The watermelon is a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, and its official name is Citrullus lanatus.
The young fruits are also being called “watermelons.” The fruit has external bright red or green waxy skin, and inside, it contains black seeds mixed with sweet fleshy orange pulp and juice.
In general, watermelons are in season during the summer months. The growing season begins in April and extends through the end of August and early September. Watermelon season reaches its peak in July. However, some warm places with moderate rainfall experience longer growing seasons.
Watermelon belongs to tropical and subtropical areas, where the temperature is above 10°C during all four seasons. However, for successful cultivation, watermelon requires rather high temperatures (about 25°C). It should be planted in well-drained soil rich in organic substances.
Since watermelons require high temperatures, we can say that they’re not available all year round in temperate regions.
They provide a ripe choice for drinking juice over ice or blending into delicious smoothies, making them an excellent ingredient for warm-weather meals. This article provides a complete guide about when melons are in season.
Is watermelon available all year round?
Watermelon is available all year round but is not in season at all times of the year. Depending on where you live, it can be hard to find good-tasting watermelons during certain seasons.
Watermelons are available all year round, but when you buy them in season, you will get more for your money, and it will taste better because it was recently harvested.
However, not everyone has access to locally grown watermelons or stores that sell locally grown ones, so there is also nothing wrong with buying storage melons from someplace far away if you don’t have local stores near you where you live.
Its seasonality is limited by both geography and climate. It has one of the shortest growing seasons of all fruit crops meaning it can only be grown for a few months every year.
In addition, it requires very hot weather to grow and mature, which makes it difficult to produce and sell as its demand goes up when the temperature does so too (in summer).
The best time of year to buy fresh watermelon depends on which part of the world you live in. In many parts of the country, plenty of watermelons are available throughout the summer months: May, June, July, August, and September. However, there is a short growing season for watermelon in some regions, and they are only at their peak during one of these months. As an example, you can buy fresh watermelons in Europe from June until August.
However, supermarkets stock the out-of-season variety imported from other countries during off-seasons. [These may be more expensive.]
Is watermelon currently in season?
Watermelon can now be considered as being in a season since they are at their best during summertime and peak months of July and August when they are harvested locally, so they don’t have to travel very far to reach your table.
This enables them to retain their freshness and their sweet flavor. The majority of North American watermelons are grown in Texas and Florida, with some being grown in California.
In which season are melons and watermelons available?
Melons come into season during the summer months when they mature, as this is prime time for fruit harvests. Popular melon varieties that are often consumed include Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Galia, Crenshaw, Haas Avocado, Casaba Melon, and Santa Claus Melon (Christmas Melon).
Watermelon and other types of melon, such as cantaloupe and honeydew, can be found in convenience stores all year round.
However, when they are in season depends on where you live and what type of melon it is. Generally speaking, melons grow best in the warm summer months.
It is important to know what month is watermelon month so that you can get the freshest possible fruit. Since these fruits cannot be frozen or canned for long-term storage, it’s always better to eat them fresh whenever possible.
Therefore, one way to guarantee that you’re getting a good slice of watermelon every time is to aim for the peak harvesting months: June and July.
Other than seasonality, watermelon is available throughout the year in most parts of the world. However, you need to know that there are different types of watermelon.
Most people don’t eat Citrullus lanatus as much as they do for its sweet, juicy fruit; instead, the plant’s seeds are what’s harvested. The seeds can be dried and eaten whole or ground into a powder or paste to add flavor and nutrients to food dishes.
Although these plants are commonly known as watermelons, they’re not actually part of the melon family. These types of watermelon are called citron melon (Citrullus ecirrhosus) or African horned melon (Citrullus lanatus var. mucosospermus).
What month is watermelon month?
Watermelons are excellent for a refreshing snack on a hot summer day. The peak time to eat watermelon is between June and August, which makes July National Watermelon Month.
The period before this is known as the pre-seasonal period, when most of the watermelons are being harvested from fields in states like Florida or California.
It’s also possible to get these fruits at grocery stores that offer imported products from other countries with tropical climates such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Thailand, Columbia, and Israel.
Types of Melons and watermelons and their Seasons
These types of melons can be divided into four main categories: muskmelon, honeydew, casaba melon, and watermelon.
1) Muskmelons are the type of melons that have netted skin on the outside and a sweet flavor when ripe. Types of muskmelon include cantaloupe, Crenshaw, nutmeg, Persian, Santa Claus melon (Christmas melon), and true cantaloupe. Melons within this category usually start appearing in stores by early June, vary depending on temperature or climate conditions where they were grown. Depending on the weather, they typically come into season around July 1st but may ripen earlier than others.
2) Honeydew melons are named after their similarities in flavor to honey, which usually becomes apparent when they are ripe. They have smooth skin and a sweet flavor when ripe. These types of melons cannot be stored for more than two or three days as they will spoil quickly. This type of melon is typically available from mid-June through September but can vary depending on temperature and climate conditions where they were grown. Honeydew melons come into season around July 1st but may ripen earlier depending on weather conditions.
3) Casaba melons have light green skin, orange-yellow flesh with a mild flavor, and many small seeds. Casaba melons typically begin appearing in stores around mid-July but are typically available from July through October.
4) Watermelons have thick, dark green skin with crisp, sweet red flesh and black or white seeds. Watermelon is the last type of melon to come into season, typically in mid-August through September, depending on where they were grown.
Growing conditions for watermelon
Growing conditions for watermelon are water, heat, and nutrients.
Water- deep watering once or twice per week is required during warmer seasons to keep the soil moist. Melons do not have large root systems, so they cannot obtain enough moisture from rainfall alone. Watermelons can become dry even in humid climates if not watered properly due to their high temperatures, especially during times of drought.
Heat- areas with long summers where melon plants will be exposed directly to the sun without shade during much of the day produce some of the best tasting and sweetest melons due to increased sugar content due to intense heat exposure. During shorter seasons, melon plants must receive at least six hours of direct sunlight in order to produce.
Nutrient-rich soil- Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen and potassium during warmer seasons, especially prior to planting, as these nutrients will be used up quickly by the melon plant for growth and reproduction
Watermelons should be planted when the danger of frost has passed after about six weeks of warm weather with above 50 degree F temperatures. They are best direct-seeded into well-tilled areas with loose soils that receive plenty of sun.
For larger watermelon plants, it is often beneficial to start seedlings indoors so they can be transplanted once they are strong enough to survive being moved (transplants should not set fruit until the following season).
Expect germination rates between 70 and 90%. Watermelon seeds should be planted at a depth of 3 inches and in rows that are 18 inches apart. Watermelons can also be started by taking cuttings from an existing plant, but this method is more difficult.
Most watermelon varieties produce around 50 fruits per plant, with some large heirloom types yielding up to 150 fruit per plant. Depending on the type of melon, each fruit will weigh between 8-20 pounds or more when fully grown.
When watering, it is important to avoid getting moisture on the leaves as this will promote mildew and rot diseases that can be very detrimental to the growth of watermelon plants. Watermelons are particularly sensitive to freezing temperatures as they will die if soil temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. Hence, it is important not to plant seedlings or transplant outside until after nights have begun warming up above this lower limit.
Where are melons and watermelons available?
Watermelons are grown in parts of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. However, most watermelons produced come from the United States and Brazil. These countries produce 80 percent of all the watermelons in the world today.
Conclusion
Watermelon is available in most parts of the world all year round, and there are different types of watermelon that you need to know about depending on where you live.
It is important to note that the seasonality of watermelon depends on what type it is, whether it’s Citrullus lanatuss or citron melon (Citrullus ecirrhosus) or African horned melon (Citrullus lanatus var. mucosospermus).
Watermelons have peak harvesting months which are June and July. Typically speaking, melons grow best in the warm summer months. The best time to eat watermelon is in the peak harvesting months of June and July for it to be fresh.
