Little Known Facts About Watermelons

About 200-300 varieties of watermelons are grown n the U.S. and Mexico, although there are about 50 varieties that are very popular.

It is not known when the plant was first cultivated, but there is evidence of its cultivation in the Nile Valley from at least as early as the second millennium BC, as finds of the characteristically large seed are reported in Twelfth dynasty sites; numerous watermelon seeds were recovered from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Texas is among the USA’s largest watermelon producers today.

The common watermelon is often large enough that groceries often sell half or quarter melons these days.

In Japan, farmers found a way to grow cubic watermelons, by growing the fruits in glass boxes and letting them naturally assume the shape of the receptacle. The square shape is designed to make the melons easier to stack and store, but the square watermelons are often more than double the price of normal ones.

A fat, round watermelon can take up a lot of room in a refrigerator, and the usually round fruit often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves.

But clever Japanese farmers have solved this dilemma by forcing their watermelons to grow into a square shape. Farmers insert the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.

The square boxes are the exact dimensions of Japanese refrigerators, allowing full-grown watermelons to fit conveniently and precisely onto refrigerator shelves.

But cubic fruit comes with a caveat: Each square watermelon costs 10,000 yen, the equivalent of about $82.

Pyramid shaped watermelons have also been developed.

Watermelon juice can be made into wine.

The average Ice Box round watermelon weighs 5-15 lbs. On average, then, the typical watermelon is close to 8 pounds.

Links:

Watermelon

Square Watermelons

Square Watermelon Pictures

Nutritional Facts

How to Pick Out A Watermelon

National Watermelon Promotion Board

Source: Internet