With Summer in full swing and most of the country experiencing high temperatures, there’s nothing better than enjoying the sweet and refreshing treat of watermelon! National Watermelon Day is approaching on August 3rd and I know that my family and I will be celebrating! We absolutely love eating watermelon on a hot day for snacks or with mealtime.
To get ready for this fun day, here are 5 fun facts about watermelon!
Hydrate with Watermelon
Watermelon is made up of 92% water! No wonder it’s such a refreshing treat that cools you down on a hot summer day!
Watermelon in History
Watermelons go WAY back. The first recorded watermelon harvest was over 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Watermelons are even depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics on walls of their ancient buildings. They were even placed in the burial tombs of kings so they could enjoy it in the afterlife.
Exploring with Watermelon
Early explorers would use watermelon as a canteen! Such a simple 2-in-1 treat! Eat the watermelon and then use it for delicious flavored water!
Watermelon’s Official Name
Watermelon is fun and easy to say but the official name is Citrullus Lanatus. It’s of the botanical family of Curcurbitaceae. It’s cousins to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash. The word watermelon is even in the dictionary; it was added in 1615.
World’s Largest Watermelon
The world’s largest watermelon was grown by Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 2005. It weighed in at a whopping 268.8 lbs! His family has actually set a few world records with various giant watermelons!
No Watermelon Without Bees
What’s that bzzzzing you hear? Bees! Watermelon actually can’t be grown without them! Bees must pollinate the yellow watermelon blossoms in order for watermelons to grow!
Watermelon Keeps You Healthy
Watermelon is considered an anti-inflammatory and can help with joint irritation. It’s been shown to help inflammation that occurs because of asthma, arthritis, diabetes and colon cancer. It also doesn’t contain any fat or cholesterol and is high in fiber and vitamins A & C.
Watermelon Around the World
There are over 1,200 different varieties of watermelon grown around the world. In the United States and Mexico, you’ll find about 200-300 varieties with only about 50 being popular.
Fruit or Vegetable?
Did you catch earlier that watermelon is a cousin to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash? That’s because watermelon is a vegetable, not a fruit!
A Complete Snack!
Most people will just eat the sweet and juicy part of the watermelon but did you know that an entire watermelon is edible? You can eat the seeds and rinds too!
Watermelon is such an interesting food and you can read more fun facts over on Watermelon.org.
Interesting! I did NOT know that watermelon was a vegetable! I also did not know that it needed bees to grow!
Wait….a vegetable??? That’s crazy, never knew that! I love watermelon!
I will most certainly be celebrating! I didn’t even know it had it’s own day.
I will make sure to grab some at the grocery store for Sunday. And that world’s largest watermelon…that is huge!!
Heck ya we will be participating in national Watermelon Day! Can’t wait.
Citrullus Lanatus? I had no clue! I like watermelon much better!
I guess I get to add watermelon to my list of vegetables! New favorite veggie!
I never knew watermelon was a vegetable. Definitely a fact to share with the kiddos!
We grow watermelons here in the farm, I did not realize that you needed bees to pollinate.
I didn’t that watermelon was anti-inflammatory! I had some this morning and we are growing some in our garden. It’s such a great tasting fruit!
I had idea that Watermelons were so ancient. Interesting facts.
I actually just cut a huge watermelon about 5 minutes ago!! My kids love them.
I had no idea there was a Watermelon Day. I learned quite a few things just now about watermelon, actually.
How interesting! I didn’t know watermelon was a vegetable!
Thanks for sharing these cools facts on something we eat and love. My son just asked for some the other day!
A vegetable! LOL — I’ll be sure to eat my veggies today. 🙂
I’m addicted to watermelon this year! I can’t stop eating it! It’s crazy how much we rely on bees for things, isn’t it?
thanks for the great facts about watermelons. i knew some of them but not all of them.
Nice to know that there is a day for Watermelon. I had some this week, and it tastes so delicious. I love watermelon!
Wow, I didn’t know most of these facts. I was really surprised to learn the learn the history of watermelons goes so far back! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing these interesting facts. I did not know watermelon is a vegetable or that you can eat the rind too. Now I want some watermelon! Love it!