If you’ve seen one watermelon, think again! With more than 1,200 varieties worldwide, watermelons are a testament to nature’s creativity. From their diverse sizes and colourful rinds to the varied sweetness of their juicy flesh, watermelons offer an endless spectrum of flavours and textures. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of this beloved fruit.
Sizes to Suit Every Need
Watermelons come in three main sizes, catering to different occasions and preferences:
1. Picnic Watermelons: The giants of the watermelon family, these hefty melons can feed a crowd, making them ideal for gatherings. Imagine a giant picnic watermelon gracing a church picnic, with enough juicy goodness to satisfy everyone.
2. Cannonball or Icebox Watermelons: Medium-sized and easy to manage, these watermelons fit perfectly in modern refrigerators. The name “cannonball” might sound old-fashioned, but the practicality of these melons ensures their continued popularity.
3. Personal or Mini Watermelons: The newest addition to the watermelon family, these small, personal-sized melons are perfect for individual consumption. Their compact size and sweetness have quickly won hearts.
The Intriguing Rind
The rind of a watermelon is as varied as its flesh. These outer skins come in shades of solid green, from light, dusty hues to almost-black tones. Some rinds feature striking patterns, such as the “snakeskin” green and light-green stripes of rattlesnake melons. A few varieties even surprise us with a colour transformation – starting green and turning yellow when ripe. The visual appeal of a watermelon’s rind is a hint of the treasure inside.
The Colourful Flesh
Inside, watermelons reveal their true splendor. Red might be the most common colour, but even within this spectrum, the shades range from deep crimson to pale pink. And that’s just the beginning. Watermelon flesh can also be yellow, orange, white, or even a mesmerizing swirl of two colours, such as pink and yellow. Whether seeded or seedless, each variety offers a unique taste experience.
Discovering Your Favourite Varieties
The best way to explore watermelons is to taste them. Visit farm stands, browse seed catalogs, and plant varieties with descriptions that catch your interest. From the heavily seeded to the seedless, from the deep red to the sunny yellow, each variety tells its own story.
Watermelon breeding programs, like the one at the University of Florida in Leesburg, are constantly developing new varieties. Names ending in “lee” often originate from this innovative program. Keep an eye out for these delightful creations!
A Few of the Many Varieties
Here’s a glimpse of the many watermelon varieties with evocative names that hint at their unique characteristics:
- Alabama Giant: A picnic-sized wonder.
- All Heart: Known for its sweetness.
- Allsweet: A classic favourite.
- Amarillo: A seedless variety with yellow flesh.
- Arikara: An icebox-sized melon with plenty of seeds.
- Black Diamond: Distinguished by its green-black rind.
- Black Seeded Chilean: A striking choice for its seeded nature.
- Blacktail Mountain: Another green-black-rind variety, perfect for cooler climates.
- Desert King: Renowned for its ability to thrive in arid conditions.
- Golden Honey: Yellow flesh with honey sweetness.
- Jubilee: Striped rind, picnic favourite.
- Moon and Stars: Speckled rind with yellow spots.
- Orangeglo: Vibrant orange flesh.
- Rattlesnake: Snakeskin-patterned rind.
- Sugar Baby: Small, sweet, personal-sized.
- Tom Watson: Heritage variety with deep red flesh.
- Yellow Doll: Bright yellow flesh, small size.
This is just a small sampling of the incredible watermelon varieties available. Each has its own flavour profile, texture, and visual appeal, making the journey of discovery endlessly enjoyable.
Watermelons are more than just a summer treat. They are a celebration of diversity, offering endless possibilities to delight our taste buds and quench our thirst. Whether you prefer the giant picnic melons, the convenient icebox varieties, or the sweet, personal-sized mini melons, there’s a watermelon out there waiting to be your favourite.
So, the next time you savour a slice of watermelon, remember – you’re experiencing just one chapter in the rich, flavourful story of this amazing fruit. Explore, taste, and enjoy the journey!
The Momma Clan 
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