Can You Eat Watermelon Seeds? How to Eat and Grow White Seeds

Summer is hot, and a summer without watermelon is not really summer! But watermelons have a lot of seeds. Some people think watermelon seeds cannot be digested and must be spat out; but others find it too much trouble and just eat them together. So can you eat watermelon seeds when eating watermelon? Are the white ones edible? How do you grow them?

Can You Eat Watermelon Seeds?

Watermelon seeds can be eaten. Watermelon seeds are rich in oils and have the effect of strengthening the stomach and promoting bowel movements. When you have no appetite or are constipated, you might as well eat some seed kernels such as watermelon kernels. Watermelon seeds should not be swallowed whole. The outer shell of watermelon seeds is hard and difficult to digest. When watermelon seeds are eaten and mixed with food, they can be passed out with stool; when a large amount of watermelon seeds is eaten, it may cause constipation, abdominal heaviness and distension, and even cause intestinal obstruction, urinary retention, appendicitis, and so on.

1. Black seeds: best to spit them out

The outer shell of black watermelon seeds is hard and not easy to digest, so it is best not to eat too many.

If you eat a small amount, they can be passed out together with stool. But if you eat a large amount of watermelon and do not spit out the seeds, they will gather into clumps during intestinal peristalsis, which can easily cause abdominal heaviness and distension, constipation, and even intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, and so on.

2. White seeds: can be swallowed

If they are normal white watermelon seeds, they can be eaten.

But some melon farmers smear a small amount of plant growth regulator on the young flower stalk of the watermelon to help the watermelon flower and set fruit, and the seeds of watermelons treated this way become white. Usually, if the first batch of watermelons on the market has white seeds, most of them have used growth regulators, and the taste is also poor. It is best to eat less of this kind of white-seeded watermelon.

Benefits of Watermelon Seeds

1. Lowering blood pressure

Watermelon seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which can lower blood pressure and also prevent arteriosclerosis. In addition, a saponin-like component contained in watermelon seeds can not only lower blood pressure but also relieve acute cystitis. Friends with high blood pressure can eat some appropriately.

2. Promoting metabolism and delaying aging

Watermelon seeds are rich in vitamin E, which can promote metabolism and improve immunity. In addition, vitamin E is also a highly effective antioxidant that can improve skin blood circulation, enhance cell vitality, delay aging, and make your skin smooth and tender, without a single wrinkle!

3. Clearing the lungs and resolving phlegm

Watermelon seeds are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and can clear the lungs, moisten the intestines, resolve phlegm, and quench thirst. Friends with cough and excessive phlegm can eat them appropriately to relieve the ailment.

4. Strengthening the stomach and promoting bowel movements

Watermelon seeds are rich in oils, so eating a small amount can strengthen the stomach and promote bowel movements. Friends with poor appetite or constipation can eat them appropriately.

If you think the taste is not good, you can use a blender to crush the watermelon seeds, cook them, and drink them with yogurt or honey, or directly juice them together with the watermelon flesh. They can also clear heat and reduce internal heat!

In the following situations, be sure not to overindulge in watermelon

1. Women during menstruation

Watermelon is cold in nature. For women during menstruation, immunity is lower, so it is best not to eat watermelon.

2. Diabetes

Friends with diabetes must not eat too much watermelon in a short time, as it can easily lead to elevated blood sugar, and in severe cases can also cause metabolic disorder and acidosis, endangering life.

3. Poor kidney function

For friends with renal insufficiency, the kidney's ability to regulate water will be significantly reduced. If too much water is taken into the body and cannot be regulated and excreted in time, it can easily lead to a sharp increase in blood volume, causing acute heart failure and endangering life.

4. Weak constitution and cold stomach

If friends with a weak constitution and cold stomach eat too much watermelon, it will lead to abdominal distension and diarrhea, decreased appetite, and aggravate cold toxin and damp toxin.

Growing Watermelon Seeds

1. Sowing watermelon

1. Buy a watermelon, eat it, and keep the watermelon seeds. Try to buy seeds of small watermelons, such as Black Beauty and Yellow Little Jade. (Of course, today's watermelons are all hybrid seedlings. The seeds left after eating watermelon may not grow particularly large watermelons, but they are still edible. If you have very high standards, then you can buy professional seeds.)

2. Soak the seeds in water for 3-4 hours, then prepare a seedling tray and soil, water the soil thoroughly, scatter the watermelon seeds on it, and cover with dry soil (after covering with soil, do not water immediately, otherwise it will crust and make it difficult for seedlings to emerge, but spray water every day to maintain humidity). If you do not have a seedling tray, you can also use paper towels, moisten them, and then grow the seedlings.

3. After a few days, the young seedlings will come out. Because watermelon roots are relatively deep, it should be transplanted into a large, deep flowerpot; for the soil, it is best to use garden soil plus leaf mold to ensure it is loose and breathable, and it is best to also add some decomposed organic fertilizer; in addition, for drainage, the bottom of the flowerpot must have drainage holes.

2. Managing the watermelon seedlings

1. After the young seedlings emerge, they can be managed normally. Do not water too much, to prevent root rot. But during the seedling stage, spray water frequently to maintain humidity.

2. After the watermelon seedlings grow to 4-5 leaves, you can pinch off the growing tip to stimulate axillary buds and increase the number of vines.

3. When the vines grow long, you can top them to prevent them from only growing vines and not fruit. At the same time, straighten out the vines and guide them in one direction, or coil them on bamboo poles or ropes, so the watermelon seedlings can grow upward.

4. During the growth period, watermelon has a relatively large demand for fertilizer and water. You can apply compound fertilizer, and usually you can also water with fermented rice-washing water.

3. Pollination and harvesting

1. After watermelons have been planted for 20 days, male flowers will open, and a few days later female flowers will also open. At this time, pollination is needed.

Pollination should be done on a clear morning. Female flowers have a small watermelon below them and should be kept; male flowers do not have a small watermelon below them and should be picked off. Apply the pollen of the male flower to the top and sides of the stigma of the female flower. After pollination, water thoroughly and also apply some potassium fertilizer.

Tip: In one pot, keep at most 2 watermelons. Do not be greedy for more!

2. After successful pollination, the watermelon will ripen in about 28-40 days. In the 20 days before harvesting, you can appropriately increase the amount of watering, and in the 10 days before harvesting, reduce watering to make the watermelon sweeter.