It is watermelon season again, and everyone has their own method for choosing a watermelon. Experienced old farmers can tell how a watermelon tastes just by tapping it twice. Xiaonong's hometown is near the Yellow River, where there is plenty of sandy soil, and it is also a place rich in watermelons. Here I will share some tips for picking watermelons.

1. Are watermelons divided into male and female?

We often see this claim in moms' social media feeds: "female watermelons taste better." How do you tell male from female? They say a small navel circle means it is a female melon and tastes better. In fact, this claim is incorrect. Watermelons themselves are not divided into male and female; there are only female flowers and male flowers, and no distinction between male melons and female melons.

2. Look at the vine

Looking at the vine is a relatively easy method. The vine is essentially a timer for when the watermelon was picked. If the vine is emerald green and still has moisture, it means the watermelon was picked very recently and is very fresh. If the vine is already dried up and has no moisture, it means the melon was picked four or five days ago and is no longer very fresh. So of course we should buy the fresh one.

Another thing is to look at how curved the watermelon vine is. There is some nuance here. Generally, experienced people buy ones whose vine is curled, because such watermelons are usually first-crop watermelons. First-crop watermelons absorb more nutrients, have a higher sugar content, and taste better. If the watermelon vine is straight, such a watermelon is usually a second-crop watermelon, and second-crop watermelons naturally do not taste as good as first-crop watermelons. Of course, some watermelons are grown by hanging them up to avoid vine rot, and the vines of such watermelons are naturally straight.

3. Listen to the sound

Many people know this, but choosing a watermelon by sound still involves a certain amount of skill, and you need to compare continuously to pick out the best watermelon. The main method of listening is to listen to the echo of the watermelon. If the echo is relatively deep and full, it means the rind is relatively thin and the melon is quite ripe. But if the sound seems very dull, it means the watermelon is not ripening very well.

Also, when buying a watermelon, choose one with relatively neat stripes and an emerald green rind, not one with a layer of white haze. Of course, if you still do not know how to pick one, use the final big move and say to the seller, "Please help me pick a good watermelon!" Generally, the seller is quite willing to pick one for you.

The above is original content from Kexue Xingnong. I hope you get to eat the best watermelon.