20 Mouthwatering Watermelon Facts

1. There are over one hundred thousand acres of watermelons grown in the states, producing over 40 million pounds a year.
2. Watermelons are grown across the United States, the top four states include Texas, Florida, Georgia and California.
3. It takes a watermelon 80 to 95 days to become full-grown. It is ready to harvest when the rind touching the ground changes from white to pale yellow.
4. South Carolina Watermelons are planted from mid-March through April, with harvest beginning in early June and continues into August.
5. In California, watermelons are planted from December to early July with harvest from mid-May to October.
6. Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown worldwide. The 4 main categories are seeded, seedless, icebox, and yellow/orange.
7. The melon is believed to have originated in Africa.
8. The first recorded harvest occurred over 5,000 years ago in Egypt and is depicted in hieroglyphics.
9. Watermelon is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
10. Watermelons were used as canteens by early explorers.
11. Over 96 countries worldwide grow the melons.
12. While most people don’t, you can actually eat the entire fruit.
13. Americans consume more watermelons than any other country.
14. China is the leading producers of the melons.
15. The United States is the fifth largest producers in the world.
16. Seedless watermelons are a hybrid species, not genetically modified.
17. The melon is made of 92% water, hence the name.
18. The heaviest watermelon to date weighed in at 350.5 pounds and was grown by Guinness World Record holder Chris Kent, of Sevierville, Tennessee, in 2013.
19. They’re the official state vegetable of Oklahoma, since the strawberry was already named the state fruit. The title was almost revoked in 2015 when State Senator Nathan Dahm moved to repeal the bill, but the bill didn’t survive the committee.
20. Farmers in Japan have been growing watermelons into cube-shaped melons for decades by growing them in crates. Nowadays, they’re growing them into hearts and even human faces.

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Sources:
TheTownDish.com: 10 Facts You Never Knew About Watermelon
Mental Floss: 10 Refreshing Facts About Watermelon
WhatAboutWatermelon.com
Farm Flavor
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
National Geographic