What is the purpose of a square watermelon?
They’re regular melons that were placed inside boxes while growing. The resulting shape makes the fruit easier to transport, cut, and store. Square watermelons sit neatly in small Japanese refrigerators, and they also fit a tradition of giving beautiful, expensive fruits as gifts.
What are some fun facts about watermelons?
10 Fun Facts About Watermelon
- Watermelon is 92% water.
- Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
- The word “watermelon” first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615.
- A watermelon takes about 90 days to grow, from planting to harvesting.
- You can eat watermelon rind.
Where do square watermelons come from?
Japan is known for growing some of the most delicious watermelons in the world, especially the square watermelon. An agricultural cooperative from Zentsuji, Kagawa Prefecture, can grow about 600 cube-shaped watermelons that can cost as much as 15,750 yen (around $157).
How square watermelons get their shape?
The square watermelons are grown in glass boxes, which encourage the cubed shape. To solve the issue of having them too big, growers remove the fruit from the container once it reaches about 3 square inches (19 sq. cm.). Then, they simply package and ship them off for sale.
How long do square watermelons last?
The square watermelons are best seen or purchased from July 1st to August 20th. They can last up to 6 months in ideal conditions and cost between 10,000 and 20,000 yen at most locations. In 2016, approximately 200 were grown and sold so they’re quite rare.
Do square watermelons taste different?
As a result of being grown in a square mold, the watermelons are unable to reach full maturity. So the not-quite-ripe watermelons do not taste quite as sweet, which is why for some consumers the fruit serves a purely decorative purpose.
Why is it called a watermelon?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where its English common name, watermelon, comes from. The flesh of this succulent fruit is over 90 percent water. Native to Africa, it was a valuable and portable source of water for desert situations and when natural water supplies were contaminated.
How many types of watermelon are there?
Citron melon
Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus
Watermelon/Lower classifications
Do square watermelons grow naturally?
They might look like a genetically modified watermelon from planet geometry but square watermelons are grown naturally and it’s so easy you can even do it in your own veggie patch at home.
Can you eat a square watermelon?
Although cube melons were originally created with practicality in mind, the cost is prohibitive. The cube shape of the watermelon can only be achieved at the expense of its contents. To retain the proper shape, cube melons must be harvested before they are ripe, rendering them inedible.
Are square watermelons more expensive?
Square watermelons can go for up to $200 each, reports CTV News, but according to A Day of Zen the cost is typically around $65. And for a price tag that steep, you’d likely expect something very special about these unusual watermelons.
Is watermelon a flower?
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties.