Ripe watermelon. The color and structure of the pulp

At the same time, it becomes necessary to solve the problem - how to choose a watermelon, because it is not so difficult to determine a juicy and tasty fruit. The main thing in this matter is a competent approach, otherwise, there is a great risk of getting light pink instead of scarlet pulp without any good taste. How to choose a good watermelon It is necessary to choose such a berry correctly due to the fact that harmful substances may be present in some watermelons. Poisoning with nitrates, the content of which in the fetus sometimes exceeds the norm, causes headache, nausea and vomiting. In addition, do not buy melons near highways, because. Car exhaust contains heavy metals and harmful substances. To buy mature fruit Please consider the following main criteria:

Seasonality of ripening

In order not to buy an unripe fruit, take into account the month in which you decide to purchase melons. The most delicious watermelons ripen during the season, which starts from mid-August and lasts until the end of September. Early fruits are usually saturated with nitrates, because producers who want to harvest faster feed gourds with growth stimulants and nitrogen fertilizers. If you want to enjoy healthy products without any consequences for your health, then try to be patient and take into account the full ripening period.

Appearance

One of the signs of fruit ripeness is appearance. Examine it and make sure that there are bright contrasting stripes on the surface. They, like a shiny hard crust, are considered a sure sign of the ripeness of the fruit. If they are not found, then feel free to pass by and continue your search. Also, make sure that the surface of the watermelon is free of dents, soft spots, small cracks, scratches, and other damage. The fact is that through them microbes and bacteria can easily penetrate into the fetus. The benefits of watermelon for fasting days when losing weight Watermelon with vodka - how to pump up with a syringe and tincture recipes. How to make a watermelon inflated with vodka It will be good if the fruit has a slightly elongated or spherical shape, an even and uniform color - this is a huge plus in favor of choosing a specific product. Be sure to rub the crust, because. immature products will have a pronounced smell of fresh hay. In addition, do not buy cut fruits - in this case, even the presence of certificates may not protect against possible problems with health.

What is the sound of a ripe watermelon

Do not forget that melons should be sold either on the counter of the store, or in stalls with an awning or on special decks located above the ground. In order not to choose an unripe or, conversely, overripe fruit, be sure to tap it with your fist. A ripe watermelon makes a sonorous, clear sound. If he turns out to be deaf, then refuse to buy and continue your search. In addition, put your ear to the fruit and lightly squeeze the berry - a slight crackle is a sign of quality.

The presence of nitrates in the berry

Try to choose melons of medium size. Large fruits, despite their tempting and appetizing appearance, are often grown using nitrates. As for the small ones, they often turn out to be not very sweet, although everything will depend on the variety. Pay attention to the cut watermelon (if the seller has it). If the bones turn out to be white, then the watermelon is either unripe or contains a lot of nitrates. Seeds should be black or dark brown. Additionally, you should be alerted by the incredible bright color of the pulp with a lilac tint. Another point that may indicate an excess of nitrates is a smooth gloss on the cut surface. Do not forget that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, in this regard, leave the juicy core to the children - it is just the most delicious. You should not try a berry if its flesh is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers.

How to recognize a good watermelon

The process of finding a berry suitable for consumption can take a lot of time, because. you have to examine the fruit from all sides and make sure that there is a bright striped peel. The stem is of particular importance. If it is not there, then there is a possibility that it was torn off on purpose, because. goods passed through long-term storage and long transportation. To choose delicious gourds, pay attention to: a yellow spot on the side; bright striped crust; crust; tail; sound; gender (boy or girl).

yellow spot on side

Since the fruit lies on one side, a light spot is formed over time at the point of contact with the ground, which has a yellow or orange tint. In another way, it is also called "cheek". You should be alerted by an unevenly colored, too light or large surface. This is a sign that the berry did not lie on the melon. The optimal size of such a spot is considered to be 5-10 cm. Another sure sign of ripeness is light spots of small sizes. They appear all over watermelon rind after the production of chlorophyll stops.

Bright stripes on the skin

Choosing the right watermelon is a little more difficult than it might seem at first glance. Another important sign of the ripeness of melons is the presence of contrasting stripes, and bright ones. The color should be bright green. If you haven't noticed them, or they are only slightly visible, then continue with your selection. It is better to spend more time looking for a tasty and ripe berry than to be convinced later that the purchase made was a waste of money.

Thick and shiny crust

The rind should be smooth and shiny, but due to the fact that sellers constantly rub their products, choose a watermelon from the back of the display. In addition, the crust must be firm, because it hardens when the fruit reaches maturity and stops absorbing water. Try to pierce the crust with your fingernail, if this fails, then you have a product of really excellent quality. Despite the good density, such a crust can be easily scratched. Before choosing the product of interest, make sure that the peel does not have a matte coating, and the pattern is clear.

Sweet, juicy and velvety pulp of watermelon pleasantly refreshes on a hot day and quenches thirst. In addition, it is a source of iron, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, fiber, pectin and vitamin C. At the same time, it becomes necessary to solve the problem - how to choose a watermelon, because it is not so difficult to determine a juicy and tasty fruit. The main thing in this matter is a competent approach, otherwise, there is a great risk of getting light pink instead of scarlet pulp without any pleasant taste.

How to choose a good watermelon

It is necessary to choose such a berry correctly due to the fact that harmful substances may be present in some watermelons. Poisoning with nitrates, the content of which in the fetus sometimes exceeds the norm, causes headache, nausea and vomiting. In addition, do not buy melons near highways, because. Car exhaust contains heavy metals and harmful substances. To buy a ripe fruit, take into account the following main criteria:

seasonal ripening;
appearance;
the sound that a watermelon makes when tapped on it;
"floor";
tail type.

Seasonality of ripening

Appearance

One of the signs of the ripeness of the fruit is the appearance. Examine it and make sure that there are bright contrasting stripes on the surface. They, like a shiny hard crust, are considered a sure sign of the ripeness of the fruit. If they are not found, then feel free to pass by and continue your search. Also, make sure that the surface of the watermelon is free of dents, soft spots, small cracks, scratches, and other damage. The fact is that through them microbes and bacteria can easily penetrate into the fetus.

It will be good if the fruit has a slightly elongated or spherical shape, an even and uniform color - this is a huge plus in favor of choosing a specific product. Be sure to rub the crust, because. immature products will have a pronounced smell of fresh hay. In addition, do not buy cut fruits - in this case, even the presence of certificates may not protect against possible health problems.

What is the sound of a ripe watermelon

The presence of nitrates in the berry

Additionally, you should be alerted by the incredible bright color of the pulp with a lilac tint. Another point that may indicate an excess of nitrates is a smooth gloss on the cut surface. Do not forget that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, in this regard, leave the children with a juicy core - it is just the most delicious. You should not try a berry if its flesh is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers.

How to recognize a good watermelon

The process of finding a berry suitable for consumption can take a lot of time, because. you have to examine the fruit from all sides and make sure that there is a bright striped peel. The stem is of particular importance. If it is not there, then there is a possibility that it was torn off on purpose, because. the goods went through long storage and long transportation. To choose delicious gourds, pay attention to:

yellow spot on the side;
bright striped crust;
crust;
tail;
sound;
gender (boy or girl).

yellow spot on side

Since the fruit lies on one side, a light spot is formed over time at the point of contact with the ground, which has a yellow or orange tint. In another way, it is also called "cheek". You should be alerted by an unevenly colored, too light or large surface. This is a sign that the berry did not lie on the melon. The optimal size of such a spot is considered to be 5-10 cm. Another sure sign of ripeness is light spots of small sizes. They appear over the entire surface of the watermelon peel after the production of chlorophyll stops.

Bright stripes on the peel

Thick and shiny crust

dry ponytail

The stem is no less important when choosing suitable watermelon than other criteria. The tail must be dry, because. it dries up when the melon product is fully ripe. If the stalk turned out to be green, then in front of you is a fruit that was plucked before full ripening, although in long-harvested unripe watermelons, the green tail gradually acquires yellow tint. Another difference between mature and unripe berries is that ripe fruit the stalk is fragile and breaks easily, while in the unripe it is more sluggish.

Loud and deep sound

Tap each watermelon with your fist, listen carefully for the sound. For ripe melons, it should be clear, sonorous. In unripe watermelons, the sound is usually deaf. True, it is very difficult to hear the ringing through a strong and thick peel. Despite this, one should not neglect such a well-known method for checking the ripeness of the fruit. Additionally, you can squeeze the berry a little - it should crackle slightly.

"Boy" or "girl"?

Not every buyer of such products knows that watermelon has a gender. Distinguishing a "boy" from a "girl" is not so difficult. The female fruit has a perfectly flat bottom with a large circle of brown on the skin. Male watermelons are characterized by a convex lower part and a very small circle. To choose better berries female, because they are the sweetest and most delicious. In addition, they have an order of magnitude fewer seeds.

The most delicious varieties

To pick ripe and sweet watermelon, check out distinctive features and characteristics of popular varieties. Find out how much they weigh on average, what skin color they have, etc. When choosing, keep in mind that ripe berry should be heavy, but the overripe version is in most cases much lighter. In addition, never ask to cut the fruit to determine the ripeness - this opens up access to microbes, which develop especially rapidly in the hot season. Popular and widespread varieties are:

Crimson Gloria;
Astrakhan;
Kherson;
Skorik;
Photon;
Chill.

Crimson Gloria

This variety was bred on the Crimean peninsula. It has a long shelf life and good disease resistance, thanks to which it is perfectly transported over long distances. It has gained considerable distribution in the south of the country - one of these regions is the Volgograd region. Average weight varieties range from 10-17 kg. The crust is thicker compared to the Astrakhan species, thanks to which the fruit is reliably protected from damage during long-term transportation. The pulp is tender and sweet.

Astrakhan

This type of fruit is one of the most popular and in demand in Russia. By the end of August, as a rule, sweet and largest Astrakhan watermelons begin to appear on the shelves. As a separate variety, it was bred in 1977 through the efforts of one of the country's leading breeders at that time. This fruit has a spherical or slightly oblong shape. The pulp of a ripe berry is juicy, fragrant, coarse-grained. Its color is bright red.

The color of the Astrakhan fruit is green. The pattern on the surface consists of spike-like stripes that have a dark green tint. The average weight varies between 8-10 kg. In the dry season, voids may appear inside the fruit, but they do not have any effect on the taste. In general, it is better to buy fruit good quality with sweet and delicious pulp without any voids.

Kherson

The berries of this species never grow too large - in most cases their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If they show you a 15-20-kilogram giant and at the same time assure you that this is the Kherson variety, then do not believe this - it is either of a different type, or it was grown using a large number nitrates. Watermelon has a rounded shape and an average bark thickness of 9-12 mm. The pulp is red, sweet, juicy, grainy, so this species is very popular.

Early maturing varieties Skorik and Foton

Among the varieties available today, there are many precocious ones. One of them is Skorik, who has pronounced taste properties. The fruits are striped and large, and the seeds are black. The shape is spherical or spherical-flattened. Skorik is the earliest Russian view watermelons. The pulp is dense, bright red. The average weight is from 2 to 4 kg. This species is valued for its relatively large size, rich watermelon flavor and juicy honey-sweet pulp. The surface is smooth, the background is green, and the pattern is presented in the form of dark green stripes with blurry edges.

Deciding to choose an early grade product, pay attention to Photon. The fruit is medium in size, slightly oblong in shape, weighing approximately 4 kg. A light green pattern in the form of wide stripes of a dark green hue. The seeds are round and black, and the flesh is red, friable and tender. After harvesting Photon is stored for about 2-3 weeks. Transportation is well tolerated. Ripe Photon has a pleasant and sweet taste, fresh fragrance.

Hybrid variety Kholodok

If you plan to choose a mid-late look, then you will like Kholodok. The average weight is about 4.2 kg, so we can assume that this species is large. Chill has an elongated spherical shape with a medium and leathery bark, so it is not so difficult to distinguish this variety from others. Its flesh is granular, juicy, intense red in color with a pink tint. The seeds are large - they reach 1.5 cm in length, and sometimes more.

Where is the best place to buy watermelon?

Before you learn how to choose a watermelon, you need to decide on the place of purchase. To do this, you need to go to specialized stores or walk along the rows of stalls, which must be equipped with an awning. If melons and gourds are presented on special floorings, then make sure that they are located at a height of at least 15 cm from the ground.

In addition, retail outlets should be located away from highways, because. transport exhausts are absorbed by melons instantly. Also, do not forget that gentle watermelon pulp- this is the optimal environment for the reproduction of microorganisms that enter through imperceptible cracks along with dirt and dust. It is unlikely that you will be able to choose and buy safe products in such places. Although, many buyers neglect this recommendation.

Quality certificate

To choose melons that are really safe for health, pay attention to the watermelon certificate. Ask the seller to show it. If it is, then familiarize yourself with the data indicated in it: the place of collection, the harvest period, the content of nitrates and other characteristics. Based on them, you will be able to make a final conclusion whether to choose one or another product from a particular seller or not. If you are offered a photocopy of the certificate, then it must be in color, and the text must be clear.

Video

« Himself - scarlet sugar, caftan - green velvet. This riddle is easily guessed by all kids. Juicy, sweet and velvety watermelon flesh is pleasantly refreshing on a hot day, quenches thirst and is a source of vitamin C, iron, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, pectin and fiber. However, how many times have we brought home a large beautiful watermelon, gathered at the table with the whole family, cut it and ... were disappointed. Instead of scarlet pulp, splashing with juice, something pale pink and completely tasteless appeared before our eyes. It is even more offensive when, after tasting a quite decent-looking watermelon, symptoms of poisoning appear - headache, nausea and vomiting. This reaction is caused by the nitrates contained in watermelons, which appeared in the process of growing the fruit due to the use of a large amount of mineral fertilizers.

How to choose a good ripe watermelon

It's not difficult at all if you know a few simple rules. So, we will learn to choose the perfect watermelon, fragrant, sugary, melting in your mouth and without nitrates!

Rule 1 Look at the calendar.

The most delicious ripen in season, that is, from the second half of August to the end of September. Early watermelons are rich in nitrates, as some producers, in an effort to harvest more quickly, feed gourds with nitrogen fertilizers and growth stimulants. If you want to enjoy watermelons without the health consequences, be patient!

Rule 2 Meeting place can not be Changed.

It is very important where you buy watermelon. Melons should be sold either in a store or in stalls with an awning, on special decks located at a height of at least 15 cm from the ground. The fact is that the tender watermelon pulp is a suitable breeding ground for microorganisms that enter through inconspicuous cracks along with dust and dirt. All gourds instantly absorb hazardous substances from the environment, so never buy them near highways, because car exhaust contains harmful substances and heavy metals. For the same reason, do not take cut watermelons, which are literally teeming with germs. In this case, even certificates will not help - an initially flawless watermelon can be very dangerous to health.

Rule 3 Meet by clothes.

Carefully inspect and feel the watermelon from all sides - the watermelon peel should not even have small cracks, dents, soft spots, scratches and other damage through which bacteria and microbes easily penetrate. Well, if the watermelon has a spherical or slightly elongated shape, uniform and even color - this is a huge plus for the watermelon image. Bright and contrasting stripes are a sure sign of the ripeness of a watermelon, as is a shiny “wooden” rind that cannot be pierced with a fingernail, but is easy to scratch. Rub the watermelon rind with your finger - the unripe fruits will clearly smell of fresh hay.

Rule 4 It's all about the tail.

The watermelon tail must be dry - when the watermelon ripens, it stops taking moisture from the ground and dries up. If the tail is green, it means that the watermelon was plucked before full ripening, although the green tail turns yellow with time in long-harvested unripe fruits. There is an important difference between a mature and immature tail - in a ripe watermelon, the tail is fragile and breaks easily, while in an unripe fruit it is more sluggish. If the tail is cut off, bypass such watermelons - most likely, the sellers decided to disguise poor quality harvest.

Rule 5 Those mysterious yellow spots.

Since it lies on one side for a long time, a bright spot of a rich yellow or orange hue forms at the point of contact with the ground - it is called a “cheek”. Too light, large or unevenly colored surface should alert you, because this is a sure sign that the watermelon was not on the melon. The optimal size of the “cheek” is 5–10 cm. There is another sign of ripeness - small light spots that appear on the entire surface of the watermelon peel after the production of chlorophyll has stopped.

Rule 6 Large or small?

The correct answer is medium. Large watermelons, despite their tempting appearance, are often grown using nitrates, and small fruits most often unsweetened. Sometimes there are exceptions - small watermelons can be sugary and tasty, while large watermelons can be watery, unsweetened and pale pink.

Rule 7 Sound and ripe.

Tap the watermelon with your fist - ripened fruits make a clear and sonorous sound, and unripe watermelons respond dully. You can put your ear to a watermelon sea shell, and compress it slightly - ripe watermelon crackle slightly.

Rule 8 Girl or boy?

It turns out that watermelons have a gender. In female fetuses, the bottom is completely flat with a large brown circle, while in male fetuses it is convex and with a very small circle. Know that the sweetest and most delicious are “girls”, besides, they have much less seeds.

Rule 9 Watermelon "passport".

If you have found the best watermelon and are ready to buy it, ask the seller for a quality certificate, which can be considered a kind of watermelon “passport”. The certificate should contain the following data: the “homeland” of the watermelon, its age, that is, the harvest time, nitrate content and other characteristics, on the basis of which you can make a final conclusion whether or not to be a watermelon on your table. If the seller shows you a photocopy of the certificate, take a closer look at the seal - it must certainly be in color, not black and white. If you suspect false documents, do not take risks - health is more expensive.

Rule 10"Exposure" of nitrates.

Finally, you bought the "right" watermelon, brought it home, and cut it up. Do not rush to taste, first make sure that the fruit is not nitrate. The following points should alert you - an incredibly bright watermelon pulp with a lilac tint, yellow fibers in the pulp and a smooth gloss on the cut of the watermelon instead of a grainy surface. Remember that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, so always leave a juicy core for babies - it is just the tastiest.

Enjoy the fragrant and sweet pulp, prepare juices and summer desserts which children love very much. And you can also arrange watermelon fasting days and losing weight is tasty, easy and healthy. We wish you a pleasant watermelon pore and juicy fruity mood!

The end of summer is coming soon, which means it's time for delicious and sweet watermelons. By the way, did you know that the fruits of this annual herbaceous plant are morphologically considered to be a berry?! In this short instruction, I want to tell you how to choose the right ripe watermelon so that it is ripe and sweet. Since childhood, many believe that the ripeness of a watermelon can be determined by the sound, or rather by the knock. The mature sound is more deaf. And if you press it, it will crunch. And if the knock is sonorous, then it has not yet matured.
In fact, there are much more signs of watermelon ripeness. Let's look at them all.

On a ripe watermelon, a dry tail

The tail of a watermelon indicates its maturity: green indicates that the fruit was plucked too early and its taste will no longer be as juicy. Ripe will be the one that has already dried hard tail.

And if you are lucky and you are on melon, then in order to choose a guaranteed ripe watermelon there will be one that has a dry tendril on the stalk. Here he is:

On this basis, professional pickers on melons determine a ripe watermelon when they are loaded into transport.

How to determine maturity by soil stain

While the fruit is growing, it lies on the ground and this part of it has a yellowish color. It's called "Earth Spot". So the most ripe, and therefore very sweet, will be the watermelon, in which the earthen spot will be closer to dark yellow or even orange. How greener fruit, the lighter the spot, the closer to white color. Here is a prime example:

On the right is the “correct” watermelon. But the one on the left was plucked early and he was not ripe, so you should not take him.

We are looking for the right watermelon on the bee web

If you are looking at watermelons in a store when buying, then the so-called “bee web” will help you find the sweetest one. There she is:

These are small brown spots, somewhat reminiscent of a web. They tell us that during pollination, the bees often touched the ovary of the fruit, that is, pollination was very intensive, which means the fruit will be sugar!

Boy or girl?

Did you know that watermelons are also distinguished by gender. "Men" are distinguished by a narrower and elongated shape. They have large seeds, and the taste is not very bright, but the flesh itself is very, very juicy. "Girls" are smaller and rounder. They seem to be squashed. They also have a very sweet rich taste and small seeds.

A big watermelon is a ripe watermelon!

Another way to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon is to look for medium-sized specimens weighing between 6 and 10 kilograms. At the same time, a good fruit is always quite heavy for its size.

The largest specimens are also not worth taking. The fact is that even "local" fruits (that is, grown in Russia) weighing more than 15 kilograms are pumped up to the eyeballs with nitrates. Unfortunately, the content of nitrates cannot be determined by eye.

Try to buy watermelons in trusted places. Outlet should be equipped with a tray for these fruits and covered with an awning. Alternatively, a covered truck. Buying watermelons piled on the ground, and even next to the road, is clearly not worth it.
Most delicious watermelon it should also be outwardly beautiful - shiny, not sluggish, without cracks, dents and scratches. The stripes are clear and contrasting. Through damage to the crust, dirt and bacteria enter the inside of the fruit and this can not only spoil the taste, but also cause indigestion.
Many sellers offer to cut a piece of watermelon you like for a sample. Doing this is not worth it. As a rule, sellers don’t wash knives and bring unnecessary bacteria inside the fruit, because of which it can quickly disappear.

Summer is the time for fresh fruits and vegetables. However, in a temperate climate, not all the gifts of nature have time to ripen and grow, so you have to feast on imported products. In this case, there is a possibility of running into low-quality goods, because unscrupulous sellers go to any tricks to sell fruits and vegetables as quickly as possible. This also applies to watermelons, the sales season of which is limited to a few months a year.

What do the varieties of watermelons sold in the markets of the CIS countries look like?

Residents of warm regions, where watermelons are a familiar gourd crop, are well aware of what a ripe watermelon looks like. juicy berry(watermelon is not actually a fruit or vegetable, but a berry). But the residents middle lane Russians from the northwestern regions of the CIS may make a mistake when choosing a sweet treat. And it's not so much about the taste of the product, but about its health benefits. After all, overripe or unripe watermelons are toxic, and it costs almost nothing to get poisoned by them. What varieties are most often sold in the markets of Russia and neighboring countries?

Astrakhan watermelon. This is the most popular and best-selling variety grown in the south of Russia. It appears on the shelves at the end of August, it is easy to distinguish it by dark green stripes on a light green background. The Astrakhan variety is the most transportable, it is stored for a long time and does not rot from the inside. Therefore, such watermelons can be seen incredibly large sizes. Their shape is rounded, slightly elongated downwards. The pulp has a bright scarlet color, there are not very many seeds. Watermelon is juicy and flavorful. Ripeness is determined by the color contrast of the stripes closer to the tail: the more mature watermelon, the greater the contrast.
Melitopol watermelon. Ripeness is determined in the same way as in the Astrakhan variety. It is grown in the south of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova. It can be stored for a long time, up to 4 months. It has a peel about 1.5 cm thick. The flesh is dense and juicy.
Raspberry sugar (Crimson Sweet). Outwardly, the watermelon is similar to Astrakhan, but the skin does not have a matte, but a glossy sheen. This is due to the fact that the variety belongs to the category of early ripening, and it appears on the shelves in the middle of summer. In terms of weight and size, it is inferior to the Astrakhan counterpart, but in terms of palatability he's no worse. If the market claims that in early July you have Astrakhan watermelon, it will most likely be the Crimson Sweet variety. It will not withstand long transportation and long storage. But on the tables appears one of the first.
Madeira. This is a watermelon of the American-Dutch selection. Differs in a rounded shape and low weight. It is quite possible to buy whole watermelon weighing 2-3 kg. The variety is early ripe, so its skin is not thick, the pattern is characterized by dark green stripes on a yellowish-light green background.
Skorik. It belongs to the early varieties. It is distinguished by its round shape, like a volleyball, and a deep green color, on which dark broken stripes can be seen. The taste of watermelon is unusually tender, not cloying, there are few seeds and they are small. The variety is grown in the south of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Charleston Grey. This foreign breeder has an unusual elongated shape, and looks like a zucchini. It has no stripes on the skin, the color is uniform, light green. Cultivated by Charleston Gray in Ukraine, it appears on the shelves of Russia at the end of August. The pulp is bright, red, the taste is sweet, thin, not cloying. Watermelon is good because it is stored cut in the refrigerator longer than other varieties, without losing consumer qualities.
Chill. This amazing variety can be seen in supermarkets even under New Year. It is stored up to 5 months after cutting. It is easy to distinguish by its coloring features. The skin of a watermelon is thick, painted with a "cheetah" pattern. The stripes are not the same as those of the Astrakhan watermelon. Rather, these are light green spots on a dark background. The flesh is not red, but pink. The variety is grown in Ukraine and Moldova.
Light. The variety is distinguished by a uniform dark green color without stripes and spots. The skin of the watermelon is thin, the flesh is tender and juicy. The size of the watermelon is small, on average, the fruits reach a size of 1.5-2 kg.

The farther the region is located from the watermelon habitat, the more likely it is that they will sell nitrate watermelons. To prolong the safety of the product and its appearance, suppliers harvest unripe berries, removing them at the stage of milky maturity. As a result, the watermelon has a beautiful appearance with all the signs of ripeness. But this is not achieved by the most noble methods. By injection into the pulp of watermelon, nitrates are injected, which help to accelerate the ripening process. How to determine which watermelon is in front of you, ripened naturally or stuffed with chemicals?

Tap your knuckles on the watermelon. If you hear a dull sound, like tapping on a deflated ball, you have a nitrate fruit in front of you.
When cutting a watermelon, a naturally ripened specimen will crackle, and stuffed with chemicals, it will cut silently.
The clearer and more contrasting the stripes on the watermelon, the more likely it is that it has ripened on its own.
In natural watermelon, the flesh is dense and light red, bright. A light pink and translucent shade indicates that the product contains chemicals.
At good watermelon soil stain remains yellow color on which he lay, maturing under the sun. A nitrate fruit does not have such a spot.
Clearly expressed whitish veins testify to the artificial ripening of the watermelon.
Drop a slice of watermelon into a glass of water. If the water doesn't turn pink, that's good. A change in the color of the water indicates the presence of nitrates in the watermelon.

The areola of an earthen spot in a ripe watermelon should not be large. If the stain takes large area and has a bright white-yellow hue, this indicates a prematurely cut fruit.
Most of the nitrates are located near the rind, so the presence of pale pink flesh under the rind indicates the presence of nitrates.
With the same size of watermelon ripe fruit weighs more than unripe.
It is forbidden to buy cut watermelons. If you see a piece of watermelon wrapped in cling film, do not be tempted to buy. It is better to agree with the neighbors that you will buy a watermelon and divide it in half at home.
When food poisoning after tasting the watermelon, report it to the seller.
For children under 3 years old, watermelon should be given in small quantities and only after you are convinced of its quality. If the watermelon contains nitrates, an adult may not notice, and for a child, everything can be very deplorable.

Conclusions: when choosing a watermelon, pay attention to the following:

stripe contrast
glossy shine of the peel
no stains or blemishes
ringing when tapped with knuckles
soil patch dimensions