18 Facts About Watermelons

1. The watermelon is believed to be indigenous to southern Africa.

2. The scientific name for watermelon is Citrullus lanatus of the family Cucurbitaceae.

3. The word “watermelon” made its first appearance in the English Dictionary in 1615.

4. It takes three months before a watermelon can be harvested: one month for the vine to grow, another month for the first watermelons to appear, and then one more to ripen!

5. There are more than 1,200 known varieties of watermelons in existence, which range differently in size and flesh colour (red, yellowish and white).

6. Seedless watermelons are actually not seedless. Seedless melons contain two different types of seeds which is a result of crossing a female tetraploid plant with diploid pollen, creating a sterile plant (which does not germinate).

7. The “ice-box” watermelon is a smaller variety of watermelon with red or yellow flesh.

8. Japan produces cube-shaped melons by growing them in a glass box or mould. Pyramid shaped melons have also been developed.

9. Watermelon is approximately 6% sugar, and 92% water by weight.

10. Because watermelon is fat free, low in cholesterol and full of fibre, it is considered to be the perfect health food.

11. Watermelons are also a great source of Vitamin C.

12. Watermelon rind is edible – it is used as a vegetable in some Asian countries.

13. For example, watermelon rind is stir-fried, stewed and pickled in Chinese cuisine.

14. Vietnamese culture consumes watermelon seeds as a Vietnamese New Years holiday snack.

15. Watermelon is a mild diuretic.

16. Watermelons are often instrumental in different sports. John Allwood is the current Guinness World Record holder for Melon Head Smashing, which is smashing or cracking a watermelon open with the head only (no hands) – the current record is 47 melons in 1 minute. The Guinness World Record for Melon Pip Spitting is currently 21 metres and is held in Texas (USA).

17. On 17 April 2007, Oklahoma State Senate passed a Bill naming watermelons as the official state vegetable, which created some controversy as watermelon is a fruit.

18. The citrulline in watermelon (primarily found in the rind) is a known stimulator of nitric acid. Nitric acid relaxes and expands blood vessels and can increase libido.