Watermelon has two kinds of seeds: black and white seeds. “Black seeds are the seeds found in a regular watermelon, and they can be planted in the ground to sprout a watermelon plant, whereas white seeds are immature seeds, so they can’t be used to plant a watermelon plant,” says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN.
How can you tell if a watermelon seed is good?
Pour the “guts” into a large bowl and fill it with water. Healthy seed sinks to the bottom and dead (not viable) will float along with the majority of the pulp.
Should watermelon seeds be white?
As Brahna Siegelberg writes in Slate, the color of watermelon seeds comes down to one factor: “Maturity.” White watermelon seeds are simply infertile, underdeveloped seeds, and they occur naturally.
Is it OK to eat black watermelon seeds?
The black seeds in a regular watermelon are just plain ol’ seeds. They’re mature, fertile seeds, so if you planted a few in the ground, they would indeed sprout into watermelon plants. While they’re thought to be too hard and therefore inedible, they are actually completely safe to consume.
Are white watermelon seeds safe to eat?
Although common in seeded watermelon, white seeds appear in seedless varieties — just at a lesser volume. As a result of cross-breeding traits, these undeveloped seedlings aren’t capable of reproducing like the matured and fertile black seeds. Although many spit them out, all watermelon seeds are perfectly safe to eat.
Why are some watermelon seeds black and some white?
Watermelon has two kinds of seeds: black and white seeds. “Black seeds are the seeds found in a regular watermelon, and they can be planted in the ground to sprout a watermelon plant, whereas white seeds are immature seeds, so they can’t be used to plant a watermelon plant,” says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN.
Should watermelon seeds be soaked before planting?
Many types of plant seeds benefit from pre-planting soaking to soften the outer seed coating and hasten germination. However, watermelons are an exception to the rule. Soaking the seeds before planting increases the risks of various fungal diseases, such as anthracnose caused by the Colletotrichum lagenarium fungus.
What are white seeds in watermelon?
According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, the thin, white flecks found in watermelon are actually empty seed coats that indicate a seed didn’t fully mature. These white seeds are tender and almost translucent and can always be found in both seeded and seedless varieties.
Why are my watermelon seeds brown?
Seedless watermelon may have small white seeds that are soft or partly developed brown seeds that are empty. These are probably due to the following factors during production: 1. Stressful environmental factors may induce development of empty brown seeds.
Do seedless watermelon have white seeds?
Seedless watermelon fruit will have white seed traces, but only occasionally will it have a mature, brown, hard seed. Since the pollen of these plants is not viable, a diploid, seeded watermelon needs to be planted along with the seedless variety.
Why does my seedless watermelon have black seeds?
In theory all of the seeds in a seedless watermelon should abort early leaving you with those white empty non-viable seeds. Occasionally seedless watermelons have a few normal looking black seeds like this. They are not hollow and certainly appear to be normal seeds.
What happens if you eat a black seed?
Black seed has proven to reduce inflammation and relax smooth muscles, easing the symptoms of people with asthma in clinical studies. Combined with its antioxidant properties, these effects help prevent gastrointestinal disorders and relieve related symptoms.
Which watermelon is best black or green?
The ideal, perfectly ripe watermelon should be dark green in colour and dull looking. If it’s shiny, it’s not ripe yet.
Why does seedless watermelon have white seeds?
White Seeds = Immature Seeds. So those white seeds are really just hollow shells of seeds that haven’t matured. Yes, they are still seeds, but they are so soft and immature that they are completely edible and harmless — no spitting required.
Why is my watermelon white inside?
White flesh in a watermelon can indicate that the watermelon is not yet ripe. These fruits take a long time to ripen and become red, so if you pick the watermelon too early, it will be white inside.
Is it OK to eat watermelon at night?
Watermelons are not digestion friendly when it comes to consuming it at night and may cause irritable bowel syndrome and other problems, making your stomach upset the next day. The digestive process is slower than usual at night, hence, it is recommended to keep off sugary and acidic foods.
Do bad watermelon seeds float?
Good seeds will sink down to the bottom of the bowl while the bad ones will float in the water. Once you have the good seeds, you can dry them and spread them along with the soil.
Why won’t my watermelon seeds sprout?
Why won’t my Watermelon seeds sprout? Direct sow Watermelons in the garden in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to 21°C. Watermelon seeds will not germinate at a soil temperature below 18°C. Sow seed ½ inch deep and seeds germinate in 3 to 10 days at 27°C or warmer.
How long does it take to grow watermelon from seed?
between 70 and 100 days
Depending on the variety of watermelon, it can take between 70 and 100 days to go from planting to harvest.
How can I tell when my watermelons are ripe?
Tricks to Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe
- The green color becomes dull.
- On a striped melons, the color between the stripes gets darker.
- The rind will get hard.
- The blossom end will soften.
- They will stop getting larger.
- The ground spot will turn from white to yellow.
What does under ripe watermelon look like?
Check its color—you want it to be a golden yellow. If it is that bright yellow color—your watermelon is ready to harvest! If it is any other color, like pale yellow, white, or green, it needs a bit more time on the vine.