juicy, sweet berry- the second favorite product after departed strawberries and raspberries. Fresh watermelon is good in hot weather. But it is valued not only for its refreshing properties. watermelon pulp- a storehouse useful substances necessary for our health. A low-calorie, water-saturated fruit quenches thirst, saturates, and heals the body of both an adult and a child.

The nutritional value

100 g of watermelon juice contains 89 g of water and dissolved inorganic substances. In 100 g piece of pulp:

  • Calorie content - 27-30 kcal,
  • Carbohydrates - 6-10 g,
  • Fats - 01-0.2 g,
  • Proteins - 0.6.

Watermelon contains a complete group of vitamins. In the first place is vitamin C (7 mg), in the second - PP (0.2 mg), in the third - vitamin A (0.1). Also in the berry there are macro- and microelements. More potassium and magnesium, then sodium, phosphorus, iron and other substances.

Organic acids, folic acid, lycopene. In addition, pectin, fiber, easily digestible ash, soft insoluble dietary fiber make watermelon a valuable health product.

B vitamins tidy up the nervous system, prevent dandruff and acne.

Vitamin C gives strength to the immune system, delays aging.

Vitamin PP helps eliminate fatigue, improve sleep and mood.

Normal absorption of vitamins and useful minerals is provided by magnesium, which is 60% per 100 g. This substance calms irritability, helps muscles work, relieving pain, and nerves.

The cardiovascular system works normally thanks to the potassium in watermelon. The vascular walls are strengthened, the heart muscle is protected from a heart attack, and the pressure is normalized.

Due to the diuretic effect, excess fluid is removed, weight is reduced by 1-2 kg, and edema is eliminated. In addition, it is a laxative, choleretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Filling the stomach with water and sweetness, gives a feeling of satiety.

When eating watermelon, the kidneys and urinary tract are not irritated, thrombosis is prevented.

Doctors advise including in the diet of patients with gout, diabetes (varieties of watermelons with pink pulp), sclerosis, and digestive problems.

Simultaneous use with acid-free white bread cleanses the kidneys and liver after drug treatment. Removes harmful substances from the body in case of poisoning, helps dissolve kidney stones.

Watermelon contains lycopene, a substance that supports vision in the elderly.

The benefits of watermelon for women

  1. Folic acid (8 mcg per 100 g) is important for pregnant women.
  2. The functional systems of the body are rejuvenated.
  3. Increased lactation of milk in nursing mothers.
  4. Watermelon juice moisturizes the skin.
  5. Watermelon mask refreshes and tones.
  6. When rubbed with crusts, the moisture of the skin returns, which again become elastic.
  7. Applying the pulp to sunburn reduces pain.

Contraindications and harm of watermelon

Excessive consumption of watermelon is manifested by nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia and bloating. Excess potassium in the blood will cause arrhythmia of the heart and disruption of the muscular apparatus.

You should not eat this berry at the same time as pickles to avoid swelling.

Diabetics should use the sweet product with caution.

Lycopene, interacting with alcohol, inflames the liver.

Oversaturation of the body with water increases blood volume, causing swelling and weakening the kidneys.

Fans of growing and eating watermelons offer ways to determine the quality of a berry, but not all of them help.

The correct criteria for choosing a mature fetus:

The size

Depending on the variety, watermelons reach 20-30 kg, so you should stop at a representative with an average size. Small fruits are unripe. If the fruit looks lighter than it seems in size, it is ripe.

This place was not touched by the sun's rays when the watermelon lay in the garden. The brighter the yellow, the riper the watermelon. A large mark indicates less juiciness and sugar content.

The surface of the peel of a ripe watermelon

The crust is without cracks, dents, cuts and rotted places. Bacteria, in juicy and nutritious pulp, multiply in 1 day. It is worth buying a whole watermelon, not cut. If the fruit was cut at the time of purchase, then this is done only with a clean knife and such a watermelon is not stored for a long time.

Definition by sound

When tapping on the peel of a ripe berry, it responds with a sonorous, booming sound, and unripe or overripe, sour - deaf. Ripeness is also determined by a slight crackling when squeezed.

The color and structure of the pulp

Scarlet content indicates nitrates or ripeness of the fetus. At good watermelon the pulp is porous, granular, pinkish in color. Seeds are black or dark brown. In an unripe berry, or stuffed with nitrates, there are a lot of white seeds.

Aging terms

Ripe and sweet watermelons appear in mid-August.

Drawing on the crust

Ripe - with contrasting bright stripes of rich color on a shiny surface. Distances between strips equal to the width of the strip and more. Difficult to cut or scratch the crust. When damaged, the surface smells like fresh grass.

Unripe fruits - with cloudy divorces and a matte coating. The peel is easily damaged, it can be scratched even with a fingernail.

Female or male

Watermelons from female flowers are considered sweeter. The “girls” have a bottom, a place on the back of the tail, with a flat and large spot, like a 5 ruble coin, in contrast to the convex and small one in the male fetus.

There are 1 out of 20 female watermelons. In fact, the fruits are not divided into male and female, since everything grows exclusively from female inflorescences. The size of the spot is affected by the size of the flower.

Dry tail

The stalk dries up 3 days after cutting, so that a watermelon with such a tail, traveling 3-5 days, will turn out to be a green specimen. It is worth paying attention to whether the fruit is cut or broken off by itself.

Sales Requirements

You should never buy watermelon from a tent next to a road.

Street trading rules:

  • a canopy that protects the goods from direct sunlight;
  • not next to the carriageway;
  • storage on a pallet located 20 cm above the ground.

Required: an existing certificate for each batch of goods.

How to test watermelon for nitrates

Harmful substances accumulate in the crust, capturing the adjacent pulp.

It will help to protect the body by dousing the fetus with boiling water and washing in running water.

When there is a saturated color around a piece of pulp, taken next to the peel and placed in water, and then pale, there are more nitrates than is acceptable. In a pure watermelon, the water will turn a slightly pinkish color from the juice.

Unfortunately, in recent years, people have become less and less fond of watermelons. And this is not due to the fact that someone ceases to like the taste of dark red pulp with a wonderful aroma, but to the fact that the chances of getting a good and ripe watermelon are very small. What is not done with them to speed up maturation! They are pumped up with nitrates, they give an injection of urea for quick redness - any means are used in order to quickly sell their products to customers. Naturally, both quality and taste suffer from this. That is why so many buyers are disappointed. So, how to check the watermelon for ripeness? Let's try to answer this question.

Purchase time

Time is the main indicator. The first watermelons appear in the markets and stores long before their normal ripening period, which means they were clearly helped. You don't have to buy these products. The best time to buy watermelons is from late August to mid-October.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the peel

Peel ripe watermelon more solid, lignified, and if you press on it with a fingernail, it will not damage it. The strong contrast between the bark stripes also shows that the crop was harvested at the optimum time. A characteristic yellow spot is also an indicator of ripeness, but it should not be too large.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the tail

Contrary to popular belief, a dry tail does not guarantee the ripeness of a watermelon. On this basis, you can navigate only if you are waiting for your own harvest - during the ripening period, the lash begins to gradually die off. In store watermelons, a dry tail can mean both ripeness and the fact that unripe berries have been in storage for a long time. However, you should pay attention to the "button" - a small callused seal at the point of attachment of the whip. If it is dense, light and convex, then the watermelon is ready to eat.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the sound

A ripened watermelon makes a very characteristic sound when tapped - light, sonorous and slightly rattling. This is due to the fact that a ripe berry has a looser, starchy pulp that resonates well. The same property explains the good buoyancy of watermelons - a ripened berry should float at least half. When squeezed, ripe watermelons crackle.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon with the help of smell

Unripe watermelons have a strong grassy smell. Ripe berries have a different flavor - lighter and sweeter. It is difficult to explain this in words, but after a little practice, you can learn to distinguish watermelons well by smell.

These are explaining how to know the ripeness of a watermelon without cutting it. However, it is best to determine the quality and ripeness by appearance pulp. It should be red, starchy, without large yellow streaks. The optimal weight for a good watermelon is 5-7 kg. Remember: the main indicators of the presence of nitrates are large streaks, as well as pink coloring of water when a piece of pulp is stirred in it. In a watermelon without nitrates, the water will become cloudy, but will not change color. You should not buy a cut watermelon, even if it is ripe - there is no guarantee that microbes have not already settled in it.

In the "watermelon season" many buyers go to the market for this delicious berry. It will be useful for all of them to know how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon. Knowing how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon, you can choose the most delicious, juicy and appetizing fruit for yourself without resorting to the help of sellers who are not always honest with their customers. Such a berry will allow not only to fully enjoy its bright taste, but also to be sure that watermelon will not harm the health of adults and children. After all, unripe watermelons are not recommended. Especially those that appeared on the markets and in stores before August. In this case, you can be sure that they have been treated with various chemicals so that the flesh turns red as soon as possible. But this does not add sweetness and ripeness to the fruits. Therefore, it is better to immediately refuse to buy them in favor of the safest and most delicious watermelons.

If there is an opportunity to enjoy watermelon right from the garden, then you should not neglect this opportunity. Indeed, in this case, it will be possible to choose a truly ripe and delicious fruit. And, besides, it will be possible to know for sure that the berry has not previously been lying for weeks in a fruit shop. And tips on how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden will help everyone to make the right choice. The easiest way to do this is through the peel. If it is matte, then the fruit probably has not yet ripened. But the shiny surface suggests that it's time to enjoy the berry. In addition, experts who know how to check the ripeness of a watermelon recommend paying attention to traces of bird beaks on its peel. If they are, then the fruit is probably ripe, because the unripe simply will not interest the crows. The stalk of a watermelon can also help in this difficult issue. In ripe berries, it is always dry. This is a sure sign of the maturity of the fetus.

There are also excellent effective ways how to check watermelon for ripeness in a store or market. Its peel can also help with this. Only this time you will need to study the stripes on it. Firstly, the stripes should have a clear, clearly visible edge that separates the colors, and, secondly, the stripes should be contrasting - dark and light. It is important that one of the sides of the fetus is light - bright yellow. This indicates that the watermelon really ripened in the sun and simply lay on one of the sides, and was not chipped with chemicals for accelerated ripening while still unripe. Therefore, do not be shy to ask the seller to show the watermelon from all sides or twist it yourself. Only by carefully studying it, you can draw the right conclusions about the ripeness and maturity of the fruit. Moreover, traders in the market always treat such a careful selection of watermelons with understanding.

Explaining how to determine the maturity of a watermelon, experts also note that it is necessary to touch the berry. For example, you can carefully pat your palm on its surface with a straightened palm. If the fruit is ripe, then the sound from this pat will clearly reverberate in the pulp. Usually it turns out quite sonorous and clear. If the buyer has enough strength, then you can lift the watermelon and try to squeeze it on the sides. The ripened fruit will crackle. But do not worry, it will not be possible to burst the dense peel in this way, so the berry will remain intact.

Very often, watermelons are sold near major roads. Of course, buying any food in such conditions is not recommended, it is better to visit a store or market. This applies to a greater extent to watermelons. But, if there is no other way out, then you should at least check the fruits for the presence of a clear white coating on them. If it is present, then the berry probably contains heavy metals, which are harmful and dangerous to human health to eat. In this case, the purchase should be abandoned. It is strictly forbidden to eat such watermelons for the smallest members of the family.

In addition to the dry tail, the place where it grows from also testifies to the ripeness of the watermelon. If it turned out to be convex, and its edges brightened and rough, then we can safely say that the fruit is ripe, juicy and sweet. Such a berry is worth buying. in a great way To determine the maturity of a watermelon is to lower it into a container of water. Of course, it is far from always possible to do this even before the purchase. But if there is such an opportunity, then you just need to place the berry in a basin filled with water, and then look at its "behavior". A ripe fruit will definitely float up to about half the capacity. The thing is that it will be lighter than water. It is important to remember that watermelons naturally ripen by about mid-August, and only during this period there is no need to use nitrates for a speedy harvest. This fact should also be guided by when choosing a fetus.

How to accurately determine that the watermelon is ripe and sweet in taste? Dmitry

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.

Most often, watermelons are consumed fresh, but today there are many recipes for successfully marinating and fermenting it in tubs. watermelon rind 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. Speaking of weight 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 resonation.

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. The watermelon rind should not have cracks, spots or dents, and the rind 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 to remove the thin upper layer can be done 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, it, like most plants, 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 stem 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. 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 empty micropockets 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 here it is ripe berry skips the sound 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.

Determining the ripeness of a watermelon without picking or cutting it can be difficult even for experienced gardeners. Most often, problems arise with new varieties, so it is better to take a small amount of seeds “for testing”. And next year, when it becomes clear how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden, it will be possible to buy more of them.

Real signs of ripeness

There are a lot of ways to determine the ripeness of a watermelon, but not all of them are equally effective. With the greatest degree of probability, the following signs help to determine ripeness:

  • Watermelon almost stops growing in size. After the fruit sharply slows down its growth, it is necessary to wait only 2-3 weeks, after which it can be safely plucked.
  • Yellow spot on the side. In an unripe watermelon, this speck will be greenish or white color, and a change in color indicates that the fruit is fully ripe.
  • The condition of the tendril closest to the fetus. If the tendril, located in the same leaf axil as the tail of the watermelon, has dried up, then the fruit itself has definitely ripened.
  • The condition of the crust. A ripe watermelon has a fairly dense rind. Therefore, if you try to run a fingernail over it, then it will not be so easy to do it. If the crust is easily cut through with a fingernail, then it is better to leave the fruit in the garden - it has not yet ripened.
  • Skin color. When ripe, the watermelon skin, previously matte, acquires a glossy sheen, and the stripes on it become clearer.

How not to define ripeness?

Some folk methods definitions of ripeness work only in 50% of cases or do not work at all. You can try to apply them, but the result is not guaranteed. The chances of determining maturity by the following features are low:

  • By average. If the watermelons of your chosen variety ripen within 35-40 days, this does not mean at all that you will definitely get a ripe fruit during this period. Weather, humidity, soil characteristics and many other factors can delay the ripening time by several days.
  • According to the condition of the tail. In mature watermelons, the tail really dries up, but a dry tail can indicate both ripeness and the fact that it simply lacks moisture.
  • By sound. A ripe fruit is one that makes a booming sound when tapped. To determine ripeness by this criterion, you need a good ear for music and a certain amount of luck, since in almost half of the cases the method does not work.
  • By the ratio of diameter and weight. You can find a special table that indicates the optimal values ​​\u200b\u200bof this ratio, but this table can not always be used. For example, for varieties with an oblong fruit shape, it is completely useless.
  • To size. You can determine ripeness by the size of the fruit if you have been growing this variety for more than a year. In other cases, this trait is too unreliable, since it depends both on the characteristics of a particular variety and on the conditions in which the watermelon was grown.

What not to do with watermelon?

To determine the ripeness, in no case should the fruit be cut. If, after this check, you still decide to leave it in the garden, then after a few days the watermelon will begin to rot. It is not necessary to pluck slightly unripe fruits. If you expect them to turn red during transport, then this will indeed happen, but the fruit will not become sweeter.