What sound does a ripe watermelon make? Ripeness in appearance

Summer is the time for fresh fruits and vegetables. However, in a temperate climate, not all the gifts of nature have time to ripen and grow, so you have to feast on imported products. In this case, there is a possibility of running into low-quality goods, because unscrupulous sellers go to any tricks to sell fruits and vegetables as quickly as possible. This also applies to watermelons, the sales season of which is limited to a few months a year.

What do the varieties of watermelons sold in the markets of the CIS countries look like?

Residents of warm regions, where watermelons are a familiar gourd crop, are well aware of what a ripe juicy berry looks like (a watermelon is actually not a fruit or a vegetable, but a berry). But residents of central Russia from the northwestern regions of the CIS may make a mistake when choosing a sweet treat. And it's not so much about the taste of the product, but about its health benefits. After all, overripe or unripe watermelons are toxic, and it costs almost nothing to get poisoned by them. What varieties are most often sold in the markets of Russia and neighboring countries?

1. Astrakhan watermelon. This is the most popular and best-selling variety grown in the south of Russia. It appears on the shelves at the end of August, it is easy to distinguish it by dark green stripes on a light green background. The Astrakhan variety is the most transportable, it is stored for a long time and does not rot from the inside. Therefore, such watermelons can be seen incredibly large sizes. Their shape is rounded, slightly elongated downwards. The pulp has a bright scarlet color, there are not very many seeds. Watermelon is juicy and flavorful. Ripeness is determined by the color contrast of the stripes closer to the tail: the more mature the watermelon, the greater the contrast.
2. Melitopol watermelon. Ripeness is determined in the same way as in the Astrakhan variety. It is grown in the south of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova. It can be stored for a long time, up to 4 months. It has a peel about 1.5 cm thick. The flesh is dense and juicy.
3. Raspberry sugar (Crimson Sweet). Outwardly, the watermelon is similar to Astrakhan, but the skin does not have a matte, but a glossy sheen. This is due to the fact that the variety belongs to the category of early ripening, and it appears on the shelves in the middle of summer. In terms of weight and size, it is inferior to the Astrakhan counterpart, but in terms of taste, it is no worse. If the market claims that in early July you have Astrakhan watermelon, it will most likely be the Crimson Sweet variety. It will not withstand long transportation and long storage. But on the tables appears one of the first.
4. Madeira. This is a watermelon of the American-Dutch selection. Differs in a rounded shape and low weight. It is quite possible to buy a whole watermelon weighing 2-3 kg. The variety is early ripe, so its skin is not thick, the pattern is characterized by dark green stripes on a yellowish-light green background.
5. Skorik. It belongs to the early varieties. It is distinguished by its round shape, like a volleyball, and a deep green color, on which dark broken stripes can be seen. The taste of watermelon is unusually tender, not cloying, there are few seeds and they are small. The variety is grown in the south of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.
6. Charleston Grey. This foreign breeder has an unusual elongated shape, and looks like a zucchini. It has no stripes on the skin, the color is uniform, light green. Cultivated by Charleston Gray in Ukraine, it appears on the shelves of Russia at the end of August. The pulp is bright, red, the taste is sweet, thin, not cloying. Watermelon is good because it is stored cut in the refrigerator longer than other varieties, without losing consumer qualities.
7. Chill. This amazing variety can be seen in supermarkets even on New Year's Eve. It is stored up to 5 months after cutting. It is easy to distinguish by its coloring features. The skin of a watermelon is thick, painted with a "cheetah" pattern. The stripes are not the same as those of the Astrakhan watermelon. Rather, these are light green spots on a dark background. The flesh is not red, but pink. The variety is grown in Ukraine and Moldova.
8. Light. The variety is distinguished by a uniform dark green color without stripes and spots. The skin of the watermelon is thin, the flesh is tender and juicy. The size of the watermelon is small, on average, the fruits reach a size of 1.5-2 kg.

The farther the region is located from the watermelon habitat, the more likely it is that nitrate watermelons will be sold in the markets. To prolong the safety of the product and its appearance, suppliers harvest unripe berries, removing them at the stage of milky maturity. As a result, the watermelon has a beautiful appearance with all the signs of ripeness. But this is not achieved by the most noble methods. By injection into the pulp of watermelon, nitrates are injected, which help to accelerate the ripening process. How to determine which watermelon is in front of you, ripened naturally or stuffed with chemicals?

1. Tap your knuckles on the watermelon. If you hear a dull sound, like tapping on a deflated ball, you have a nitrate fruit in front of you.
2. When cutting a watermelon, a naturally ripened specimen will crackle, and stuffed with chemicals, it will cut silently.
3. The clearer and more contrasting the stripes on the watermelon, the more likely it is that it has ripened on its own.
4. In natural watermelon, the flesh is dense and light red, bright. A light pink and translucent shade indicates that the product contains chemicals.
5. A good watermelon has a yellow earthy spot on which it lay, maturing under the sun. A nitrate fruit does not have such a spot.
6. Clearly expressed whitish veins testify to the artificial ripening of the watermelon.
7. Drop a slice of watermelon into a glass of water. If the water doesn't turn pink, that's good. A change in the color of the water indicates the presence of nitrates in the watermelon.

1. The areola of an earthen spot in a ripe watermelon should not be large. If the spot occupies a large area and has a bright white-yellow hue, this indicates a prematurely cut fruit.
2. Most of the nitrates are located near the rind, so the presence of pale pink flesh under the rind indicates the presence of nitrates.
3. With the same size of watermelon, a ripe fruit weighs more than an unripe one.
4. It is forbidden to buy cut watermelons. If you see a piece of watermelon wrapped in cling film, resist the temptation to buy it. It is better to agree with the neighbors that you will buy a watermelon and divide it in half at home.
5. In case of food poisoning after tasting the watermelon, report it to the seller.
6. For children under 3 years old, watermelon should be given in small quantities and only after you are convinced of its quality. If the watermelon contains nitrates, an adult may not notice, and for a child, everything can be very deplorable.

Conclusions: when choosing a watermelon, pay attention to the following:

• stripe contrast
• glossy shine of the peel
• no stains or blemishes
• ringing when tapped with knuckles
• soil patch dimensions

Video: how to choose a watermelon

Ah, summer, summer! It's a wonderful time when all people have a rest, children are on vacation, adults go on their well-deserved vacation. And immediately begin trips to the beaches and trips to the sea. But summer is not only sun and tan, but also delicious watermelons! In summer, this large berry becomes a faithful companion in every trip to the forest, to a picnic, on a hike, to the beach, to visit. You can buy watermelon and just home. He will not let you get bored and stay hungry. However, choosing a ripe, juicy and tasty watermelon is not an easy task. To buy only tasty products, you need to know when to buy them and what they should be.

How to choose a ripe watermelon

A well-ripened berry is tasty, healthy, it's just a pleasure. Many do not know how and do not know how to choose the right watermelon. In order for the purchased berry to please with its taste, you need to know a few tricks. You need to be guided by them when you go shopping for a watermelon:

• Place of trade.
• Berry color and contrast.
• Sound quality.
• skin requirements.
• Weight range.

Requirements for the place of purchase

To purchase a truly delicious watermelon, you need to decide where it is best to do it. You should not buy a miracle berry in street tents. Of course, it is better to give preference to proven places (shops, shopping centers, civilized markets). The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a watermelon is its storage conditions. Berries should lie in pallets that are specially designed for this. Moreover, their height should be at least a quarter of a meter.

In addition, watermelons must be hidden from direct sunlight, that is, they must be under a canopy. Feel free to ask for a certificate. The seller must have a document on hand, which will at least indicate that his product has passed the examination and does not contain nitrates above the established level. If your health is precious, then you should not be afraid to defend your rights. One simple question about certification can easily prevent the possibility of food poisoning.

If you are satisfied with the quality of the place where watermelons are sold, and the owner has the necessary documents for his product, but at the same time his shelter is located next to the highway, then you should not buy a watermelon in this place, even if it seems ideal to you. By their properties, gourds perfectly absorb everything from the environment, because there are many microcracks on their bark. Striped whales, which are sold along highways, absorb a large amount of exhaust gases and harmful substances. Using them can cause serious damage to your health.

How a ripe watermelon should sound

A ripe berry, when tapped on it, should respond with a dull sound, as if there is nothing under its bark. And if it is possible to squeeze the watermelon on both sides, then such a procedure should definitely be performed. If the minke whale responds with a sonorous crack, you can be sure that it was picked from the garden on time, it is very juicy and ripe.

Requirements for the condition of the peel and its color

Watermelons should be the correct spherical shape. This criterion does not apply to Japanese square berries, which are grown using special technology in glass cubes - this is a completely different matter. The color of the watermelon peel should be dark, and the darker - the better and tastier it will be, and the stripes should be as light as possible. The higher the contrast of the berry, the more likely it is to be tasty and juicy. As for the peel, it should be hard and shiny, without any plaque. Hardness is determined by fingers: if the berries have a soft peel, then they are most likely underripe. It is worth trying to rub the shell with your fingernail. If it scratches easily, this is definitely a plus in favor of choosing this watermelon. There should not be any cracks, spots, etc. on the surface of the fruit. It must be solid, because all extraneous points indicate the unnaturalness of the minke whale. In addition, such inclusions can tell about the introduction of injections of various drugs.

Most likely, before you could hear that if there is a yellow spot on the side of a watermelon, then this speaks in favor of its ripeness. Yes, this is true, but this mark must be of a bright yellow color, in no case white. The white spot just shows how the watermelon lay (and possibly stored for a long time) on the ground. Such a fruit is unlikely to please anyone with its taste.

Often, people do not know how to choose a sweet watermelon, and ask the seller for help. Unfortunately, the time has passed when people behind the counter were afraid for their reputation and were happy to help the buyer. Now the majority is aimed at selling their product at any cost. Finding a good seller who will really help in choosing a good fruit is a very big success. Therefore, every person should know how to choose a ripe watermelon correctly.

You should not buy berries with a cutout from the middle. This is bad not only from a hygienic point of view (after all, you don’t know what kind of knife you did the autopsy), but also from the point of view of safety, since being cut or at least notched, the berry will no longer retain its taste if it is not place in refrigerator. Also, do not buy damaged watermelons, even if they are offered at a discounted price. It is better to pay more for a tasty and ripe fruit than to suffer from stomach problems later.

Another useful and no less important factor when choosing a watermelon is the dry tail of the berry. When maturing, the minke whale itself breaks away on the melon from the place of its maturation, like any other of its family. But, unfortunately, a dry tail may also indicate that it was plucked a long time ago, so this sign is only an additional one in the question of how to choose a good watermelon.

Mass requirements

When choosing a watermelon, you should give preference to those fruits that are small in size. It is better that the weight does not exceed ten kilograms. Stripes heavier than this mark are large in volume and are usually notorious for their unnaturalness. But you should not chase small watermelons - they are usually unripe and fresh. The main thing is that before you eat a purchased minke whale, you should smell it. So to speak, to check whether he himself grew up or the miracles of chemistry helped him. If it emits a sour smell, it is better not to take it: you can easily get nitrate poisoning. If there is no pronounced specific aroma, you can be proud of yourself: you bought a good, natural watermelon.

How to choose a watermelon girl

Many people do not like to eat watermelon due to the presence of a large number of seeds in them. In order not to suffer with them, you can cheat a little and find a special fruit, namely a watermelon girl. Buying it is not very easy, because almost everything is on sale for the selection of boys. And according to statistics, there is only one girl for twenty watermelon boys, and, as you understand, meeting her on the market is a rarity.

So, how to identify a ripe watermelon girl? Stripes are determined by gender only by their buttocks. The "soft spot" of the girl's watermelon is flat, with a large speck, while in the berry-guys it is embossed and the speck is smaller. The difference in this mark on the buttocks lies in the flower that blooms during the maturation of the girls.

If you know how to choose a ripe boy watermelon, then buying a girl berry will also not be difficult.

How to choose between two identical watermelons

We are all very indecisive and want to get the best product. In people, uncertainty is always born about which berry to give preference to when both suit them. How to choose a delicious watermelon from two seemingly identical ones? When choosing between two identical berries, you should give preference to the one that will be lighter. The entire weight of a watermelon depends on how much water it contains. With the same volume, a large mass will indicate its juiciness, and in a smaller striped berry, the pulp will be sweeter.

The first signs of a delicious watermelon

Let's summarize a little all the information on how to choose a ripe watermelon, and what you should pay attention to:

• The average size.
• Smooth clean shiny skin.
• High contrast watermelon stripes.
• A small yellow or orange patch on the flank, but by no means white.
• The rind should be firm when pressed with a fingernail.
• Dry tail.
• When choosing between a boy and a girl - take a girl, and distinguish them by curvy and flat ass.
• Crunches when pressed, buzzes when slapped.
• No cracks or breaks in the skin.
• Large volume and low weight.
• No sour smell when cut.

Summer is remembered for us not only by the abundance of sun, travel and fresh herbs, but also by the delicious dessert of this season - watermelons. A ripe watermelon with velvety and juicy flesh will come in handy on a hot day, and the main thing is to choose the right delicious watermelon. For some time, watermelon was considered a useless fruit, but later it was found that this large berry is a real storehouse of fiolic acids, which have a beneficial effect on blood formation and chemical processes in the body. Despite the fact that watermelon is 90% of its mass water, it also contains useful substances - vitamin C, fiber and iron, etc.

Surely, there are many lovers of this delicious berry. However, does each of us know how to choose the right watermelon? Unfortunately, finding absolutely organic fruits, like watermelons, is now very problematic. However, choosing the most “clean” berry, without an excess of nitrates and other things harmful to the body, is not so difficult. There are several secrets on how to choose the right delicious watermelon.

Carefully choose the place and time of buying watermelon. If you want to fully enjoy a delicious watermelon without sacrificing your own health, then keep an eye on where you are going to buy watermelon. It is highly not recommended to buy watermelons near dusty roads, on which cars drive every now and then, releasing harmful gases into the air. Although, on the other hand, this is the most common option, buying a watermelon during a trip near the highway is simple and quick. Watermelons in stores do not differ in taste either - as a rule, supermarkets buy them still immature. The ideal place to buy is a tent next to the field where these watermelons grow. It is better not to buy early watermelons, it is better to enjoy melons not earlier than August.

Pay attention to the color of the watermelon. The "face" of the berry will always tell you how to choose a sweet watermelon. Pay attention to the color of the watermelon: it should be contrasting, but not matte. However, it is difficult to choose a watermelon on this basis: before selling, watermelons are carefully rubbed with a rag, giving it a marketable appearance, and therefore determining the ripeness of a berry only by color is a risky business. The yellow spot is also an indispensable attribute of a delicious watermelon. It does not say anything about ripeness, however, the size of the spot can tell about the taste of the berry: if the size of the spot varies from 5 to 10 cm, then you have come across a quite sweet and juicy fruit.

Determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the sound. Many mistakenly believe that you can choose a good watermelon by a dull sound. In fact, when tapped, the correct watermelon should make a ringing sound, which indicates the porosity of the pulp, and, consequently, the ripeness of the berry. It is difficult to convey in words the sound made by a ripe watermelon, but after a little practice, you can easily determine the correct sound. Also, with a slight squeeze, the watermelon should crackle slightly, which will also notify you of its maturity and juiciness.

The absence of a stalk is a bad sign! Another way to choose a ripe watermelon is to carefully examine the stalk or the so-called “tail” of the fruit. It should be moderately dry and yellow: a too dry stalk indicates that the watermelon has undergone long-term transportation and storage, which is unlikely to benefit its taste. It is better not to buy a watermelon without a "tail": most likely, it was deliberately torn off to hide the poor quality of the fruit.

Ripe and juicy watermelon never sinks in water. In addition, when cut, the berry will diverge, slightly crackling under the knife blade. Ripe watermelon seeds are dark brown or even black in color. White seeds are a sign of an unripe fruit or a high nitrate content in the berry.

Knowing the secrets of how to choose a good watermelon, you can be sure of the ripeness of the purchased fruit, cutting which you will feel the sweet aroma and immediately realize that you have made the right choice.

Text: Anastasia Buylova

Sweet, ripe and nitrate-free? There are many tricks and tricks to distinguish a healthy berry from a juicy ripe pulp.

The second half of summer is a real holiday for lovers of watermelons. You can enjoy your favorite berry at least every day: eat sliced ​​pulp, prepare cocktails and various desserts. But the fruit brought home from the market or the store is far from always tasty and healthy: the pulp may be unripe or unsweetened, and an excess concentration of nitrates can cause a violation of the blood composition and cause severe poisoning.

There are several rules, adhering to which you can choose a watermelon not only ripe and sweet, but also without the content of nitrogen fertilizers harmful to the body.

With the beginning of the season, watermelons can be found in supermarkets, markets, in tents located right under the open sky. The taste and useful properties of berries largely depend on storage conditions, so before you go for a watermelon, it is important to choose the right place to buy.

Sanitary conditions in shops and specially equipped storage facilities are much better than in spontaneous markets and tents. Experts strongly do not recommend purchasing watermelons from sellers who offer to choose fruits from heaps dumped on the roadsides right on the ground. Despite the thick peel, the berries are able to absorb many harmful substances deposited from exhaust gases, and various pathogens can penetrate through small cracks.

If you still decide to choose a watermelon in an outdoor tent, pay attention to the following:

• from above, the fruits should be covered with a canopy;
• all watermelons must be on a special flooring at least 20 cm high;
• the best option is to have side walls in the tent that protect the berries from dust and dirt.

Before choosing a watermelon in the market, in a store or other point of sale, the buyer has the right to demand certificates confirming the quality of the goods. The document indicates the timing and place of collection, the presence of nitrates and other data that will allow you to make a choice. In the absence of documentation, you should not risk your health, even if the price is lower than that of other sellers.

At a certain temperature and humidity, watermelons can be stored for a long time, but it is impossible to provide such conditions at street sales outlets. This means that the average shelf life is no more than 2-3 weeks. After that, the berries begin to sour and lose their taste. If it is not possible to set a harvest date, you can check this by tearing off a small piece of skin with your fingernail: fresh watermelons can smell only cut grass, and a small amount of moisture will appear on the surface.

Some producers and sellers, in order to keep the crop longer, process it with a mixture of chalk or a solution of alabaster and paraffin. The duration of storage at the same time increases by 1.5-2 times, but the quality of the berries is significantly reduced: frequent consumption of the pulp of such watermelons can result in the formation of sand in the kidneys.

The most useful are watermelons grown outdoors. Since this melon culture is thermophilic, the first ripe fruits appear not earlier than the second half of summer. At first, berries imported from the Central Asian countries go on sale, a little later - from the southern regions of the country. The optimal time to buy your favorite treat starts from the second decade of August and lasts until the last days of September. During this period, the highest chances to choose watermelon are not only delicious, but also without nitrates.

By appearance

Experienced lovers of sweet fruits first of all pay attention to the color and other external characteristics of the peel. Knowing some tricks will allow you to establish the ripeness of the pulp even without a preliminary sample. What should you pay attention to and how to choose the right watermelon in appearance?

Many are interested in the question: is it possible to determine the presence of nitrates in the pulp by appearance? Unfortunately, it is impossible to establish the content of an increased amount of harmful substances without cutting the fruit, except perhaps with the help of a special device.

Knowing the signs of excess nitrates will help to avoid poisoning. Before eating a cut watermelon, carefully inspect it:

• a good watermelon has pulp, on the cut of which sugar grains are clearly visible;
• a dangerous concentration of nitrates may be indicated by the presence of voids in the central part of the fetus;
• a ripe watermelon has black pits, the combination of immature seeds and ripe red pulp is a bad sign.

By sound

When watermelon ripens, the pulp changes its density - it becomes more porous. This feature makes it possible to determine the ripeness by the sound that the berry makes when tapped. To do this, you need to knock on the crust with your knuckle. The louder the sound, the riper the berry. You can check several watermelons in this way and compare the result.

How else can you choose a watermelon by sound? There is another method for determining ripeness, which is more suitable for men. The fetus is clamped between two palms opposite each other. They should be placed in the middle between the tail and the bottom. When squeezing the palms of a ripe fruit, the peel will emit a characteristic soft crackle. This method requires a certain physical strength, but its reliability is quite high.

The main taste characteristic by which the quality of the crop is assessed is the amount of sugar in the pulp. At the same time, the sweetness of a berry is not always directly related to its ripeness: it happens that a red fruit with ripe seeds may not be sweet at all.

What affects the taste of watermelon and what indicators of sugar content are considered optimal? With the mass cultivation of gourds, the suitability of fruits for consumption is determined when the sugar concentration reaches 10% or more. To determine this indicator, a special device is used - a refractometer. On melons in different places, several fruits are selected, cut and the sugar content of the pulp in the central part of the fruit is measured.

However, not all manufacturers offer a product with the recommended characteristics. What is the reason for the decrease in taste? There are several factors that affect the taste of the pulp.

First of all, the choice of variety is important. Despite the large number of different types of gourds, breeding work does not stop, due to which new improved hybrids appear. Not all characteristics are improved as a result of crossbreeding, and often an increase in disease resistance or an increase in yield affects the palatability. When choosing a variety, the growing conditions, as well as the structure and composition of the soil, should be taken into account.

Even properly selected seeds may not give the desired yield if the cultivation technology is not followed or adverse weather factors are not followed. For a normal sugar content, the following conditions are necessary:

• Sufficient lighting. The more sunny days during the period of plant growth and fruit formation, the sweeter the harvest will be.
• The presence of moisture. Sufficient soil moisture ensures good germination of crops and normal growth of gourds. But during the ripening of the crop, excess moisture can have the most negative effect on their taste: if after dry days it rains heavily, the plants can continue to grow and pull some of the substances accumulated in the fruits back into the leaves and stems.
• Nutrition. Watermelon is highly sensitive to the presence of mineral fertilizers in the soil. When planting plants on poor soils, regular plant feeding is necessary, which makes it possible to get a richer harvest and increase the sugar concentration by as much as 2-3%. Some unscrupulous growers seek to increase yields by oversupplying nitrogen in the soil. It is able to cause intensive cell growth, in which their number remains the same, and the size exceeds the norm several times. The increase in volume in this case occurs due to the accumulation of water and the deterioration of taste. With an increased amount of nitrogen, the pulp may acquire a specific bitter taste.

Another reason for the discrepancy between the expected taste is the untimely harvest. Watermelon, unlike the vast majority of fruits, is not able to ripen after harvest. The taste characteristics are also affected by the conditions of transportation and storage.

So how can you choose a watermelon with sweet pulp? Unfortunately, there are no external signs of determining the taste of the pulp. You can find out how tasty and sweet the fruit is only after taking a sample.

Many people prefer to choose the largest berries, mistakenly believing that they are the most ripe. In fact, too large a size can be a sign of artificial fruit enlargement by the application of a large amount of nitrogen fertilizers.

The optimal weight depends on the variety: for most of the most popular varieties in the middle lane, this indicator is at the level of 5-6 kg, for large varieties and hybrids ("", "", "Palladin", ""), the weight of the fruit can reach 10-12 kg. When choosing from one batch, it is better not to buy the largest or smallest watermelon, but to give preference to medium-sized specimens.

At present, the opinion that a light skin tone is a sign of insufficient maturity is not true. This is due to the achievements of modern breeding, thanks to which a large number of the most diverse species have recently appeared with a shade of peel from light green to dark green, approaching black.

Experts advise paying attention not to how dark or light the watermelon is, but to the contrast between the stripes on the peel. The more pronounced the difference between adjacent stripes, the tastier the pulp.

Before choosing a watermelon, it is recommended to inspect the stem. Should the tail of the watermelon be completely dry, or is it not an indication of ripeness at all? A ripe berry stops consuming moisture and gradually the stalk at the point of attachment to the stem dries up. A dried tail is one of the signs of maturation, but only if it is fragile and breaks easily.

If the stalk is simply sluggish, it can be said with great certainty that the crop was harvested ahead of schedule, and the stalk dried out during transportation. A clear sign of the immaturity of the fruit is the correctly cut ends of the ponytails.

Another well-known method of selection is the evaluation of the surface condition of the peel. It is believed that after ripening, the watermelon peel begins to shine. How true is this and should the surface of a ripe fruit be smooth and shiny?

When ripe, the hardness of the peel increases, and its upper layer acquires a pronounced waxy sheen. During the period most suitable for eating watermelon, this shine is preserved, but when overripe, the skin becomes matte again.

However, this feature is not true for all varieties: many recently bred hybrids have a waxy coating from the very beginning of fruit formation. It is also worth choosing a berry taking into account the tricks of sellers, who specially rub the surface of the crust to a shine.

At the point of contact with the ground, a so-called “cheek” is formed - a light spot, which can have a hue from white to orange. The presence of such a speck is the norm if its diameter, depending on the total weight, does not exceed 5-10 cm. Light areas of much larger sizes indicate a low quality of the crop.

By the color of the "cheeks" you can determine the degree of maturation. In unripe berries, it is white with visible stripes, but a clean, completely yellow or orange spot on a watermelon indicates that it is already ready to eat.

Sometimes, when cutting the fruit, it is found that the pulp has an uneven structure and is pierced with dense light veins. What do such white threads inside a watermelon mean? The appearance of seals is a plant response to stress caused by a sudden change in growing conditions. Basically, such threads appear with sudden changes in temperature.

If there are streaks in the pulp, before eating it, you should pay attention to the color of the threads: a yellowish tint is one of the signs of an increased nitrate content.

Often, buyers try to choose a watermelon according to the shape and size of the lower part, which remains in place of the fallen flower. It is believed that girls have a wider “mole” and are distinguished by sweetness, but the taste of a boy who has a small convex bottom is much worse. How true are these signs of the sweetness of a watermelon?

The dimensions of the lower part depend solely on the size of the flower and have nothing to do with the "sexual" division of the fruit. A good watermelon does not have to have a wide and flat bottom. At the same time, the size of the “mole” can tell about the number of seeds inside: the so-called “boys” have few of them and they are small, but the pulp of the “girls” contains many large seeds.

Is it possible to eat early watermelons

The first watermelons on the shelves of shops and markets can be found already in July. Among lovers of sweet berries, there is an opinion that early watermelons contain an increased amount of ammonia fertilizers. How true is this and is it possible to eat the first harvest?

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. The ultra-early varieties developed by breeders are able to produce crops much earlier than mid-season representatives of the crop. Additional opportunities were opened by the technology of growing plants in greenhouses. It is possible that the earliest fruits are grown in compliance with the nutritional requirements and do not pose a threat to health. You can determine the presence of nitrates from a quality certificate or using a manual nitrate meter.

Knowing the secrets and tricks listed above will help you choose a watermelon that will delight you with a refreshing sweet, juicy and healthy pulp.

In the summer, the most favorite delicacy of children and adults grows - watermelon. Juicy fragrant fruit is a healthy alternative to dessert. Do not rush to buy a berry, it may turn out to be completely tasteless and watery.

How to choose the right watermelon so that it turns out to be ripe and sweet, what you need to pay attention to, will be prompted by the advice of experienced farmers.

The height of the watermelon season does not come until August. At this time, melons and watermelons ripen on melons. Therefore, without any fear, you can safely buy a crop in the last month of summer.

However, some sellers have been trading since almost the beginning of June. It is very dangerous to buy fruits at this time, most likely, chemicals were used for early ripening, which accelerate growth. These components include nitrates. At a glance and taste, they are not felt in any way, but the harm to the human body is enormous, up to severe food poisoning.

Important! For the presence of nitrates, watermelon pulp can be checked in a folk way. The pulp is crushed and dipped in a glass of water. If the water turns red, then there is absolutely no fruit. The appearance of turbidity in the glass indicates that the pulp is healthy.

What to pay attention to

There are several ways to help choose a crop with ripe and fragrant pulp. They are not difficult to remember, but in practice they are very useful.

Peel

It is necessary to carefully examine the fetus from all sides for cracks, mechanical damage, scratches. The skin must be intact, without flaws. Damaged areas of the skin indicate that microbes could already penetrate the watermelon pulp, it is better not to buy such a fruit.

The culture has a bright color - the more intense the green stripes are, the sweeter the pulp will be. Bright green stripes are a sign that the fruit has lain enough in the sun and is already well ripened.

The yellow spot is the place where the fruit lay while it was ripe. If it is with a white tint, then it means that the fruit did not lie on the melon for too long. The size of the spot in a mature watermelon can reach from 5 to 10 centimeters in diameter.

The peel can be lightly rubbed with your hand - it should not smell sharp. If there is an aroma of fresh hay, then the watermelon is not yet ripe.

Size

Many people mistakenly assume that the bigger the watermelon, the sweeter it is. This rule rarely works. The best size is medium. Small watermelons are most often unripe fruits, and overgrown ones are berries that unscrupulous farmers pretty much pumped up with nitrates.

Of all the fruits presented, you need to choose a watermelon weighing up to 20 kilograms, no more.

Boy or girl

Sweet berry lovers know that there is a difference between the shape of the fruit. Some watermelons have an elongated shape, a convex lower part - these are the so-called male representatives. In watermelon girls, the shape of the fetus is more flattened and round, and the bottom is flat.

It is believed that watermelons-girls are the sweetest in taste. Their pulp literally melts in your mouth, and there are few seeds.

Sound

The most common way to find out the ripeness of the fruit is to knock on it. If the knock is dull, indistinct and generally hard to hear, most likely the pulp has not yet ripened. When a ripe watermelon is tapped, a clear, sonorous sound is heard. You can try to lightly press on the walls of the fetus - if they crackle, you must buy such an instance.

Important! If the watermelon is already overripe, then squeezing the peel can lead to further cracking.

Tail

Absolutely every fruit has a tail located at the top. If it is yellow, dry to the touch, it means that the berry has already been picked ripe. A green tail indicates that the watermelon is not yet fully ripe.

However, with this method of evaluation, errors sometimes occur. Indeed, even in unripe watermelons, over time, the tail dries up and turns yellow. But if there is no tail at all, this should alert. It was cut off by an unscrupulous seller to hide its maturity - such fruits should be avoided.

Where is the best place to buy

You can buy culture in any large supermarkets, grocery stores. There are observed storage standards, special conditions and commodity neighborhood. You can buy fruits in the markets, but you should ask about the availability of a quality certificate. Every seller should have it. The certificate indicates where the watermelon was grown, its collection period, and there may even be a mark about the absence or, conversely, the content of nitrates.

If there is no certificate, or the seller behaves insecurely, you need to leave - this place probably sells low-quality products. The presence of a certificate is always a positive thing when selling berries and speaks of the good reputation of the seller.

In the market, very often, in order to make sure that the berries are ripe, sellers offer to cut off a piece and taste the pulp to the buyer. This cannot be done. There may be an infection on the knife, and the watermelon itself has not yet been washed. A lot of cases of poisoning occur precisely because of such unsanitary conditions.

When the fruit has already been bought, before eating, it is well washed in the bathroom or in the sink with soap and baking soda. Then the skin is wiped dry and only then cut into pieces and enjoy the aroma and sugar taste.