- Recognize fruit ripeness by color
- The aural tapping test on watermelons
- Determining the ripeness of watermelons in your own garden
- tips and tricks
When fully ripe, the flesh of watermelons tastes slightly sweet and pleasantly refreshing. However, the fruits are not always harvested sufficiently ripe in the countries of origin.
Recognize fruit ripeness by color
Before watermelons end up on the fruit shelves of domestic supermarkets, they are usually transported here over long distances from the following countries:
- Spain
- Iran
- Turkey
- Israel
Since a few days or weeks can easily pass during transport, fruit that is not yet fully ripe is sometimes harvested. A glossy green color indicates immaturity in watermelons, while a dull green with web-like yellow components indicates advanced ripeness. A yellow spot on one side of the watermelon indicates whether the melon was harvested sufficiently ripe. This is by no means a quality defect, but forms where the watermelon rests on the ground when it is fully ripe.
The aural tapping test on watermelons
When tapping a watermelon, experts in the field of watermelon cultivation pay attention not only to the sound, but also to the exact echo of the impact vibrations. Basically, the relative heaviness compared to the size of the watermelon also indicates the degree of ripeness. If one of the watermelons of the same size seems heavier than others, it is the most ripe one. Tap the watermelon rind with your hand and listen for the precise sound. If this appears rather dull and light, it is likely to be a ripe fruit. A very dark and full sound, on the other hand, indicates a lack of maturity.
Determining the ripeness of watermelons in your own garden
If the watermelons grew directly in your garden or in the greenhouse, you can use additional indicators to determine the degree of ripeness. As the fruit begins to fully ripen, the ends of the stalks begin to crack slightly. In addition, without frost or drought, wilting leaves are an indication that the watermelons are ready for harvest.
tips and tricks
If you buy watermelons in the supermarket, then you should rather buy the symmetrically shaped and regular fruits. Dents in the otherwise regular form indicate a temporary undersupply of the plants with water or nutrients.