Don’t Pick the Pretty Watermelon

Every weekend I go to our local farmers market. I pick pretty plums and peaches, unblemished apples, and freshly picked berries. But, when it comes to choosing a watermelon – ugly and blemished is best.

My family and friends know me as the perfect melon picker. I can spot a sweet and ripe watermelon from the entire bin. I have even had people say, “are you sure you want that watermelon?”

So, let’s go through the Top Five things to look for when picking your next amazing watermelon.

Below, I have two fun ideas to do with watermelon to spruce up you melon game.

#1: Choose the Female

Sorry guys, but the girl melon produces the sweetest taste.

The woman is the round ones, the tall ones are the males.

#2: Heavy and Hollow

You have to pick up your watermelon. It has to feel heavy which indicates it has a lot of water. Nothing worse than cutting open a dry watermelon.

While holding the watermelon, put it to your ear and give it a thump. It should sound hollow, like there is no one on the other side of the door.

#3: Look for Ripe Stem

A brown stem means it is the ripest. A stem that is very green means the farmer picked it before it was fully ripe.

#4: Look for a Yellow Bottom

Choose a watermelon with a large yellow area. This mean it sat well in the dirt and received goo nourishment through it’s growth process.

#5: The Kiss of Bees Markings

Bees are a watermelon’s best friend. During the flowering process of a new watermelon, the more bees that “kissed” or pollenated the watermelon the better. Watermelons show these kiss marks with a webbing of brown puncture dots.

 

Make a Watermelon Cake and Pizza

Watermelon Fruit Cake

 

Watermelon Pizza