There are some very interesting facts about watermelon that I never knew. While I was researching the health benefits of watermelon I stumbled across a few unknown and interesting facts about watermelon.

Interesting Facts about Watermelon

Seriously, I’ve become completely obsessed with fruit lately….I blame it on the beautiful 80 degree weather we are having….ah, first taste of spring!

I have a love/hate relationship with spring. I love love love the warm spring weather, the flowers blooming, the fresh fruits and veggies, the outside play…..I just hate the fact that when spring arrives it brings with it the stark realization of how bad I was during the winter. Yeah, I was pretty lazy this winter. Seriously too many “cozy, cuddly days relaxing with a good book”….it sounds so nice when it’s 30 degrees outside to sit around and sip hot cocoa. At least until you go try on last year’s shorts and realize that you probably had a few hot cocoa’s too many.

So I’m on the healthy eating- tons of fresh fruits and veggies kick. Luckily the kids and Hubs are all on board with this obsession as well! While researching all of the benefits of cantaloupes, watermelons, honeydews, etc. for these posts I came across a lot of interesting facts about watermelon. Read on to see if you knew any of these interesting facts about watermelon.

What do you know about the watermelon?

You know that it’s a fruit – or is it?

You know that it’s delicious. And you know it’s a melon that makes a great summertime treat. But there’s more to find out about watermelons! Read on for some interesting facts about watermelon that may surprise you.

Interesting Facts About Watermelon

Watermelon contains a lot of health benefits. It’s good for the heart and it is even believed to help prevent many well-known cancers. I did a whole post about the health benefits of watermelon….seriously, go check it out!
Some consider watermelon to be a vegetable and not a fruit.
- While its sweet taste makes most say fruit, it is actually grown like a vegetable and harvested as such as well.
- It comes from a plant similar to what a pumpkin and other gourds come from.
- When the rind is used for pickling purposes or stir fried or stewed, then it is being used like a vegetable.
- However, most commonly it is known as a fruit.
Every part of the watermelon can be eaten.
- Yes, even the rind can be eaten. Many people will make pickled watermelon….hmmmm
Watermelon is believed to come from Africa and was first cultivated as early as 2000 B.C.
- It is believed that it was used to refresh travelers as they traveled through Africa, and was also used as canteens.
- Watermelon came to the United States with African slaves, and the term watermelon appeared first in the English dictionary in 1615.
The first seedless watermelon was treated with acid on the unpollinated flowers of watermelon in 1939.
It is said that, by weight, watermelon is the most consumed melon in the United States.
There are more than 1200 different variates of watermelon.
- They even come in different shapes – including square. And my favorite….Mickey Mouse shaped! 😉
- Okay, so they’re not naturally Mickey Mouse shaped…but Disney really should sell these because I would totally buy one!
If you have sun, bees, and water, you can grow watermelon.
- You will also need a lot of room.
  - Watermelon is best planted in rows 8-12 feet apart.
  - It takes about 3 months for a watermelon to be ready to harvest.
Watermelons must be harvested by hand and not by machine because they are very fragile.
August 3 is considered national watermelon day. So remember to eat plenty of watermelon on this day!
Watermelon contains more than 90% water.
The world’s heaviest watermelon was grown in Arkadelphia, Arkansas by Lloyd Bright.
- It weighed 268.8 pounds (121.93 kg).
American comedian Gallagher became famous for smashing watermelon on stage in the 1980s.
Mark Twain once described watermelon like this: “It is the chief of this world’s luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat. It was not a Southern watermelon that Eve took; we know it because she repented.”

And there you have it. Everything you could possibly ever have wanted to know about watermelons. Where it came from, to how it is grown, its health benefits, and even how well liked it is by famous people. Go forth and win watermelon trivia night!

Do you have an interesting facts about watermelon? Share in the comments below and I’ll add them to the list!