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Tips For Picking a Ripe Watermelon

Posted on 6/27/25 at 11:29 pm
Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
10079 posts
Posted on 6/27/25 at 11:29 pm
Bought a nice round watermelon from Zuppardo's today. It was only $2.99. I got one last week and it was awesome and sweet. I judged it as ripe because it had a nice yellow field spot.

Well, today i got another one with a good yellow spot, but I did some research and found out the following 6 things to look for:

1) Look for a dark green rind with a dull look rather than shiny.

2) You wan a deep yellow field spot - where it laid on the ground.

3) Lots of dark green lines with a web-like look.

4) Tap it - you want a deep hollow sound.

5) Is it heavy for it's size? Good indication it's ripe.

6) The "navel" should be tiny.

Sorry if y'all already knew this.
Posted by RichJ
The Land of the CoonAss
Member since Nov 2016
5003 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 7:09 am to
I would add at least “2 fingers wide” stripes on the lines. JMO…
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
49636 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 9:47 am to
Posted by BurningHeart
Member since Jan 2017
9956 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 8:39 am to
I've picked out watermelons using this technique and they havent been sweet. Got the ones with the most prevalent webbing, deep yellow spot, dark green rind, etc.

My 10 year old daughter just picks one that looks nice out of the box and it's the sweetest.

So I call BS on all this
Posted by bayou2
New Orleans, LA
Member since Feb 2007
3723 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 11:48 am to


... for summer Gulf Shores Beach tourists driving on the I-10 ...

Be sure to make a pit stop at exit 4, the Grand Bay exit, and pick up a melon or 2

Grand Bay has some of the best melons on planet earth ...

Posted by PeteRose
Hall of Fame
Member since Aug 2014
17819 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:47 pm to
quote:

I've picked out watermelons using this technique and they havent been sweet. Got the ones with the most prevalent webbing, deep yellow spot, dark green rind, etc. My 10 year old daughter just picks one that looks nice out of the box and it's the sweetest. So I call BS on all this


Ive gotten 7 so far this year using these techniques(yellow spots, webbing, brown stem) and 3 have been ok. I’m thinking it’s all luck at this point.

On a side note, I’ve been watching videos of this guy from Saudi selling watermelons. His watermelon are always near perfect so I’m think maybe the variety and location grown has a big impact on the quality vs looking for these signs.
This post was edited on 6/29/25 at 10:52 pm
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
13316 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 10:08 am to
quote:

His watermelon are always near perfect so I’m think maybe the variety and location grown has a big impact on the quality vs looking for these signs.


A few years ago I was very lucky with all the watermelons we were getting at WalMart. They were from some farm in Douglasville GA. Sort of odd, but if the sticker on them isn't from there, I pass. 9 times out of 10 if they are from this place they are juicy and sweet with lots of flavor. Some of the ones I've gotten from Publix or local farmers markets are juicy but bland.
Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
10079 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 5:58 pm to


Am I wrong for thinking the text under the 2 pictures on the bottom left are transposed? In the other 3 pairs of images, the ripe, sweet one is on the left and the bland or watery one is on the right. For this pair that's reversed.
This post was edited on 6/30/25 at 6:00 pm
Posted by deltadummy
Member since Mar 2025
1446 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 6:49 pm to
A documentary about watermelons with a good portion devoted to picking the sweetest would be a fine documentary.
Posted by PeteRose
Hall of Fame
Member since Aug 2014
17819 posts
Posted on 7/1/25 at 8:44 pm to
quote:

A few years ago I was very lucky with all the watermelons we were getting at WalMart. They were from some farm in Douglasville GA. Sort of odd, but if the sticker on them isn't from there, I pass. 9 times out of 10 if they are from this place they are juicy and sweet with lots of flavor. Some of the ones I've gotten from Publix or local farmers markets are juicy but bland.


I cut 2 open today. This One was from tre local grocery. I looked for the signs from the chart and this is what I got.



Couldn’t eat it. In the trash it goes.


Here’s a second one given by my wife’s coworker. I was told that it was sold on the side of a street by a husband and wife who grow them. So I’m now thinking the method and location had more impact than these generic signs.



Probably the best watermelon I’ve tasted in years. It was 32 lbs but the yellow spot is only 3 inches in diameter, light yellow. Green stem. But Juicy? Yes. Sweet? Yes. But the texture is what it took it to the next level. Often undesired watermelons have a rubbery texture. Some have a texture that is too crispy. While others have grainy spots. This one is just perfect. Crispy with the right amount of delicate structure. When I break it off, I can see the individual circular water cell and no juice dripping anywhere. But once I take a bite, it’s an explosion of flavors.
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
9126 posts
Posted on 7/2/25 at 8:35 am to
Some melons are just bad melons that will never be ripe. Too much water too often, too much irrigation vs rain, too much water too fast without ample sun, etc.

I’ve grown melons and even homegrown is a leap of faith.
Posted by TigersBy90
Member since Oct 2019
502 posts
Posted on 7/2/25 at 10:02 pm to
quote:

sugar town has some of the best melons on planet earth ...


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