Every year in the market and in stores we observe watermelons with green peels and red flesh. But are there fruits with blue or purple flesh? About whether there really are blue watermelons - read the article.
Is there a watermelon with blue flesh?
It seems natural that the skin color of the fetus is shades of green from light green to dark. There are even yellowish ones. Red flesh is most common, but there is yellow, orange or pale, almost white. But there are no fruits with blue pulp.
Blue watermelon is the second largest food hype in the last 10 years. Many online sources indicate that the beginning of the spread of the story of the moon (blue) watermelons was 2011. It was then that on some resources - Snopes, Tumblr, Yahoo Answers and Pinterest, their first photos appeared.Did you know? The wild ancestor of watermelon comes from deserts. His the fruits are small and bitter. It is believed that sweet varieties appeared by chance. Their seeds were collected by caravans, followed by the breeding of species known to us.
The problem is that even 30 years ago it was difficult to distribute fakes (false information). But today you can create a photo of any imagination and convince millions of people on the Internet that this is a real thing, without leaving home. With the advent of GMOs, the unexpected color of the product is not alarming and seems quite possible.
There are several reasons why the myth of blue watermelons is so long-lived:
- It is associated with Japan, where they love everything unusual and grow square watermelon, pears in the shape of a Buddha and much more. In addition, they are very fond of these fruits. This unusual variety has been reported to be grown on only a few farms.
- The name is similar to existing plants. Variety Red moon watermelon really exists in Japan. In our stores you can find seeds of the varieties Lunar, Moon and stars. And they are not genetically modified, but full-fledged, and long-existing, varieties.
The benefits and harms of blue watermelon
Watermelon is a herbaceous plant in the pumpkin family. The color of its peel can be white, yellow, or green. And the flesh is pink, red, even whitish and yellow. Its fruits grow on long vines. Despite the fact that there is no fruit with blue pulp, the real fruit is good for the human body.
Its flesh is 90% water. Moreover, it is structured water, which is more beneficial for the body than ordinary. In combination with fiber, it creates a feeling of satiety and quenches thirst well, and also moisturizes the body from the inside.100 g of the product contains only 27 calories. Therefore, it can be considered dietary food. It is rich in carotenoids (18% of the daily value), vitamin C (21%), potassium (5%) and magnesium (4%). About 13% of the sugars represented by glucose, fructose and sucrose are in the pulp.
- Useful properties of the plant:
- high lycopene levels protect cells from damage; it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease;
- watermelon extract reduces blood pressure in obese adults;
- the arginine contained in it improves blood flow and reduces the accumulation of excess fat;
- lycopene has an anti-inflammatory property;
- choline helps in the fight against arthritis;
- fiber contributes to the health of the digestive tract;
- Vitamin A moisturizes and restores the skin, and also promotes healthy hair;
- watermelon juice drunk after a workout relieves muscle fatigue and soreness.
If you do not abuse the use of melons, then there should be no side effects. But by including it in your diet daily, you are encouraging the intake of large amounts of lycopene and potassium. Side effects of this are nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and indigestion. It is wise to consume no more than 200 g of pulp per day.Important! Use a pruner to collect watermelons. They must not be torn off the lashes, so as not to damage.
How to grow a blue watermelon?
Of course, it will not be possible to grow a blue watermelon, but you can grow any other of the existing varieties. To do this, you will need to prepare a plot of at least 2 m in size, with nutrient soil and excellent sunlight.
Since gourds belong to heat-loving crops, to accelerate the ripening process, some farmers practice seedling cultivation.
Seeds for this are sown in peat pots no later than a month before planting in the ground. At a constant place, plants are planted at a distance of 100-140 cm from each other. Care for them will consist of loosening the soil, removing weeds and moisturizing. At the beginning of lash formation, 10 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 m² are added. area and 15 g of superphosphate. Fertilizers are dissolved in 10 liters of water and poured 2 liters under each bush.Important! At air temperature below +15°With all gourds suspend growth and do not form an ovary. Therefore, planting them in the ground too early is not advisable.
Harvesting is organized as it ripens. To determine the degree of maturity is simple: you hear a dull sound, clicking on the fetus, the antennae in the axil of the leaf near the peduncle begins to fade, and the fetus loses its dull sheen.
What can be made of blue watermelons?
Sweet fruit is usually consumed fresh. It can also be used in mixed fruit salads or as a juice drink. Seeds have a nutty flavor. They are fried, crushed and used in baking. In Vietnamese culture, seeds are used as a snack.
Watermelon peels are edible, but are usually thrown away. In cooking, there are recipes for making jam from watermelon peels and others. They are also consumed in fermented form, as well as fried or stewed. Whole fruits are fermented like apples.
If you find information about the unusual colors of vegetables or fruits, always check its authenticity. After all, no matter how we would not like to try a wonderful blue watermelon, you can get it only by coloring, but not live.Did you know? Watermelon is grown in more than 96 countries. Most varieties ripen between July and October.