Watermelons are a favorite among the Americans and the people just cannot seem to get enough of this fruit. The nutritionists have appreciated the health benefits provided by the watermelons for a long time. The fact that is most important about the watermelon is that it is fat free and low in calories and hence is considered to be the ideal diet food.

Watermelons are grown in rows that are about 10 feet apart in slightly raised beds that are made of fertilized sand. Tiny watermelons are implanted into the beds. It is very necessary that these plants are pollinated. In less than a month, the vine spreads over 8 feet. Two months later, the first watermelons are seen and the crop can be harvested after three months.

While picking out a watermelon, ensure that it is symmetrical with no cuts and bruises. A watermelon that is ripe will have a healthy sheen, a dull rind and a dull yellow spot on its underside on which it touched the ground. To confirm that the melon is completely ripe, thump it and the sound should be dull and hollow while the weight of the watermelon should be heavy considering its size.

Here are some very interesting facts about the Watermelon:

• Watermelon is actually a vegetable and not a fruit. It is also related to the pumpkin, cucumber and the squash.
• The watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) are the natives of the Kalahari desert found in Southern Africa.
• Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar.
• The watermelons were brought to China across the Mediterranean sea in merchant ships. Incidentally, China is the largest producer of watermelons in the world today.
• The watermelon was brought into America across the Atlantic oceans by African slaves.
• As watermelon is about 92% water, early explorers used watermelons as a canteen.
• Every part of the watermelon, including the seeds and the rind is edible.
• Watermelons are ideal for the health as they do not contain any fat or cholesterol and are high in fiber content and vitamins A and C and are also a good source of potassium.

• Over 1200 varieties of watermelon are grown in approximately 100 countries across the world.
• Watermelons are very fragile and cannot be harvested with the help of machines. Instead they are carefully tossed by workers on a relay that runs between the fields and the truck.
• Unripe watermelons should be avoided as they can be slightly acidic.
• The first recorded watermelon harvest was in Egypt and it took place nearly 5000 years ago. This is depicted in the Egyptian hieroglyphics that is found in ancient buildings. As a matter of fact, watermelons were also placed in the tombs of kings to help them nourish in the after life.
• The largest consumption of watermelon is in the United States when considered by the weight of the watermelon.
• The first cookbook that was published in the United States in 1176 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.
• Watermelon is a popular gift for the host In China and Japan.
• In Israel and Egypt, the sweet of watermelon
• Bill Carson of Arrington, Tennessee grew a 262 pound watermelon in 1990. This feat found a place in the 1998 edition of the Guinness World Book of Records.
• Watermelon became a part of the dictionary in 1615.

Moving away from the watermelon fruit, I was surprised to read about the watermelon snow that is found in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California during the summer at high altitudes of 12,000. The snow is pink or red in color and also has a distinctive watermelon scent to it. After baffling the scientists and the hikers for years, it was discovered that the snow contained an algae known as chlamydomonas nivalis, the cells of which contain a gelatinous sheath that produce the odor and the pink color. Beware, that the algae is very toxic in nature and when ingested can produce a laxative effect.Add watermelons to salad, salsa or juice it. Watermelon is refreshing and nourishing any day. Try to make it a regular part of your diet as the fruit is available around the year

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