Did you know that there are different varieties of watermelon? While the classic red watermelon is often what people think of when watermelon comes to mind, yellow watermelons are just as sweet and delicious as their red counterparts! Yellow watermelons, also known as golden melons, are not an entirely separate species but rather a variation of the red watermelon that has been bred overtime to produce a yellow variety. Since they do not require any special care or treatment, there’s no reason why you can’t grow your yellow watermelons at home!
Colors of Watermelon
Watermelons are cultivated in many colors white, orange, pink, salmon, brownish-green, and yes – even yellow. The difference is entirely aesthetic. Yellow watermelons are simply ripened on their vines longer than other varieties. Yellow watermelons also tend to be sweeter than red ones, but they’re harder to find in stores because they don’t look as good as their counterparts on display. If you want to know how to pick a good one, here are some tips:The best way to tell if your melon is ripe is by smell. Give it a sniff: A ripe melon will have an aroma similar to that of honeydew or cantaloupe (sweet with just a hint of musk). If it smells like nothing at all or if it has an unpleasant odor, then it isn’t ready yet!
Facts about Yellow Watermelons
Yellow Watermelons are sweeter than other melons on average, but with less sugar content. You’ll also get more lycopene from a slice of yellow watermelon than from a slice of red. Lycopene is an antioxidant linked to many health benefits including anti-cancer properties, cardiovascular health, and improved bone health. Yellows also have more vitamins A & C per serving than any other kind of melon – try them in your next
fruit salad!
Is there any flavor difference between them and the red ones?
Sweetness, skin color, and appearance are where it ends. Most consumers don’t notice any discernible differences in taste or texture because they are so similar. Because their rinds remain slightly greenish-yellow regardless of ripeness (also known as green-shouldered fruit), they are often referred to as green watermelons. Green or not, these melons need to be ripened for the best flavor. If you plan on eating your melon within three days of purchase, there is no need to refrigerate it; if it will take longer than that before you eat it, store it in your refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
The Rind
Many people assume that yellow melons are simply immature versions of their red cousins, with ripe fruit being an indicator of how well it’s going to taste. But in fact, not all watermelons have rinds (the rind is just a technical term for skin). The truth is that all watermelons have seeds on the inside even if they don’t have skin on their outside. The color of watermelon comes from lycopene, which is found in both red and yellow varieties but has different effects on each type. Yellow watermelons contain more lycopene than red ones, but you would need to eat about five times as much of them before you could reap any health benefits. Redder watermelons tend to be sweeter because they contain more sugar and less acid than yellows do. They also tend to be juicier.
Seedless vs. Seeded Watermelons
How do you know if a watermelon is seeded or seedless? This may sound like an easy question, but there’s more to it than you think. Seedless watermelons aren’t 100% seedless. As their name suggests, they have no seeds when cut in half. But what about when it’s whole? When fully intact, these melons still have tons of little black seeds that people mistakenly think are seeds. These are called pips (or pepitas). They look like seeds but don’t grow into new plants. Instead, they grow on special stems called peduncles. The reason why some watermelons have pips while others don’t is because of how they’ve grown: Peduncles are only found on fruit from female plants—which also produce fruits with seeds inside them. So if you want to get technical, all watermelons have at least one seed.
