What types of watermelon are there? A roundup of common watermelon varieties

What are the common types of watermelon? Watermelons can be cultivated all over China. In the south, Hainan Island is the main producing area; thanks to its unique climate, watermelons are abundant there all year round, with a wide variety of types. In the north, the main growing belt runs along the Yellow River; the land on both banks of the Yellow River is fertile, and sandy soil is most suitable for watermelon growth, producing melons that are both sweet and sandy-textured. This stretches from Lanzhou in Gansu in the west to Shaanxi, Hebei, Henan and Shandong in the east. Among them, Shandong is the main watermelon producing area, concentrated mainly in the western Shandong region in places such as Liaocheng, Dongming, Weifang, Changle, Dezhou and Sishui.

Early Spring Red Jade watermelon

Early Spring Red Jade is a first-generation hybrid, extremely early-maturing small watermelon with red flesh. Planted in spring, it is harvested in May and matures 35 days after fruit set. Planted in summer and autumn, it is harvested in September and matures 25 days after fruit set. The variety has a long oval appearance with clear stripes on a green background; the plant grows vigorously, the rind is 0.4-0.5 cm thick, the flesh is bright red, crisp, tender and refreshing, the center sugar content is above 12.5, and a single melon weighs 2.0 kg. It keeps well and has good market quality.

Black Beauty watermelon

Black Beauty watermelon is oval in shape with a relatively small fruit; the rind is pure black, hence the name Black Beauty.

Seedless watermelon

Based on genetic characteristics, seedless watermelons can be grown artificially. They are round, with no seeds in the flesh, and must be bred every year.

Striped watermelon

Striped melon is oval, large, with a rind of alternating light green and dark green.

Te Xiaofeng watermelon

Te Xiaofeng watermelon is round, with a striped rind and yellow flesh.

Mibao watermelon

Mibao watermelon is spherical, with a dark green rind that develops a waxy bloom on the surface when ripe, and red flesh that is crisp, sweet and juicy.

Lebao watermelon

Lebao watermelon is round, with a deep dark green rind and red flesh that is dense and crisp.

Exploding melon

Exploding melon is produced in Dongtai City, Jiangsu Province. It is named for its thin, brittle rind, which splits open at the slightest touch.

Yellow-flesh watermelon

Yellow-flesh watermelon is called Xin Jinlan; it is a rare watermelon variety introduced from Taiwan, China. The melon is small, at most only 3 kg, with a high and evenly distributed sugar content, melting in the mouth. This yellow-flesh watermelon takes only 33 days from fruit set to maturity, can be harvested twice a year, and yields 3000 kg per mu.

Pepquino watermelon

Pepquino is a mini watermelon, a wild plant from South America. Its shape is similar to a sweet potato, but "Pepquino" is only 3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter. Although its appearance is no different from an ordinary watermelon, the flesh of "Pepquino" is turquoise green, and the root part is stem-like. It tastes crisp and refreshing like a cucumber, has higher nutritional value than ordinary watermelon, and can be eaten directly. "Pepquino" comes in two colors and shapes: one is light green with patterns, and the fruit is usually oval; the other is alternating dark green and yellow, and the fruit is generally round.

White-flesh watermelon

White-flesh watermelon should be an already ripe watermelon that can be eaten, but the variety of the watermelon cannot yet be determined.