Watermelon

Watermelons are not supposed to explode, but that is exactly what happened in China, according to a May 2011 CBS News report. The cause was traced to a chemical that creates rapid growth of such…

Cantaloupes, watermelons and melons of all types are cucurbits, members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and a variety of gourds. Cucurbit growth…

The good old days of spitting watermelon seeds are over if you grow the newer, hybrid seedless watermelon varieties. Several types are available for the home gardener, including Jack of Hearts,…

Watermelons, with their juicy, sweet pink flesh, are a favorite summertime snack for both kids and adults. Watermelon plants take several months to mature and bear fruit. As they grow, watermelon…

Watermelons take up to three months to fully develop their fruit. The plants require proper care during this period to ensure they put on healthy growth and fruit well. Failure to develop properly and…

Watermelon is 93 percent water, and no matter how firm it is when you cut it, its flesh will lose its integrity and deteriorate in quality rapidly once it is exposed to air. Because of this, it is…

Watermelons are a favorite summer gardening treat. Though native to Africa, watermelons have been grown in the United States since the 17th century and thrive in regions with proper growing…

The scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance is called pH. The scale runs from 1 to 14, with 7 being neutral between the two. Plants prefer one or the other as the state of their…

The term seedless watermelon is a bit of a misnomer since the melons actually do contain seeds. However, unlike traditional watermelons, the seeds are soft, white in color and tasteless, meaning that…

Watermelon and mint mozzarella skewers can be a great, fun dish to prepare all year round. Find out about watermelon and mint mozzarella skewers with help from a chef and lifestyle expert in this free…

Peach watermelon salad is a wonderful, refreshing and healthy snack. Find out about peach watermelon salad with help from a chef and lifestyle expert in this free video clip.

Rustic decor mimics the feel of country living, with natural colors and materials working in harmony. Materials such as wood and clay tile provide the focal point for a rustic look, with various brown…

"The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" video game for the Playstation 2 tasks you with taking control of SpongeBob SquarePants in a quest to save Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob is given a variety of…

Watermelons are a warm-weather fruit that grow on vines in your garden and are often associated with the summer season. Growing this fruit in your garden requires plenty of space because the vines…

Watermelons are nutritious vegetables that grow throughout much of the United States. Unfortunately, several different problems cause watermelons to die while still attached to the vine. Take proper…

The "Watermelon Crawl" is both a song and a dance. The song was written by Zack Turner and Buddy Brock and recorded by country music singer Tracy Byrd. The song appeared on Byrd's 1994 album "No…

Homemade watermelon leather is a way to put a twist on the popular summer fruit. Create a chewy, juicy and flavorful treat without adding any extra ingredients. Fruit leather is healthy and easy to…

Edible centerpieces add a festive flare to gatherings, parties and an everyday table setting. Watermelons in particular are great for serving many people and can be used to carve baskets, bowls and…

Watermelon is an excellent food to offer at a summer get-together for a couple of reasons. First, it's so high in water content -- about 92 percent -- that it can actually quench your thirst. It also…

Watermelon is a summer fruit that is beautiful, versatile and delicious. Watermelons have been around for more than 5,000 years and are comprised of 92 percent water. As of 2011, Watermelons are the…

Few fresh fruits conjure the feeling of summer like watermelon. Whether you serve it in giant wedges or easy-to-hold slices, watermelon is a timeless favorite year in and year out. Melons can be…

Sweet, juicy bites of luscious pink watermelon are a signature of summer. However, for ripe melons to become available in the garden, or from local grocers, the fruit must first be grown. Depending on…

Watermelon vines grow best in hot, sunny garden sites with a fertile but well-drained soil. If the garden soil remains too damp, the bottom of watermelon fruits can rot. Cracks or soft depressions in…

Watermelon is a light and refreshing fruit that is often served at summer picnics, banquets, festivals and fairs. It's quite popular in the southern states, where it grows well in the high heat, but…

It may appear like an ordinary watermelon, but with a bit of creativity and carving, it can become a decorative fruit bowl and a conversation piece. Whale-shaped watermelons make use of the rind as a…

Watermelons are large, sweet fruits that are enjoyed in several countries around the world. With high water content, watermelons are typically enjoyed as a summertime thirst quencher. Typically round…

When people are considering what foods to bring to barbecues and picnics on days when temperatures spike, watermelon is often a popular choice. Watermelon is a sweet fruit that may come with seeds or…

Few things are more refreshing on a hot summer day than a juicy slice of watermelon. This watery melon is not only a thirst-quenching crowd pleaser, it is also a good source of vitamin A and C. In…

There's nothing better than biting into a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer day. This picnic and party food goes from snack to side dish to dessert with just one swipe of the carving…

Impress the guests at your pirate party with this carved vegetable centerpiece. Vegetable carving doesn't have to be stressful or elaborate. This carving serves as a focal point at your table and also…

Dress up your summer fruit salad with a whale-shaped serving bowl cut out of a watermelon. This treat is perfect for a themed pool or beach party, summer picnics or school events when you want to make…

Watermelon is one of the most versatile and useful fruits. It is made into many different alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, appetizers, salads, side dishes, entrees and desserts. There are even…

Watermelon fruit conjures up images of sunny summer days and childhood. Most people can identify the fruit once it has ripened and been picked. But identifying the plant in the wild, before it's…

There's nothing like biting into the crisp, juicy, red flesh of a watermelon on a hot summer day. Protected by its hard green rind, true to its name, watermelon is 92 percent water, making it an ideal…

Extending the storage life of your watermelon begins with choosing a ripe melon. Watermelons don't continue to ripen once they are harvested, so the melon has already reached its optimum flavor by the…

A crib, also known as a cradle or a cot, is a piece of furniture that is used as a bed for an infant. Whole watermelons can be cut into the shape of a crib, and the hollow center can be filled with a…

Creatively shaped fresh fruit has a variety of uses. Create an edible bouquet by arranging the cut fruit onto bamboo skewers and inserting them into a foam-filled bowl, bucket or other decorative…

Making shapes out of fruits and vegetables is commonly done for special events and restaurant centerpieces. The watermelon is a versatile choice for fruit decoration as it is big enough to be a…

Although watermelon is a refreshing, healthy treat for hot days, cutting and serving it can be a heavy, messy affair. Have cubes of watermelon on hand to keep things bite sized and simple, or toss…

In those summer months when the sun is blazing, watermelons, with their hard, bright green rind, and refreshing, slightly crunchy red flesh are a staple at barbecue and picnics. True to their name,…

Whether you are a gourmand or an outdoorsy person, drying or dehydrating fruits is a fun, healthy way to make a snack and preserve fruit. Cantaloupe, generally eaten fresh, can be dehydrated and eaten…

Watermelons make a refreshing summer treat because of their high water content and delicious sweet flavor. There are several ways to cut a watermelon to create fun and fancy effects. With a few common…

Loaded with vitamin C, watermelon also contains healthy lycopene, carotene and plenty of natural sugars. Once a watermelon is harvested from the vine it won't ripen any further. For optimum flavor and…

Because watermelons are so large, they can be carved into shapes and hollowed out. The watermelon's empty cavity can be filled with fresh fruit salad that consists of melon balls, tropical fruits,…

While it is possible to force a watermelon to grow into a square shape by putting the immature round watermelon into a glass cube, it comes with a hefty price. The technique, developed in Japan as a…

Despite all the advancements in agricultural science, many produce purists will argue that the best, most tried-and-true method for selecting a sweet and juicy watermelon is still using "the thump."…

Watermelons are one of summertime's finest treats. Served icy cold or at room temperature, cut into wedges or fancy baskets and even blended into smoothies and punch, watermelons add a smile to any…

Fresh watermelons have an ideal shape for creating a miniature boat. Though your watermelon ship probably won't sail, it will make waves as a stunning centerpiece for any occasion. Pirate themed…

While an overripe watermelon has a watery, mealy look with cavities around the seeds and looks somewhat unappealing, don't throw it away. You may want to taste-test a bite first to make sure it still…

Watermelons and cantaloupes require the same preservation methods. The fruits need to be preserved in the freezer to extend the shelf life. Before you can store the produce in the freezer, a syrup…

Throwing away watermelon seeds will be the last thing you will want to do once you see how many different uses there are for the seeds. Throwing away watermelon seeds is wasteful, which is something…

Watermelon is summer's reward for gardening. As temperatures climb there isn't much that's more cooling than a slice of ice cold watermelon. Make a watermelon slushy by whirring frozen chunks of the…

When you blindly select a watermelon at the market, you risk finding an unpleasant, mushy, tasteless surprise when you cut it open. While you can't know the quality of the meat before cutting the…

There's nothing like a bright red, juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer day. However, it is disappointing if you purchase a large melon and cut into it only to find pale pink flesh that's not…

Until recently, you could only buy a watermelon with seeds. Consequently, you would take a bite, and then you would have to spit the seeds out. Now watermelons have been developed that have no seeds.…

When eating a slice of watermelon, the part usually thrown away is the whitish green at the outside of the fruit, known as the rind. Most people don't do much with the rind, even though watermelon…

You're already familiar with carved pumpkins, also known as jack o'lanterns. If you know someone who has watermelons in his garden, you can forget about buying an expensive pumpkin and carve a…

Watermelon wedges usually find their way to summer picnics because the ice-cold fruit helps people cool off during hot weather. Cutting a whole watermelon may seem difficult, but you can easily slice…

Bring an extra splash of red, white and blue to your Fourth of July table with a watermelon boat. Watermelon boats are relatively easy to carve and add a decorative touches, and you can fill them…

Having spread from southern Africa to other parts of the world, the watermelon has become a common and appeasing treat for many cultures. The watermelon is the most common type of melon on the planet…

Watermelons are a summertime favorite family fun snack, enjoyed by all ages. Unlike muskmelons, they have the drawback of containing lots of seeds. On the plus side, seeded watermelons cost less and…

Juicy sweet watermelons are a refreshing delight in summer. Choosing a sweet ripe watermelon is easy when you know what to look for. Some people like to thump and hear a hollow sound, while some rely…

Instead of serving simple fruit salad, wow your guests by bringing out an eye-catching watermelon centerpiece filled with melon balls. One of the simplest designs for a centerpiece adapts to any…

Carving a watermelon is similar to carving a pumpkin, and many of us are familiar with cartoons and fairy tales where pumpkins are transformed into princess carriages. You can replicate these…

Fruit carving is an old custom that originated in Eastern cultures. Chiff.com explains, "In Thailand and Japan food carving is considered part of the presentation of the meal. The stunning designs…

In Asia, roasted watermelon seeds are a popular snack. In fact, those tiny seeds are much more than just something to snack on. They are loaded with nutrition and can be used for agricultural,…

If you are in the mood for some outdoor summer fun, why not add a spiked watermelon to your outdoor festivities? Spiked watermelons can be tasty and refreshing in the summer heat. Use this process to…

For thousands of years, people have been enjoying watermelon. It's unclear, though, how long people have been aware how healthy the fruit is. It was originally found in Africa, but China is now the…

The minty mojito cocktail's origin is attributed to Francis Drake in 1586. The secret to the watermelon twist on this historically refreshing drink is a pinch of salt. The salt brings out the flavor…

Watermelon shakes are the ideal beverage for a hot summer day. They really cool you off after exercise, are simple to make, and don't have any artificial ingredients. So, break out the blender and…

Carve a watermelon into the shape of a swan by cutting off the bottom of the watermelon, drawing a picture of the swan on the watermelon skin and cutting out the shape with a paring knife. Scoop out…

Watermelon and crab may sound like a strange combination, but the juicy sweetness of the watermelon is a perfect complement to the rich and savory crab filling. Watermelon crab cups delicious, and…

Summer is time for patio and outdoors entertaining and picnics and parties. Cut and carve a watermelon to look like a Southwestern Salsa Serving Bowl. Fill it with Salsa dip surrounded by chips for…

Watermelon is a great low-calorie sweet treat with lots of nutrition. You probably already know that the whole watermelons in your grocery store will taste better longer than the pre-cut selections.…

How often have you picked up a watermelon and hoped for good luck? Everyone has picked a watermelon that is either too ripe or not ripe enough. Choosing a watermelon doesn’t have to feel like…

Use the shell of a watermelon to serve a spiked fruit juice punch at your next outdoor party. Here's how to tap your melon and make it into a functioning keg.

Give a watermelon a little knock and listen for a nice hollow sound. Learn about picking out watermelons at a grocery store or supermarket in this free video on fruits and fresh produce.

What a beautiful centerpiece this will make when you serve fruits and melons at the next baby shower or baby birthday.Carve a Watermelon Baby Carriage and be the talk of the neighborhood when you walk…

You're walking around in the fruit aisle in the supermarket and a giant green pile catches your eye. It's a pile of watermelons--huge ones. They are on sale. Your mouth starts to water. You haven't…

Watermelons are tasty. Spiked watermelons are tasty and fun. Here is how to create the ultimate party treat.

Watermelon donuts are a new and unique way to serve watermelon, and are a departure from the typical high-fat, baked or fried donuts. The light and refreshing treats look lovely on a plate, and are a…

Combine your favorite summer fruit flavors into this cool and refreshing drink. Serve this watermelon lemonade at a picnic or at any time. For a twist, add vodka or gin to make a cocktail, or keep it…

Friends gather all across the world and head out to have a good time once the weekend arrives. Many of those find their way to clubs and bars. Dancing and drinking fill the night. New drinks are tried…

Nothing says summer like a watermelon full of alcohol. It is the perfect way to complement a barbecue or summer get-together. A July Fourth celebration wouldn't be complete without the all-American…

What would summertime be without watermelon? You already know that it's a delicious food that can cool you off on a hot summer's day. But what you might not know is that it's filled with…

Fresh fruits have the finest flavor and texture when at the peak of ripeness. Here is how to pick the perfect watermelon. The cold, juicy sweetness of a ripe watermelon on a summer day is a…

Granitas are ice desserts similar to sorbet, but with a grainier texture. They're very easy to make at home and require no special equipment. This recipe makes just under a quart.

Watermelons vary in size, so the yield of this recipe is likely to as well. Try using 1/4 of a large melon. Serves four.

Watermelons can be messy to cut, but this is the easiest and neatest way to pull it off.