'Personal melons' are trendy

Watermelons Get Small


The game, however, is in small, seedless melons.

Only about 2 of every 10 watermelons sold in the United States have seeds. And only a tiny percentage, agriculture experts estimate, are the old-fashioned heirloom varieties, all with seeds, that once made up all the watermelons in America.

The larger, more traditional-looking seedless “picnic melon” that flooded grocery stores in the 1980s still dominates the market. But the future is in what the industry calls personal melons, or the slightly larger icebox melons — round balls of sweet without seeds and, some think, without character.

The personal melon, weighing no more than six pounds, accounts for only about 12 percent of retail sales, according to United States Department of Agriculture research.

But its popularity has grown steadily since the early part of this decade, when seedless hybrids like the Pure Heart and the Bambino began competing in the new cute-melon category.

“Most people, particularly the urban people, would rather have a small one,” Dr. Kirkpatrick said. “With the big ones, you fill up all your Tupperware containers and you’re still not done.”

For farmers, much of the appeal of the smaller varieties is simple economics. Plant an Arkansas acre with big watermelons and you might get 40,000 pounds. An acre of personal melons will yield 65,000 to 80,000 pounds, Dr. Kirkpatrick figured.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/dining/18melons.html?src=me&ref=general

couldn't resist.

An old heirloom variety that grows a smaller melon quickly, with sweet red flesh and dark black seeds. I grow tons of these in my yard all summer long here in MN.

I love watermelon. Watermelon doesn't grow well for us --we grow Spanish and French melons instead. I won't buy seedless melons anymore and will only buy the seeded varieties when I can find a smallish one.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLZ6XXblLJI>

:evilgrin:

forcing farmers to grow seedless watermelons only makes them have to buy more seeds! I've never been more angry!

that didn't get burned out when the power blew up but is making some extraordinary noises so I sincerely hope its life, started in the 70s and extended by refurbishing in the 90s, will soon be over so I can get a single door fridge with bottom freezer I can actually store a real watermelon in.

So there.

will no longer have the childhood pleasures of eating watermelons with seeds.


No seed-spitting contests

No saving seeds, drying them, and making bracelets and necklaces

None of the fun we had wondering how many watermelon seeds we would have to swallow for one of them to grow in our stomachs


Life is becoming way too sterile...

They are called sugar babies, you can grow them in small spaces (even on a balcony) and they are delicious.

Or those wimpy little white ones?

and they grow FAST....

and have gotten very cheap. tho not as delicious as the big rattlesnake variety. we now purchase them because they can fit in the fridge. Partner is happy he can have them any time. No bigger than a cantelope

I was looking for a giant, old-fashioned, seeded watermelon.

First of all, I like watermelon seeds. I eat them along with the melon.

Secondly, they are usually cheaper than seedless. At least, they used to be. This year they aren't even there.

Finally, I was looking forward to giving the left-overs to the chickens, The love them, and it's fun to watch them gorge. Especially the chicks.

So I didn't get a watermelon. I wonder if they have seeded melons at the local farmer's market?