To get a good harvest of watermelons, you need to take care of the seedlings in May. When three leaves appear on the plant, it can be transplanted into open ground or a greenhouse. This moment usually falls at the end of May or the 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 to a greater or lesser extent depending on weather conditions and the type of berry. If it has been hot all summer, then the first harvest will not be long in coming. The size of the fruit does not yet indicate its ripeness, so you should learn how to determine the maturity of a watermelon.

How to determine ripeness

You can determine the ripeness of a green berry in the garden by the peel. When the maturation process begins, it turns from matte to shiny. A good indicator of ripeness are scratches on the watermelon. She remains from the beak of crows. Birds will not peck at 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. In order to prevent overripe, or vice versa, not to pick a green watermelon, you should pay attention to the stalk. It must be dry.

A dry stem 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 a small yellow side with which the watermelon was in contact with the ground. It will be an indicator of the maturity of the watermelon. The tapping method is also practiced. True, it must be carried out several times in different periods of time. During the ripening period, all watermelons will make a ringing sound. Therefore, you need to knock on a watermelon, and then repeat it 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 an empty, dull sound, so you should be especially careful.

A ripe watermelon has a bright, distinctly patterned, and very tough rind. If you can easily pierce it with your fingernail, then the watermelon should not be plucked, let it ripen. The rind thickens to retain moisture inside the fruit. When patting a ripe watermelon, it will even spring slightly.

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

"How to choose a watermelon?" - a question arises in the minds of thousands of people as soon as the green-striped beauties begin to appear on the shelves of shops and markets. The task is not easy, but solvable.

It is enough just to remember a few proven ways to identify a ripe and sweet watermelon.

There are a number of characteristics that will help you choose a truly ripe and sweet specimen from a pile of alluring striped fruits. Here is the cherished list:

• size;
• a spot on the side;
• safety;
• tapping sound;
• color and structure of the pulp;
• season;
• the appearance of the crust;
• "half" of watermelon.

In addition, there are quite popular "signs" of watermelon ripeness among the people, which do not really work and will not help you in such a task as choosing a ripe watermelon. The most common of these is the myth that a ripe watermelon should have a dry tail.

Many try to choose a fruit that is not too large. Someone fears that it will be too heavy and difficult to carry, and some are afraid that the watermelon has become large only because of the abundance of nitrates in it.

But after all, varieties of watermelons are different, and in some varieties, the size of the fruit can reach 20 kilograms. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to give preference to a medium-sized watermelon. The rule of the golden mean works in this case too.

Ripe watermelon do not hide "cheeks"

For reference: the “cheek” is a small light spot on the side of a watermelon, which forms in the place where the watermelon lay when ripe. The spot is not a sign of illness or immaturity, just that the sun has not touched this area of ​​​​the crust.

So, in how to choose a good watermelon, a look at the light spot on the rind will help. Everything is simple here: the more yellow it has, the better.

But buying a watermelon with a white circle on its side, you run the risk of running into a tasteless product.

The size of the spot also requires attention. Be aware that a large spot indicates that the watermelon has been ripening for a long time in not too warm conditions. Because of this, the fruit loses its taste and becomes less juicy.

When buying a watermelon in the market or from the back of a car on the side of the road, pay special attention to this characteristic.

Watermelon should never have the following flaws:

• cracks;
• dents;
• incisions;
• rotted areas (even very small ones!).

The fact is that the juicy and nutritious pulp of a watermelon is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which, together with air and roadside dust, can get inside in abundance.

Eating watermelon with such a surprise can lead to poisoning and gastrointestinal upset. The same applies to cut watermelons, so do not try to save money by buying not a whole watermelon, but only a half. Such frugality can cost you dearly.

The most commonly used method for testing watermelon for ripeness is tapping. Yes, here's the problem: everyone knocks, but few people remember what the sound of a ripe fruit should be. So remember: a ripe and juicy watermelon makes a sonorous, booming sound, and an unripe one makes a deaf sound.

An overripe watermelon also sounds dull, in which there is already too much moisture and it has begun to sour. It is also better to refuse such a purchase. Thus, a voiced sound is good, a deaf sound is bad.

To be sure, you can also squeeze the copy you like with your hands. A slight crackle indicates readiness for use. The main thing is not to overdo it.

The color and structure of the pulp

And this is already a characteristic that will help you determine the ripeness of the fruit after cutting it. If the purchase is made in a supermarket, you can see watermelon halves on the counter.

They are wrapped in cling film, which almost eliminates the ingress of bacteria into the pulp, and gives you the opportunity to study the product in detail. So, how to choose a delicious watermelon by the appearance of the pulp?

Two main positions can be distinguished: color and structure. The color of the pulp should be pinkish.

The scarlet color indicates the presence of nitrates or that the watermelon is overripe. Both are not in his favor. The structure should be porous, granular. Such watermelons are sometimes referred to as "sugar".

sale season

As a rule, watermelons start selling almost from the beginning of summer. However, if you want to get enough of a real southern fruit, and not a product of chemicals, you will have to wait until about mid-August.

Of course, there are also early varieties, but it still takes time to transport them. You may be lucky and the July watermelon will indeed turn out to be sweet, but it is not known how useful it will be.

Ripe watermelon is easy to distinguish among fellows, paying attention to the appearance of the peel.

Here A few key features of a delicious watermelon:

• the stripes forming the pattern must be clear;
• the peel is glossy;
• the crust is hard, it is impossible to damage it without effort;
• when the colored layer of the peel is damaged, a recognizable smell of fresh grass appears.

Signs indicating immaturity or disease of the fetus:

• the pattern is broken or uncharacteristic, the stripes are blurry;
• dullness of the peel;
• the crust can be easily damaged even with a fingernail.

Choose watermelon with more space between the stripes, as they are considered to be sweeter.

"Sex" of watermelon

It is believed that girl watermelons are sweeter than boy watermelons, although the division itself is arbitrary. How to choose a watermelon girl? It is enough to look at the speck left in the place where the flower once was.

If the spot is flat and rather large, then it is a girl. In male watermelons, the spot is convex and smaller in size.

This division has nothing to do with biology and exists only to simplify the selection process. Indeed, watermelons-girls in practice turn out to be more juicy and sweet. There is an assumption that this is due to the characteristics of pollination.

Is a dry tail a sign of ripeness?

It is believed that when a watermelon, ripening, can no longer take in nutrients and moisture, and under its own weight separates from the bush. In general, the theory is correct, but it is broken by the fact that, in practice, watermelon can be separated from the food path before cutting.

And the tail dries out in 3 days, so a green watermelon with a dry tail may well lie on the counter.

If you still do not want to give up this method, pay attention to the tip of the tail. Even with a dried stalk, you can determine whether it was cut or broken off naturally.

All characteristics listed above are general.

It does not hurt to highlight several varieties of watermelons that fall on the tables more often than others, and emphasize their features.

1. Watermelons Kherson. Kherson sugar watermelons never grow too large, their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If you are shown a twenty-kilogram giant and they say that he is from Kherson, do not believe it. It is either of a different variety, or grew on some nitrates. The appearance of watermelons of this variety is classic: bright light stripes, an oblong shape, soft pinkish flesh and a rather thin peel.
2. Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really big. The weight of one copy on average can vary from 10 to 17 kg. In addition, watermelons of this variety are able to withstand long-term transportation. They are also grown in the south of Russia. In appearance, they resemble Kherson ones, but they are distinguished by a thick skin and a large weight.
3. hybrid chill. The peculiarity of watermelons of this variety is that they can be stored for a very long time, until the New Year. It is only necessary to provide the fetus with comfortable storage conditions. To do this, place it in a dry, dark place. However, representatives of this variety appear on the market only in early September, as they ripen late.
4. Skorik. Watermelons of this variety are early and appear on the shelves among the first. You can distinguish them by the dark green uniform color of the skin and low weight - no more than 7 kg.
5. Photon. It also applies to early varieties and differs from Skorik only in that it has a light skin with pronounced stripes.

Market or shop?

Wherever you buy this juicy berry, this place must meet certain requirements. Both for the market and for the supermarket they have their own.

Watermelon on the market

To begin with, it should be noted that the market does not mean a spontaneous accumulation of tents near your entrance, but a territory specially designated for this purpose. And the tents by the road are not even considered, since buying a watermelon in them, you can get severe poisoning instead of enjoying the taste.

So, The following requirements must be met by the owner of a trading place engaged in the sale of watermelons:

• the presence of a canopy that protects watermelons from direct sunlight;
• distance from the roadway;
• the storage tray is located at a height of at least 20 cm from the ground;
• availability of a certificate of the Epidemiological Surveillance Service for each batch of goods.

Watermelon in the store

When buying a watermelon in a store check the following points:

• watermelons are not stored outdoors, under the sun or near the roadway;
• storage pallets are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor and do not have any damage;
• availability of the necessary documents for the purchase of goods from trusted suppliers.

Now you know what the perfect watermelon looks like, and you can safely go in search of it. And where to buy and which variety to choose - it's up to you.

Mother of two children. I have been running a household for more than 7 years - this is my main job. I like to experiment, I constantly try various means, methods, techniques that can make our life easier, more modern, richer. I love my family.

Many do not know, but according to experts, watermelons are divided, relatively speaking, by gender.

There are boys and girls. Which one of them can be found out when you cut the watermelon.

Those that are sweeter and contain fewer seeds are "girls".

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

We are ordinary gardeners, these disputes are of little interest, the most important thing for us to know is ripe watermelon or not.

Gardeners - amateurs 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 is usually regular in shape, that is, it has a slightly elongated ball shape.

• The fruit should not be small, preferably an average of 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, they may contain a large amount of harmful nitrates.

• Also, the maturity of the watermelon is indicated by its tail. In ripe and sweet, it is dried up. On the shelves of such, appear after mid-August. If the tail is greenish and not dried up, then it was removed when it was not ripe.

• The crust should not be damaged (dents, cracks, spots). Such a watermelon, even if ripe, loses its taste. May be sour.

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

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

We place it in a grid and hang it in a dark place with a temperature not higher than + 5C. The watermelon should not be in contact with the wall or anything else.

With proper storage, you can enjoy watermelon for the new year.

If anyone else is interested in the gender of a watermelon, then it is determined by the ass. In the “girls” watermelon, it is flatter and has a large spot, while in the “boys” it has a recess inward, and goes into a small point.

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

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

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

Seal the hole and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

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

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 delay 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.

There is about a week left before the official start of the season for the sale of watermelons, however, 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 breakups in most cases cannot present either a trade permit or quality certificates.

Permission to trade melons will be valid from 1 August . 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 will definitely ripen.

The number of gourd breaks in the capital this summer will be almost two times less compared to last year - total 450 . In addition, retail outlets will operate under the 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. Sales 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, in slices.

In addition, visual information about the operating hours of the outlet and the legal address of the trade organization should be placed on the tray or collapse.

To be on the safe side, it's best not to buy watermelons from "spontaneous" markets where products are not checked by sanitary services, and always ask if they have documents. And even more so, you should not buy at the breakups near the roads: there the products absorb toxins.

Some producers stimulate the ripening of gourds 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 "cumulative effect".

How to identify a nitrate "bomb"

It is impossible to determine a nitrate watermelon by eye if it is not cut. A berry is not even worth trying if its flesh is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers or has a purple hue.

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

If you knock on a nitrate watermelon, it feels like you are hitting a half-mast ball. In appearance, such a watermelon may be ripe, but if it does not crack when compressed, it means that it has not ripened without someone else's "help"

What should a watermelon 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.

The ideal watermelon should be large enough without being too heavy and with a distinct 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 must be dry.

The purchased watermelon should not have cuts and cracks - through which microbes enter, causing intestinal infections.

There is a myth that a ripe watermelon should ring if you pat it with your palm. In fact, the sound depends on whether the pulp inside has softened or not. Just the green fruit will ring, and the ripe watermelon should be deaf.

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

The earth spot on the lower side should preferably be yellow, not white.

And the last. 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, connoisseurs 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 can 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 useful?

There is conflicting information about the benefits of watermelons. Some say that the fiber of watermelons contains potassium, which is washed out of the body when taking diuretic drugs. Therefore, watermelons are advised to be consumed in diseases such as cystitis and nephritis.

At the same time, there is an opinion that all gourds, although they contain fiber, are poorly absorbed, loading the stomach. That is why doctors advise children and the elderly over 50 to give up juicy fruits.

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