How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the leg, by the sound

Summer is a huge assortment of berries, fruits and vegetables that can be eaten fresh right from the garden. Watermelon is one of the brightest and favorite berries of the summer season, because adults and children love the juicy sugar pulp of watermelon. Watermelon juice perfectly refreshes on a hot summer day, quenches thirst and is a storehouse of vitamins: pectin and fiber, potassium and magnesium, folic acid and iron.

How to understand that the watermelon is ripe

Most often, watermelons are consumed fresh, but today there are many recipes for successfully marinating and fermenting it in tubs. Watermelon peel becomes the basis for the manufacture of candied fruits, and some craftsmen make honey from its juice. It is much easier to choose a ripe sugar watermelon in the garden than on the store counter. How to accurately determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden and in the store will be discussed in this article.

A fully ripe watermelon has the shape of a slightly elongated ball. If we talk about the weight of the finished product, then the berry should not be light and at the same time too heavy. The optimal weight of a ripe fruit is from 8 to 12 kg. Small watermelons will often be underripe. But when buying on the market, refrain from purchasing watermelon, the weight of which is over 12 kg, since often such specimens are obtained as a result of abundant fertilizer, which is not good for humans. If we consider the ripening period of the berry, then mid-August is the very milestone when the probability of buying a magnificent sugar watermelon is highest. When choosing a ripe berry, you need to be guided by several basic visual indicators:

• spot on the side;
• “Ass” of watermelon;
• the appearance of the crust;
• tail condition;
• sound resonance.

A small yellowish spot on the barrel of the berry is formed due to contact with the ground. Its presence confirms the fact that the watermelon ripened precisely in the garden, and was not plucked unripe for “comfortable” transportation. The color of the spot should be from yellow to dark orange, but a white tint or green indicates that the fruit is not ripe.

Watermelon is a bisexual berry, and therefore the gender of the watermelon matters. According to many consumers, the female fruit will be sweeter, and there will be fewer seeds in it than the “boy”. Outwardly, the “girl” has a flatter lower part and a wide circle, while the “boys” are characterized by a deeper lower part and a very small circle.

We determine by the crust

Let’s consider how to accurately determine the ripeness of a watermelon by its “clothes”, that is, the peel. Watermelon peel should not have cracks, spots and dents, and the skin is very hard to the touch. The fact is that as soon as the ripened fruit breaks off on its own from the branch, the flow of moisture to it stops, and the peel quickly hardens. If the watermelon is really “ready”, then it will definitely not work to pierce it with a fingernail, but you can remove the thin top layer very easily. Another sign of ripeness is the absence of a wax coating on the peel, which glistens beautifully in the sun.

Pay attention to the contrast of colors, how clearly the black-green stripes of the berry are visible. In the process of growth, like most plants, it needs nutrients. Some things are introduced by man, while others are given to the growing “organism” by nature itself. Chlorophyll is what makes the bark of the berry green and provides glucose. As soon as the fruit ripens, chlorophyll production stops and the color slowly changes to yellow. Therefore, if the “combat” color of the berry is bright and contrasting, it means that during the growth process there was a lot of sun and heat, which is what the plant needs for comfortable development.

Video “Determining for sweetness and ripeness”

We distinguish ripeness by the tail

The ripeness of a watermelon can be determined by the tail. When the fruit reaches maturity, the stalk (tail) and the junction with the fruit begin to dry out. A dry tail and dry edges of the stalk circle are a sure sign of a ripe watermelon. But very often melons are harvested unripe, so that it is more convenient to transport, especially over long distances. However, the tail should be moderately dry, as an overdried version indicates that the melon was harvested many weeks ago. The absence of a stalk, as a result of the seller’s activities, indicates that the watermelon is definitely not ripe.

How to understand by sound

As you can see, buying a ripe fruit is not difficult if you conduct a careful visual inspection and “slap” it a little. A juicy berry will be a wonderful dessert on a summer day and will only benefit you and your household.

Can you understand by the sound of a ripe watermelon that the seller offers you to buy? Of course you can, if you conduct a small experiment, available to every buyer. It should resonate due to the empty micro pockets in the sugar pulp of the fruit. To check whether the specimen chosen for you resonates, place a berry in the palm of your left hand, and with your right palm slap the fruit on the barrels. So, a ripe berry will let sound through, and you will feel the rebound of your clap in your left hand.

Video “How to determine ripeness”

To find out if this crop has ripened in your garden, we recommend watching the video clip that we have prepared especially for you.