HOW TO KNOW A RIPE AND SWEET WATERMELON

Have you ever bought Watermelon, only to discover that it's not ripe or sweet? It can really be, not only disappointing, but also effort and money wasting! This sometimes makes one wonder how to identify a ripe one.

On most occasions, you just have to cede your right of judgement to the vendor who makes a choice for you - unlucky you, if you meet a mischievous one!

Check out for any or all of the following tips and such woe will never betide you again!

1. SOUND CHECK
I'm sure you have severally seen the mallams (vendors) giving the watermelon some slaps/tap, you just might not  know what they are checking for!

Ripe watermelon when tapped/thumped gives a HOLLOW sound. If the sound is deep/thick, it means the subject is not ripe. So, you might want to do some knock knock knock when next you are buying!

2. BELLY (FIELD SPOT) CHECK
Field spot is simply the side upon which the watermelon rested while growing till maturity/harvested. A ripe watermelon has a creamy yellowish colour and the darker, the better. If it doesn't have or it's white, it can only mean that it was picked or harvested before maturity.

3. WEIGHT CHECK
In comparison with another of the same size, the heavier should be picked. The heaviness usually is an indication of being ripe and 'waterful'.

4. COLOUR CHECK
Ripe watermelon is usually dull dark green in colour. The shiny ones, more often than not, are not ripe and sweet.

5. ODOUR/SNIFF CHECK
A ripe watermelon should have a sweet smell as when eating it. So, you might want to pick it up a little away from the rest (in order not to confuse others' smell for the one you are holding) to sniff it for that sweet aroma as when eating a ripe one.

6. TAIL/CONNECTION POINT CHECK
Look out for the tail (i.e. point of connection to the vine) of the watermelon and pick the one that has dried, instead of the green ones.
Watermelon at full maturity need not be cut from the vine. This is because the vine naturally dries and falls off from the watermelon. A green tail therefore is enough evidence that the watermelon is not sufficiently ripe or matured.

7. WEB CHECK
Check for the brown coarse web like part of the watermelon. This is known as webbing. It occurs during insect pollination of the flower that scars the membranes which later becomes the fruit. High pollination activities result in more webbing/coarse body, and in turn, the sweeter the fruit.

Now, you can, at least, buy watermelon with some level of confidence and assurance that you will get value for your money.

Please feel free to share.