How to test watermelon for nitrates? Good advice! How to distinguish a ripe watermelon from a nitrate one How to check a ripe watermelon or not ways.

There is about a week left before the official start of the season for the sale of watermelons, however, unauthorized trade in melons on the streets of Moscow has been going on since mid-July. Consumers are outraged not only by the high price, but also by the quality of the fruit: watermelons that are artificially ripened with the help of nitrates pose a health hazard.

At the same time, sellers of watermelon breakups in most cases cannot present either a trade permit or quality certificates.

Permission to trade melons will be valid from 1 August . The Moscow Department of Consumer Market and Services explained that it is not recommended to buy watermelons before this date - it is better to wait until the end of summer, when they will definitely ripen.

The number of gourd breaks in the capital this summer will be almost two times less compared to last year - total 450 . In addition, retail outlets will operate under the new rules. Sellers are required to work in special clothing, carry a medical book and documents confirming the quality of the products.

Where to choose watermelons

In Moscow, the sale of melons "from the ground" is prohibited. Sales outlets should be equipped with mesh chests and special scales instead of household, medical and postal scales. Sellers should not cut and sell watermelons and melons in parts, in slices.

In addition, visual information about the operating hours of the outlet and the legal address of the trade organization should be placed on the tray or collapse.

To be on the safe side, it's best not to buy watermelons from "spontaneous" markets where products are not checked by sanitary services, and always ask if they have documents. And even more so, you should not buy at the breakups near the roads: there the products absorb toxins.

Some producers stimulate the ripening of gourds with nitrogen fertilizers, which leads to the accumulation of nitrates in watermelons. The consequences of their use can be severe - acute infectious poisoning or chronic intoxication, which doctors call "cumulative effect".

How to identify a nitrate "bomb"

It is impossible to determine a nitrate watermelon by eye if it is not cut. A berry should not even be tasted if its flesh is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers or has a purple hue.

If you soak the pulp of a nitrate watermelon in water, it will turn red or pink due to the high content of nitrates. A "healthy" watermelon will make the water slightly cloudy.

If you knock on a nitrate watermelon, it feels like you are hitting a half-mast ball. In appearance, such a watermelon may be ripe, but if it does not crack when compressed, it means that it has not ripened without someone else's "help"

What should a watermelon look like without flaws

There is a widespread belief that a large watermelon is "nitrate". This is not true: for example, for the “chill” variety, 10-20 kilograms is far from the limit.

The ideal watermelon should be large enough without being too heavy and with a distinct striped pattern. In order to determine the natural ripeness of a watermelon, first of all, you need to pay attention to the stalk - the tail at the top of the fruit must be dry.

The purchased watermelon should not have cuts and cracks - through which microbes enter, causing intestinal infections.

There is a myth that a ripe watermelon should ring if you pat it with your palm. In fact, the sound depends on whether the pulp inside has softened or not. Just the green fruit will ring, and the ripe watermelon should be deaf.

The crackle that a watermelon makes when you squeeze it with your hands is a good sign. You can safely buy such a product.

The earth spot on the lower side should preferably be yellow, not white.

And the last. A ripe watermelon can be easily scratched - by running your fingernail over it, you can easily remove the top layer of the peel.

When choosing a melon, connoisseurs advise paying attention to the aroma that its peel should exude, the softness that is felt to the touch, and also the absence of light brown spots.

What to do in case of "nitrate" poisoning

In addition to nitrates, watermelons can contain microbes and even heavy metals. In case of poisoning, it is necessary to drink as much water as possible to prevent dehydration and reduce the symptoms of the disease.

Is watermelon useful?

There is conflicting information about the benefits of watermelons. Some say that the fiber of watermelons contains potassium, which is washed out of the body when taking diuretic drugs. Therefore, watermelons are advised to be consumed in diseases such as cystitis and nephritis.

At the same time, there is an opinion that all gourds, although they contain fiber, are poorly absorbed, loading the stomach. That is why doctors advise children and the elderly over 50 to give up juicy fruits.

The material was prepared by the online editors www.rian.ru based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Now, people are ready to stuff food with chemistry, just to give them a marketable appearance, and immediately put them up for sale. But who wants to go to the hospital after eating their favorite fruit or vegetable? For this, it is worth reading articles to distinguish a good watermelon from a watermelon stuffed with chemical additives.

The more colorful and contrasting the watermelon, the better and juicier it will be.

An important indicator of the state of the watermelon is the color of the veins inside the pulp of the watermelon. If their color is white, then the watermelon can safely go to your stomach. If streaks of yellow or purple are seen, then this is a bad sign - such a watermelon is either not fully ripe, or the result of a pest invasion, but in most cases this is the effect of nitrates.

I immediately remember the hippopotamus from "Well, wait a minute"

But oddly enough, this method almost always works, if you have the strength, of course, to squeeze the watermelon.

Gloss check

Also pay attention to the seeds - they must be mature!

Fresh, snowy, soft-crispy

I will cut open, I will cry into the scarlet sweetness.
This is a miracle, moreover, a real one -
Our Baskunchak, Liman watermelon!

What a twist

Usually they say that there are few nitrates in the middle, and a lot - closer to the peel. As it turns out, this is not always the case.

water test

And you can also check this: throw a piece of watermelon pulp into the water, if it sinks, the watermelon is saturated with nitrates, and if it remains to swim, it’s good!

By the way, about how to choose the right melon and what to cook from it, read here!

Cut off from melons

When the watermelon ripens, it is separated from the melon by the fact that its tail dries up on its own. If you do not see the tail or it is somehow tucked up, most likely the seller is hiding something from you.

The ripeness of a watermelon and the naturalness of its origin can also be determined by an earthen spot.

On one of the barrels of watermelon, there must be a brownish-yellow or orange-yellow spot - this is the side of the watermelon lying on the ground. But keep in mind that the stain should not be white!

Oh, that sound

The sound of a watermelon depends on whether the pulp inside has softened or not. Just the green fruit will ring, and the ripe watermelon will make a dull sound.

We check how the bees worked on the watermelon

These nets appear because the bees touch the ovary during pollination, respectively, the more pollination occurs, the sweeter the fruit will be.

Touch the peel for density

When the watermelon ripens and separates from the melon, it is no longer able to absorb water, because its rind hardens. If you can easily pierce the peel with your fingernail, you have an unripe fruit.

Girl or boy?

Watermelon is a bisexual berry: the “male” individual is more elongated, has a convex bottom and a small circle, while the “female” berries have a wide circle. "Girls" are considered tastier: they have fewer bones, and more sugar.

If you still got on a nitrate watermelon, then the following symptoms will bother you

2-6 hours after eating watermelon:

• nausea, rarely vomiting;
• diarrhea (up to 10-15 times a day);
• abdominal pain, cramps;
• weakness;
• dizziness, headaches;
• temperature rise.

What to do in case of watermelon poisoning:

1. Rinse the stomach with plenty of warm, salted water or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Take enterosorbents - drugs that neutralize poisons in the intestinal lumen. The most popular: activated carbon, Polysorb MP, Enterosgel, Smekta.
3. Drink as much liquid as possible to enhance the elimination of poisons from the body, as well as prevent dehydration.
4. Drink sweet tea with lemon after nausea stops.
5. Do not take antidiarrheals and painkillers, they mask the true state of the body.

Watermelon is loved for its sweetness, for the fact that this berry gets rid of thirst, removes toxic substances from the body. How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden is of interest to summer residents who planted this crop for the first time, because the unripe fruit is tasteless.

Although its pulp is more than 90% water, it contains vitamins, trace elements such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium. Folic acid present in watermelon strengthens the immune system, lycopene prevents cell regeneration, tocopherol protects them from aging. Riboflavin promotes the conversion of carbohydrates into energy.

How to understand that a watermelon is ripe - the main points

You can find out if a striped berry is ripe by paying attention to certain signs. The fruits of some varieties of gourds reach a weight of 20 kilograms, but if they stop growing, you can pick a watermelon after 20 days.

Worth paying attention to:

• in the form of a crust;
• on the color of the spot on the side;
• for the presence of sound.

When the berry ripens, the matte skin begins to shine, the stripes become clearer. You should not cut a cube from a fruit in a garden bed to check its ripeness - the product will rot after a few days.

The tail of watermelons dries up when the weather is dry and hot, and the plant is deficient in moisture, so its appearance does not depend on whether the berry is green or ripe.

If the tendril, which is located in the same sinus of the leaf with the tail, began to dry, the striped fruit can already be cut. The diameter of the watermelon depends on the variety. Only gardeners can determine the ripeness, that they have been growing it for a long time.

In appearance of the crust

To find out whether the fruit is ripe, whether it has accumulated sweetness, you need to carefully examine its peel. When the berry stops getting moisture from the plant, the rind becomes hard. In a ripe watermelon, dents and cracks are not felt on it, the skin is not covered with a matte purine coating. The top layer of the fetus is well removed with a fingernail.

On a light background of the crust, almost black stripes clearly appear. When the berry ripens, the synthesis of chlorophyll stops, which gives a green tint to the watermelon peel.

When a gourd grows in warmth and in the sun, when ripe, its fruits acquire a contrasting color, shine appears, turns yellow or becomes an orange spot on the side. A ripe berry has a slightly elongated shape.

On a dry stem

Before cutting a watermelon, you need to carefully consider its tail. If it is dry, then, most likely, the berry has rotted or overripe. A product with a green stalk is not suitable for consumption. For such a watermelon to ripen, it needs at least 2 weeks to grow in the garden.

By sound

An unripe berry not only lacks sweetness, but also contains harmful substances, it can be easily poisoned. Although tomatoes and melons, which also belong to gourds, ripen at home, some gardeners believe that it is better to pick a watermelon earlier, but their opinion is not confirmed. You can check the ripeness of the fruit in another way. The product is suitable for use when a slight crackle occurs when squeezed, when tapped - not a deaf, but a sonorous sound.

What should be the size and color of the earth spot

The watermelon, which is grown in the garden, does not turn on its own, therefore it constantly lies, touching with the same side. A stain appears in this place. In a ripe fruit, it is distinguished by an orange or yellow tint. If this “cheek” occupies a significant surface, the size exceeds 10 centimeters, it has an uneven color or a pale color, it is better to wait with the harvest. When the berry ripens, the entire peel is covered with small spots that are much lighter than itself.

Optimal weight

Breeders have bred different varieties of watermelons that are more adapted to a particular area, differ in size and weight, and ripen at different times. Skorik first appears on the shelves of retail outlets. There are no stripes on the surface of the fruit, the peel has a dark green color. The mass of ripe watermelons rarely reaches 7 kilograms.

Photon matures quickly. The skin of this berry is lighter, painted with stripes.

Variety Crimson Gloria is characterized by:

• excellent transportability;
• very thick crust;
• huge sizes.

One such fruit weighs 15-17 kilograms. The mass of Kherson watermelons is somewhat less. You can recognize them by light stripes, thin peel, elongated shape.

The hybrid variety Kholodok, although it ripens by the end of August, is valued for not spoiling for a long time, retaining its characteristics.

Astrakhan watermelon is different:

• smooth surface;
• the presence of dark stripes;
• bright green skin.

A sweet berry of this variety weighs up to 10 kilograms, is not damaged during transportation. This hybrid was bred at the end of the last century by Russian breeders.

What should be the color and texture of the pulp

It is not recommended to eat watermelons if the concentration of nitrates in them exceeds the norm. Those gardeners who grow melons for their families, and not for sale, like farmers, do not stuff the fruits with harmful substances so that they ripen faster. When buying watermelons in the market, you need to learn some rules.

The presence of a large amount of nitrates says:

• uneven coloring of the pulp;
• the presence of cracks and yellowish fibers in the section;
• uneven color of the bones.

If a juicy piece of fruit is placed in a glass of water, and the solution becomes cloudy, it can be safely purchased for consumption; it is better to refuse watermelon if the liquid has acquired a reddish tint.

To determine whether a berry is ripe, it is not necessary to taste the fruit, just look closely at the pulp.

If it has a pink tint, a porous structure, then the fruit has already ripened, acquired sugar content. The red color of the insides of a watermelon indicates that there are a lot of nitrates in the berry or it is overripe, and such a product is unsuitable for consumption by either children or adults.

How not to define ripeness

Some of the methods used to find out if a watermelon can be cut from a garden bed are not always effective. It is impossible to accurately determine whether the fruit is ripe by the average ripening period of the variety, because gourds always react to the weather. If the days are cool, it rains, the harvest time is delayed, and it is not certain that the fruits will acquire sweetness.

The development of melons and gourds is influenced by the characteristics of the soil on which it grows.

It is impossible to say for sure that a watermelon is ripe if its tail is dry. This often happens in extreme heat, in the absence of moisture in the ground. To understand what kind of sound occurs when knocking, whether crackling appears when pressing on the peel, you need to hear very well. It is difficult to determine its ripeness by the weight and diameter of the fruit. Such parameters rarely correspond to annotations and specially designed tables.

If the gardener has been growing the same variety of sweet berries for a long time, focusing on its size, he can start harvesting. Such methods give the correct result only in half of the cases. Many say that “girls” watermelons with a dense large spot are tastier, but “boys”, with a good choice, also please with sweetness and juiciness.

The ability of gourds to gratefully accept nitrogen supplements and store nitrates in reserve is known. But for a person, such a berry can be dangerous. You need to know how to choose a watermelon without nitrates. These harmful substances are present in any vegetables in small quantities. Watermelons are champions in the accumulation of nitric acid salts.

Why are nitrates dangerous to humans?

In the human body, nitrates are converted to nitrites in the large intestine and absorbed into the blood. In this case, nitrites form the compound methemoglobin. Hemoglobin in the blood is needed to deliver oxygen to cells. Methemoglobin does not perform this function and oxygen starvation begins in the body. At 30% substitution, nitrate poisoning occurs, at 50% death may occur.

Slight poisoning is expressed by depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. The doctor diagnoses poisoning by an enlarged and dense liver. The danger is higher in children, as they have a small body weight, and there is no enzyme capable of converting methemoglobin to hemoglobin. Therefore, a baby cannot be given watermelon to a baby.

In the human gastrointestinal tract, protein products are broken down, amines and other nitrogenous compounds are present. Combining with salts of nitric acid, carcinogens, nitrosamines are obtained.

WHO has defined as an acceptable daily dose of nitrates 3.7 mg, nitrites 0.2 mg per kilogram of human weight. In terms of a weight of 70 kg, this will be 350 mg of sodium nitrate.

During heat treatment, in the presence of vitamin C, during storage, nitrates are destroyed. The danger of nitrates in watermelon is great precisely because it is eaten without pre-treatment and in large quantities.

How to determine nitrates in watermelon?

If earlier the advice was not the most correct in the off-season, then modernity is making adjustments. There are new ultra-early varieties and hybrids that ripen early, without accelerators. Such watermelons are small, only 1.5-2 kg, and we were taught not to choose small fruits. So, if the variety is ultra-early, then the watermelon cannot be large.

Therefore, the study of sweet berries should be carried out in the aggregate for a number of reasons:

• appearance;
• the structure of the pulp in a home study;
• use of methods and control devices.

Watermelon research starts at the counter. You can not buy goods from the collapse of the roadside. For a day of standing in a gassed environment, the product will pick up a lot of exhaust gases, no less harmful than nitrates. On the ground, the crust will become dirty, the grains of sand will injure the shell, and it will not be possible to completely wash such a watermelon. Usually, roadside trade is illegal, the goods do not have a sanitary certificate on the content of harmful substances.

It is safe to buy agricultural products, including watermelons and melons, in special places and with a quality certificate.

Watermelon should have a dry tail. It should be carefully examined, a sign that the watermelon was removed green will be a soaked tip or cut off with a sharp knife. In addition, this will be a sign that the watermelon has been stale for a long time. And without a tail, you should not take the fruit. This means the seller has something to hide. The tail can dry naturally in the garden of an unripe watermelon, which is specially turned over several times, twisting the tail.

Stripes of dark and light colors should be contrasting, not blurry, the pattern is clear. In a ripe watermelon, you can slightly scratch the skin, and then a dense white layer and a clearly audible watermelon smell will be found below. All this is a sign that the watermelon has recently sat in the garden.

On examination, you need to check well if there is a puncture in the peel of the watermelon, through which they served what the watermelon is pumped with for quick redness. And not only watermelon, other melons and tomatoes also receive injections from unscrupulous sellers. Saltpeter injection accelerates redness.

You can not buy a watermelon with black dots on the surface, a small rotted spot, with a crack or dent. You can not ask to cut a triangle to inspect the middle. A cut fruit with an unwashed peel, a dirty knife can lead to bad consequences.

To find signs of nitrate watermelon at home, research needs to be continued. First, lower it into a bowl of water. If the fruit is ripe, it will float. A drowned watermelon can not be checked, returned to the owner. After that, wash the watermelon with soap and a brush, drain.

The cut fruit should have a grainy surface, not a smooth, glossy cut. Seeds should be developed and black. On the cut there should not be thick yellow bundles, nitrogen supply overpasses. The veins are thin white, this is the normal structure of the fruit. The flesh should not be in the middle of an intense color, but gradually turn yellow towards the periphery. These are signs of the presence of a large amount of nitrogen. A watermelon with nitrates, the photo of which is posted below, shows its inside view.

Finally, put a piece of watermelon 20 grams into a transparent glass and knead in water. If the water becomes cloudy, everything is fine. If stained, this indicates the presence of nitrates. Moreover, the more intense the color, the more impurities in the watermelon.

The instrumental research method is the most reliable. He suggests:

• laboratory analysis;
• research using indicator strips;
• using a special device, a nitrate meter, or an ecotester.

Only a specialist will decide to keep a tripod for sample titration and potassium alum at home. But this is how the amount of nitrates in agricultural products is checked in the laboratory. There are test strips that are inexpensive, they are not determined very accurately, approximately. And you can buy an ecotester device that gives a result and a warning about the dangerous content of nitrates.

If a dangerous dose is found, watermelon should not be eaten, it is better to part with it. In order for the risk to be minimal, you should wait until mid-August and only then feast on watermelon. But even at this time, vigilance should be observed. Producers try to get a big harvest and they always feed, only during a certain growing period.

How to choose a sweet watermelon?

When buying a watermelon, experts advise choosing "girls". From a scientific point of view, this is not applicable to berries. It does not happen among the fruits of boys and girls. However, folk signs show that a watermelon with a flat or slightly deepened top is sweeter and has fewer seeds. "Boys" are considered if there is a small tubercle at the top. Perhaps these are some features in pollination, but this selection rule works.

Another sign of a ripe berry may be a small orange spot, this place the fruit lay on the ground. If the filling went quickly, the earth was warm, the spot was small, the berries were tasty. If the spot is large, white, then the taste of watermelon will be different. This means that the berry lay on the ground for a long time, the ground was cold, so you should not expect sweetness from such a berry.

When cutting a watermelon, you need to leave 3 cm of pulp near the crust, fertilizers accumulate there. And give the children a piece from the very middle. No need to eat a lot of goodies in one sitting. It is better to stretch the pleasure, eat the fruit in small portions, while listening to the state of the body.

Bon appetit and good health!

How to choose a ripe watermelon without nitrates - video

Irina Kamshilina

Cooking for someone is much more pleasant than for yourself))

Content

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

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 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

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 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

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.

dry ponytail

The stalk is just as important when choosing the right watermelon as 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 a yellow tint. Another difference between ripe and unripe berries is that in a ripe fruit the stalk is fragile and breaks easily, while in an unripe one 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 fetus. 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. It is better to choose female berries, because. they are the sweetest and most delicious. In addition, they have an order of magnitude fewer seeds.

The most delicious varieties

To choose a ripe and sweet watermelon, check out the 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 a ripe berry should be heavy, but an 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. The average weight of the variety ranges 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 a good quality fruit with sweet and tasty flesh without any voids.

Kherson

The berries of this species never grow too large - in most cases their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If you are shown a 15-20-kilogram giant and at the same time assure that you have a Kherson variety, then do not believe this - it is either of a different type, or it was grown using a large amount of 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, which 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 type of watermelon. 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 aroma.

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 the tender watermelon pulp is the optimal breeding ground for microorganisms that enter through inconspicuous 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.

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How to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon - ways to determine by sound, dry tail and stripe color