in all tropical countries.

The papaya, or melon tree, is a short, slender tree with a thin, branchless trunk 5–10 meters high. Flowers develop in the axils of the leaves, turning into large fruits with a diameter of 10-30 cm and a length of 15-45 cm.

How the plum grows

In total, several hundred species of plum are known, distributed mainly in the northern temperate regions of the globe.

A plum tree is usually up to 6 meters high:

Blooming plum tree:

How grapefruit grows

Grapefruit is a subtropical evergreen citrus tree. The first botanist-priest Griffiths Hughes told the world about grapefruit in 1750. (Photo by СLHyke):

The name is derived from the English. grape (grapes) and fruit (fruit), as grapefruit fruits are often collected in bunches, thus resembling bunches of grapes. HDR photography. (Photo):

An evergreen tree is usually about 5-6 m in height, however, there have been cases when the height of the tree reached 13-15 m. Fruits reach 10-15 cm in diameter. The average period for the fruits to ripen is about 9-12 months. (Photo by Sarah Biggart):

Where does the pomegranate grow

Pomegranate is a genus of shrubs and small trees with thorny branches reaching a height of 5-6 meters.

Usually 50-60 kg of fruits are harvested from one tree. The tree lives for about 100 years.

Pomegranate comes from Persia, and its name in translation from Latin means "grainy", "faceted". According to an ancient legend, a pomegranate contains exactly the same number of grains as there are days in a year. But in fact, there can be more than a thousand seeds in a pomegranate.

Where the coconut grows

The scientific name of the genus comes from the Portuguese word coco ("monkey") and is given because of the spots on the nut that make it look like a monkey's face. The origin of the coconut palm is not exactly known - it is believed that it comes from Southeast Asia (Malaysia). Now it is ubiquitous in the tropics of both hemispheres.

Coconut palms are a tall tree (up to 27-30 meters). Trunk - 15-45 cm in diameter, leaves 3-6 meters long:

Coconuts grow in groups of 15-20, fully ripening within 8-10 months.

How pineapples grow

Pineapples grow in tropical South America and as far south as Argentina and Paraguay. Pineapple is a terrestrial plant with a thorny stem and leaves.

Slender rows. Pineapple plantation. (Photo by Estevam Cesar):

Pineapple collection. (Photo by Rahmat Hussain):

Pineapples weigh from 2 to 15 kg and outwardly resemble a big bump:

How oranges grow

Oranges grow on orange trees up to 4-6 to 12 meters high.

The homeland of the orange is Southeast Asia. European travelers brought the orange to Europe in the 15th century.

In Argentina, even a special aircraft was developed to transport oranges (FMA I.Ae. 38 Naranjero). Its name (Spanish Naranjero) translates as "Orange" or "Orange Dealer".

Round and square, giant and dwarf, red, yellow, orange and even black - it's all about watermelons! Do you want to know what the word "watermelon" means, why the watermelon is red, how to grow a square watermelon and other curious facts about these striped fruits? Then this article is for you!

1. Watermelon is 92% water. For comparison, the body of a jellyfish is about 95% water, the body of a newborn baby is 80%, and the body of an adult is 65-70%.

2. The pulp of watermelon contains 5.5-13% of easily digestible natural sugars. By the time of ripening, fructose and glucose predominate in it, and sucrose accumulates during storage of the watermelon. A ripe fruit is saturated with fructose, which does not cause an insulin stress in the pancreas. Therefore, small doses of watermelon can be consumed in diabetes mellitus.

3. The red color of the flesh of the watermelon is given by the carotenoid pigment lycopene. It contains more watermelon than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. The red pigment lycopene is also found in large quantities and determines the color of tomatoes, guava, grapefruit. Lycopene is a strong natural antioxidant, it is able to prevent the development of cancerous tumors, helps with male infertility, slows down the aging process, and reduces the risk of cancer of the prostate, uterus and esophagus in humans.

4. The Russian name for watermelon was derived from the Turkic word χarbuz / karpuz, which was borrowed from the Persian language. The word "harbuza" (χarbūza, χarbuza) in translation from Persian means "melon", and the literal meaning of this word is "a huge cucumber" or "a cucumber the size of a donkey."

5. The birthplace of watermelons is the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. There are still small wild watermelons (about the size of a tennis ball) and weighing about 200 grams. More than 4,000 years ago, watermelons began to be grown in ancient Egypt, as evidenced by images and seeds of watermelons found in Egyptian tombs. Interestingly, the Egyptians often placed watermelons in the tombs of the pharaohs as a source of food in their afterlife. Later, watermelons began to be cultivated in Persia (Iran), Arabia, India and other countries of Asia with a dry and hot climate.

6. Watermelons were brought to Western Europe during the era of the Crusades about 700-900 years ago. Watermelons came to Russia from eastern and southern countries by sea through Astrakhan. But sowing them, and not importing them from other countries, began only in the middle of the 17th century. At that distant time, watermelons were not eaten fresh. While watermelons were brought to the royal table from abroad for a long time, they lost their freshness and became unsuitable for fresh consumption. Therefore, watermelons were eaten only after prolonged soaking and cooking in sugar syrup with spices and pepper! Even when they began to grow watermelons in Russia, they were not consumed fresh for a long time, but served in palaces soaked in sugar syrup.

7. Vietnam has an interesting tradition. During the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) celebrations, watermelons are always served on the table. It is believed that the red color of the watermelon symbolizes good luck. And watermelon seeds are used as a snack.

8. In Ukraine, in the Kherson region (on the Dnepropetrovsk-Kherson highway) there is a monument to a watermelon. Kherson watermelons have long been famous throughout Ukraine and abroad.

9. Is watermelon a berry, fruit or vegetable? There is a widespread belief that watermelon is the largest berry known to science. In fact, the fruit of a watermelon is a multi-seeded succulent pumpkin (lat.pepo, peponium). Morphologically (in structure), pumpkin is similar to a berry, but differs from it in a large number of seeds and in the structure of the pericarp (the walls of the fruit of the plant surrounding the seeds). Therefore, from the point of view of botany, it is not entirely correct to call the fruit of a watermelon a berry. Common watermelon (lat.Citrúllus lanátus) is an annual herb, a melon crop of the Pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae).

10. Today there are more than 1200 varieties of watermelons, which are grown in 96 countries around the world. These are mainly countries with warm climates.

11. Watermelons need a hot climate and a long ripening period. They are planted after the ground warms up and there is no longer any chance of frost. Watermelons grow well in steppe and Mediterranean climates with long hot and dry summers and mild short winters.

12. World production of melons (watermelons, melons, pumpkins) is growing. China takes the first place in the world in the production and sale of watermelons due to its huge agricultural land, cheap labor and hard work of the Chinese. Turkey is in second place by a margin of almost 17 times.

Top 10 countries in which the most watermelons are grown (according to 2007 data):

1. China - 63 million tons
2.Turkey - 3.8 million tons
3.Iran - 3.3 million tons
4. Brazil - 2 million tons
5. USA - 1.9 million tons
6. Egypt - 1.9 million tons
7.Russia - 1 million tons
8. Mexico - 1 million tons
9. Uzbekistan - 840 thousand tons
10.Republic of Korea - 741 thousand tons

13. The shape, size and color of a watermelon can vary greatly from variety to variety. Watermelons can be spherical, oval, flattened, or cylindrical. The color of the peel of a watermelon varies from white and yellow to dark green with a pattern in the form of stripes, spots, mesh. And the pulp is red, pink, raspberry, but sometimes there are watermelons with yellow or even orange pulp.

14. Yellow watermelons are the result of crossing a wild yellow watermelon (which cannot be eaten) with a regular one. Now watermelons with yellow flesh are grown in Spain and Thailand. In Spain, they grow in summer and are round in shape. And in Thailand, they are grown in winter and have an oval shape. In Thailand, yellow watermelons are especially popular (especially among the Chinese who buy them there) and cost 2 times more than ordinary watermelons, since it is believed that yellow symbolizes gold and wealth.

15. Experiments on the breeding of yellow watermelons were carried out in Ukraine. Ukrainian breeders have obtained a special hybrid "Kavbuz", which is yellow inside, looks like a pumpkin and tastes like a pumpkin, and resembles a watermelon in aroma. This variety is most suitable for preparing porridge.

16. And breeders have also brought out a black watermelon! This unique watermelon belongs to the rare Densuke variety and is grown only on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. The harvest of black watermelons is usually up to 10,000 pieces per year. Densuke's main differences are its smooth dark skin without the usual stripes for a watermelon and a taste that is unlike other varieties of watermelons. Black watermelons have a strong crumbly pink pulp, fewer seeds and differ from ordinary watermelons in the degree of sweetness. The fruits of black watermelons are round in shape and can weigh up to 11 kilograms. In Japan, black watermelons are considered a luxury and are usually presented as a gift. Their average cost in the market and in the store is about $ 250! And in June 2008, one of the first grown specimens of black watermelon weighing 8 kilograms was sold at auction for 650,000 Japanese yen (6,300 dollars)! This watermelon is arguably the most expensive watermelon ever sold in Japan and worldwide.

17. Another Japanese invention is square watermelons. For the first time, cubic watermelons were bred about 30 years ago in Kagawa Prefecture on the Japanese island of Shikoku. Then they appeared in the UAE, Brazil, Great Britain and other European countries. Regular round watermelons often roll around and are inconvenient to store in the refrigerator or transport. Therefore, Japanese farmers came up with the idea of ​​placing the watermelon ovary in special glass boxes in the shape of a cube. In the process of growing, the fruits took the form of boxes, which, by the way, were the same size as the shelves of Japanese refrigerators. Moreover, the taste of such watermelons is no different from ordinary ones. Everyone can grow a square watermelon at their dacha. To do this, place the watermelon ovary in a transparent box (glass or plastic) when it reaches the size of a tennis ball. The box must have dimensions of at least 20x20x20 cm, a tight-fitting lid, good ventilation and slots for whips. In a similar way, you can grow pyramidal or cone-shaped watermelons, and not only watermelons, but also melons, pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers. Square watermelons are more convenient to transport and store, they fit easily on the refrigerator shelf, take up less space and do not roll off the table. Growing them is more profitable from a financial point of view. In addition, they look original, so in Japan such fruits are used for window dressing and interiors. Only square watermelons are much more expensive than ordinary ones - from 50 to 300 dollars, but at the same time they are in great demand.

18. The average weight of a watermelon ranges from 5 to 10 kg, although it can be less and more. And the largest watermelon in the world was grown in the USA. American farmer Lloyd Bright from Arkansas in 2005 grew a watermelon of the Carolina Cross variety (Carolina Cross) weighing 122 kilograms (and this is the average weight of two adults)! In the spring of 2006, this watermelon was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. And the largest watermelon grown in Europe weighed 61.4 kg. This watermelon of the "Russian size" variety was grown by the farmer Igor Likhosenko from the Temryuk region (Krasnodar Territory, Russia) in 2009. It was rumored that the fruit was grafted onto a pumpkin with a more developed root system, and this provided the watermelon with additional nutrition and growth.

19. However, in addition to huge watermelons, there are also dwarf watermelons. In South America, they grow small watermelons only 3-4 centimeters long, called Pepquinos. They taste like fresh cucumber and are often used in expensive restaurants to prepare various salads, sorbet or as an appetizer. They were discovered and brought to Europe in 1987 by the Dutch company Koppert Cress, which then began to produce their seeds for sale. These mini watermelons have recently begun to be grown in the United States and Asia, but they are already very popular.

20. The people believe that there are "boys" and "girls" watermelons, and that "girls" watermelons are supposedly sweeter and have fewer seeds. In fact, this is a myth, especially considering that the watermelon is a monoecious plant (that is, the female and male flowers are on the same individual). The flowers of watermelons are unisexual, that is, they have either stamens (male flowers) or pistils (female flowers). And since there are only stamens on male flowers, no fruit is formed on them. In fact, all the fruits of watermelons are female, since the fruit is formed from the pistil of a flower.

21. Watermelon is a low-calorie product. 100 grams of watermelon contains only 30-38 calories. In addition, watermelon is a healthy dietary product. There is even a so-called "watermelon diet" (or "watermelon fasting"), which helps to lose weight, cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, and improve the functioning of the digestive system.

22. Nutritionists believe that in the absence of contraindications, an adult can consume 2-2.5 kg of fresh watermelons per day.

23. You can cook many tasty and healthy dishes from watermelon: various salads, gazpacho, juice, sherbet, jam and candied fruits from watermelon peels, watermelon honey, and also original ice for drinks. Canned, salted, pickled watermelons.

24. A special honey "nardek" is made from the pulp of a watermelon. It is prepared by evaporating watermelon juice obtained from the pulp of ripe watermelons to the density of honey. To get just 1 kg of watermelon honey, you need 16-17 kg of sweet watermelon pulp! Only for diabetics it is better not to eat nardek, as it contains at least 60% sugar.

25. Asian carving artists often use watermelons to carve incredible sculptures and flowers. Carving (from the English "carving" - "cutting") is the art of artistic cutting of fruits and vegetables. Carving originated in China 2,000 years ago, and in 1364 such jewelry began to be carved in Thailand. Until 1932, this art form was used only to decorate royal ceremonies. Now the art of carving for vegetables and fruits has been mastered in different countries of the world.

To the question Where does the wild watermelon grow? ? Where does he come from? given by the author Adapt the best answer is For the first time, watermelons appeared in southern Africa. In the same place, in the wild, they are found to this day.
Watermelon is a typical African plant. This is an annual creeping herb covered with dissected leaves. This herb grows an incredible size of fruit - that is, a juicy berry with many seeds.
In essence, melons, pumpkins, and cucumbers, to which the watermelon is the closest relative, are the same.
When, in rainy years, giant berries covered with a hard crust grow on African land, covered with serpentine grasses with predatory leaves that look like snake tongues, and these green balls lie everywhere among the thickets - some truly alien landscape is created.

By the time the watermelon berries ripen, the legs that they hold onto have time to dry out. A stream of wind tears the fruits off and drives them many kilometers ahead. Sometimes dozens of green balls can be seen racing against each other.
The watermelon berry is literally created by nature to travel long distances. The fruit of a wild watermelon is small, the size of a tennis ball, but even such an area acts like a sail in the wind. And its spherical shape is optimal for movement.
As a result, the watermelon develops a great speed - it hits a tree or a stone - and flies apart with a crash, spraying pulp with seeds around itself.
However, one should not regret the lost fruits, because they were exactly what they were trying to achieve.
Some people naively believe that the watermelon is so delicious to make it more pleasant for us to eat. In fact, nature did not care about people. The flesh of the watermelon needs to be sweet - and sticky - in order to adhere the seeds to the soil. Otherwise, they can be carried away by the wind.
Seeds that have fallen to the soil germinate quickly.

Answer from Secret buyer[guru]
The answer is obvious ... in the Wild West 🙂


Answer from To enlighten[guru]
The wild watermelon was born in the deserts of Africa. Unlike melons and pumpkins, the genus Citrullus does not differ in the variety of species: there are only three of them. But what cosmopolitanism is! The famous "king of the desert", a wild colocynth from Namib and Kalahari, managed to occupy almost all the known deserts of Central Asia, Africa, India and even Australia.
This powerful perennial "octopus", covering huge volumes of soil, is not afraid of any heat. Numerous small fruits ripen in the desert hell for more than six months, and when torn off, they can remain for a couple of months. Almost all of them are bitter and poisonous. But there are also sweet ones. They say that it was they who helped people cross the desert, for which the colocynth was domesticated.
In America there is another kind - citron watermelon. In addition to wild varieties, he produced fodder and candied varieties rich in pectin.
But our main species is woolly watermelon. It is his endless table varieties that the whole world overeats. The first table forms appeared, apparently, in Egypt. Over thousands of years in different countries, different varietal groups have developed - from fodder to gourmet dessert, from long to flattened, with red, orange and yellow flesh, with almost white, striped or dark green bark, stored for six months or not stored at all.
And in India, watermelon is called tarmelon, in Turkey - karpuz, in Iran - herboza. Obviously, he came to us from Central Asia. But the Ukrainians call it the same as the Egyptians: kavun. What would that mean? ...
Asian watermelon has traditionally been varied in quality and appearance. The Russians have tightened the selection, created varieties with leveled fruits, and adapted them to local conditions. This is how the European, Russian, Transcaucasian groups of varieties appeared.
The Russian group was selected in our southern steppes. The selection was for drought resistance, size and sweetness. This is how the ancestors of the famous Astrakhan and South Ukrainian varieties appeared. Later, the Europeans adapted our watermelons to a more humid climate and good care - they made them more powerful, more moisture-loving and even more aligned.
East Asian varietal groups are a separate song. They were formed in a more humid climate, in the conditions of the highest agronomic culture of China, Korea and Japan. Their features are exceptional sweetness and tenderness, thin-bore, strict alignment, a variety of shapes and colors of the pulp, resistance to powdery mildew. In the conditions of the harsh Primorye, very early ripening forms arose later, maturing in 60-70 days.
Americans have created their watermelons over the past hundred and fifty years, taking the best from the Japanese, Europeans and Russians. The result is transportable, mostly oval, sweet, grainy, tasty. Many are resistant to fungal diseases - fusarium and anthracnose.
In 1938, during the unprecedented upsurge in our vegetable growing, we were already sowing several American varieties. And from ours - mainly varieties of old selection: Bykovsky, Astrakhansky, Monastyrsky, Melitopolsky, as well as Lyubimets of the Pyatigorsk farm - we will mention it later.
Over the past thirty years, the breeding of watermelons and melons has made a huge breakthrough: super-early hybrids with sharply increased productivity and improved taste, including seedless ones, have appeared. Now they are grown all over the world and are confidently conquering our markets. Ripen in 55-60 days, ripen well in Siberia and the Non-Black Earth Region. Calling melons southern plants is now somehow strange!