Watermelon Season

July 7, 2024

For many of us, if not most,  it is a true enigma to know when a watermelon is ripe. Yes, I know about knocking it to hear a hollow or solid sound and looking for the sunny yellow spot on the stem but making sure there is no stem attached, a telltale sign that it was picked too soon! 

Unfortunately, we just have to trust that the shiny green melon we choose is the sweet and deep red one of our dreams. I used to think it was better to buy the already cut and shrink – wrapped ones because you could see the redness of the fruit but even that is not a given as to how it will taste. Picked too soon, watermelon ceases to make sugar, resulting in just so so taste. My next line of reasoning was to focus on the sugar baby watermelon, small and personal and just right for a small family. Being small, it ripens faster but that too is no guarantee. Then I learned about the most expensive watermelon in the world, the Japanese Densuke watermelon sporting a black rind and bright red almost seedless flesh. They are scarce and only grow on an island in northern Japan. How I wish.  Summer wanes way too soon so I will take my chances with local and humble homegrown watermelons and make my favorite dog days of summer watermelon salad.

Get my Watermelon Salad recipe here.

More From the Blog

Mary Ann's Blog

Vote!

Mary Ann's Blog

Holiday Baking Time is Here!

Mary Ann's Blog

Easy Pot Roast