Watermelon, the finest of summer fruits

Watermelon is the very epitome of summer fruits. Colorful, cooling, soft, few things can compare with the magic that is dipping one’s teeth in this delightfully mushy fruit after a long swim at the beach or in the swimming pool. A summer BBQ table feels empty without it. It’s also, as you might imagine, wonderfully flavorful. A ripe watermelon has a subtle uniqueness about it that makes it popular year-round as a flavor extract in enhanced waters or body lotions.

As a plant though, what do we know about it, other than it grows on vines? Where did they come from and why do they sometimes carry a negative connotation?

History of Watermelons

It is generally understood that watermelons came from the African continent, though there are debates on whether they were first cultivated in the southern or northern regions. Old watermelon seeds were found in the prehistoric site of Uan Muhuggiag, a prehistoric site found in modern day Libya, and which date to at least 3500 BC. Watermelons would later be domesticated in northeast Africa where evidence suggests it was grown not only for food but also for its water content (watermelons are approximately 91% water), an important factor in northern African dry regions.