Watermelon quick facts.

- Watermelon is one of the healthiest fruits with multiple benefits.
- 1200 varieties of watermelons are found in the world.
- Eating watermelons daily will improve your heart and bone health.
- Watermelons are 92% water only with a quite nutritious seeds. Its seed contains high level of magnesium, zinc and protein.
- Watermelon belongs to pumpkin family i.e. cucurbit family. It is considered as a vegetable (Wolford, 2004).
- Dry season with hot, sunny weather and deep or rich soil is best preferred by watermelons.
- Grown from seeds of open-pollinated heirloom variety. Soil should be at least 18°C for germination.
- If you have heavy clay soil; raise your bed.
- Have male and female flowers on the same vine.
- Female flowers are larger with tiny melon at the beginning of flowering too.
- Initial greenish patch at bottom of the fruit turns into yellowish on maturation.
- Other way to know about watermelon maturation is knocking down with hand. Unripe melons have higher pitcher sound.
- Use nitrogen-based fertilizers at the beginning of germination.
- After flowering apply phosphorous and potassium-based fertilizers for optimal melon production.
- 280 gram of watermelon gives about 80 calories.
Health benefits
- Lycopene compounds found in watermelon- lower risk of heart diseases.
- Reduce aortic stiffness found in older woman with menopause.
- Arginine compound helps to improve blood flow.
- Keep you hydrated.
- Contains fiber-improves digestive system.
- Skin and hair benefits.
- Cancer prevention through antioxidants.