Posted on 08/03/2023 9:42:56 AM PDT by Red Badger
(Last Updated On: August 3, 2023)
NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY | AUGUST 3
National Watermelon Day on August 3 recognizes the refreshing summertime treat enjoyed at picnics and fairs! And since watermelon is 92% water, it is very satisfying in the summer heat.
#NationalWatermelonDay
This vine-like flowering plant originated in southern Africa. While the word watermelon refers to both the fruit and the plant to botanists, the plant is a pepo. The pepo is a berry with a thick rind and fleshy center. Interestingly, pepos develop from an inferior ovary. They are also characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae, a scientific term for the gourd family.
While the watermelon fruit is loosely considered a type of melon, unlike other melons, it’s not in the genus Cucumis. The smooth exterior usually produces a dark green rind with stripes or yellow spots. Watermelons produce a juicy, sweet interior flesh ranging from deep red to pink. However, sometimes it comes in orange, yellow, or white.
While melon holds plentiful water, wild melons tasted bland and bitter. This clue suggests that desert dwellers likely cultivated the first melon. The seeds and art found in the tombs of Pharoh supply additional clues to the watermelon’s value. tombs of Pharaohs. Over time, cultivation and breeding brought out the better qualities of the sweet and tender fruit we enjoy today.
With proper growing conditions, watermelons grow to enormous sizes. Around the world, competitions award prizes each year for the largest one. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the heaviest watermelon weighed 262 pounds. To learn more refreshing watermelon facts, check out www.watermelon.org.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY
While you are celebrating the day, spread the joy! Visit a pick-your-own watermelon patch or pick one up from your local farmer’s market. Then, slice it up and invite the neighborhood over to share. Make a fruit salad or cut it into wedges. What are your favorite watermelon memories? Try these other fun ways to celebrate the day, too!
Host a seed-spitting contest.
Create a new watermelon recipe. You can also share your favorites!
Enjoy watermelon-flavored candies or beverages.
Create a frozen watermelon dessert.
Learn how to pick a ripe watermelon.
Complete a watermelon carving. You know, like pumpkins but sweeter!
Make a Vodka Watermelon Basil Granita.
What recipes will you be trying? Post on social media using #NationalWatermelonDay.
Parents and educators, check out more ways to #CelebrateEveryDay by visiting the National Day Calendar Classroom!
NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY HISTORY
While our research did not uncover the creator and origin of National Watermelon Day, we do offer you many more ways to celebrate fresh fruits and veggies.
Check out these delicious celebrations:
Acorn Squash Day
Peanut Day
Pawpaw Day
Eat Fruit At Work Day
Pumpkin Seed Day
MY absolute favorite is YELLOW WATERMELONS!!!
They taste like heaven!..................
Watermelon Ping!......................
A funny thing happened to Jeff Gerber.
It’s the most racist day of the year. (Along with all the other days.)
Nuts and Watermelon on the same day!
Who?.................
And IP Ale!.................
Where do they get the seed to plant seedless watermelon? Farmers grow a lot of them around here.
See post #9
When I lived in Hollywood back in the 70s there used to be trucks that drove up from Imperial Valley each day. They would park on a street somewhere and sell freshly picked watermelons. One guy had yellow watermelons and they were the most awesome watermelons. Unfortunately the LA City taxing b@st@rds shut it all down. They also started showing up at yard sales to demand a cut.
But, damm, those were good watermelons.
Had no idea. Just had some with lunch. What a coinky dink.
LOL!
“Where do they get the seed to plant seedless watermelon?”
When growing ‘seedless’ watermelon, you start two plants together - one will produce fruit for you, but the other is the one that does the pollinating so you get the fruit. It does not produce any fruit, itself.
‘Seedless’ is kind of a misnomer; there will still be seeds in it, but they are small and white, not big and brown and good for spittin’ contests. ;)
I agree on the yellows; they DO taste really good.
That said, I don’t care for watermelon, myself. They need a HUGE area to grow, they have no nutritional value whatsoever, and they are a PITA to cut up and seed. They’re a mess to eat, and they’re sticky. If I want a sticky mess, I’ll grab chocolate on a hot day. ;)
Hard Pass on watermelon from Debbie Downer, LOL!
“Make a Vodka Watermelon Basil Granita...”
Wait. Maybe I’ll change my mind on Watermelon, LOL!
Thanks, I didn’t know that.
Glad to help. My education pays for itself in yet another small way. :)
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