18 Unknown Facts About Watermelon

1. To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow then it is ripe.
2. Watermelons are more than 90% water. That's the secret behind the name! In ancient times travelers used watermelons as a replacement for water.
3. Watermelons are found in varied shapes and sizes and the latest addition is a SQUARE watermelon grown by the Japanese. These square watermelons were created to save space and to ensure that the watermelons fit in the refrigerators more easily. The farmers put the watermelons in a square tempered glass box, when the watermelon is still growing on the vine. The square boxes are of exact dimensions of the Japanese refrigerators that allows full-grown watermelon to fit in conveniently and precisely in refrigerator shelves. The square watermelons are generally priced at a very high premium.


4. The largest watermelon weighed 262 pounds. It was grown by Bill Carson of Arrington, Tennessee in 1990. (Reference: Guinness Book of Records)
5. A Watermelon is completely edible. While most of us relish the flesh part, the watermelon seeds can be roasted and eaten. Watermelon rind is used for making preserves, pickles and relish.
6. Over 1200 varieties of watermelons are grown worldwide.
7. By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
8. A watermelon was once thrown at Roman Governor Demosthenes during a political debate. Placing the watermelon upon his head, he thanked the thrower for providing him with a helmet to wear as he fought Philip of Macedonia.



9. The word "watermelon" first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615.
10. Every two years, the town of Chinchilla pays tribute to the melon harvest with the Chinchilla Melon Festival. The highlight of the festival however is Water Melon Skiing. They put down a long tarpaulin and make it slippy with the insides of a few dozen watermelons. Players take it in turns to stand at the beginning of the run, each foot encased in a scooped out watermelon. They then hold onto a rope being held by two people standing either side of the tarpaulin. These two players run down the course dragging the watermelon skier behind them. The person who remains on his feet for the longest distance is the winner.
11. The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.
12. Though watermelon is commonly considered as a fruit it is actually a vegetable! It is a member of the cucumber family and is kin to the gourd.
13. Watermelon is a certified heart healthy food by the American heart Association
14. Watermelon originated in the Kalahari Desert in Africa



15. Watermelon is the Lycopene Leader among fresh fruits and vegetables
16. In 1939 seedless watermelon was developed for the first time by treating the un-pollinated flowers of watermelons with a specific acid, which resulted in the seedless watermelon.
17. The World record for eating Watermelon lies with Richard LeFevre who ate 11 1/2 pounds of watermelon in 15 minutes.
18. In southern Russia a beer is made from watermelon juice. Also they boil down watermelon juice to heavy syrup like molasses for its sugar.


More details: http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/06/15/square.watermelon/index.html