Marlene Brown, age 11, of Pensacola, Fla., for her question:
WHERE DID WATERMELONS FIRST GROW?
Watermelons first grew in Africa and then spread to southern Asia in early times. It didn't take too long then for the plants to be accepted in Europe and finally in North America.
Watermelons became plentiful and popular in the Massachusetts Colony as early as 1629. But the fruit at first was considered a luxury food.
By 1673, watermelons were growing abundantly all along the Mississippi River. The Indians were quick to accept them and in the early 17006 made sure they were planted all along the Colorado River.
Although the watermelon is grown as far north as Canada, it is strictly a warm season crop. When planted in northern locations, the seeds should not go into the ground until the heat of summer has come.
Watermelons grow best in warm climates. Leading watermelon growing states in the United States, in order, are Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and South Carolina.
The melons grow best in shady, moist soils. The vine has many blooms, but only a few of the blossoms produce watermelons. The vines are so long that the plants really should be spaced from eight to 10 feet apart. The vines may branch out 12 to 15 feet.
For the best flavor, growers say that the fruit should not be picked until it is fully ripe. The fruits ripen in 80 to 90 days, depending on the variety. Watermelons average from 20 to 25 pounds, although some may weigh as much as 60 pounds.
Watermelons may be round, oblong or oval. Their color varies from dark green to striped green, to almost white. The skin of a recently developed midget watermelon turns golden when it is ripe.
Most varieties are ripe when the watermelon rind gets very hard, and the fruit sounds hollow when tapped.
The watermelon is related to the pumpkin, squash, muskmelon and cucumber.
Did you know that 93 percent of the watermelon is water? It's true. But there aren't too many other fruits that have such a sweet, refreshing taste.
The fruit has a hard outer shell called a rind that encloses the pulp. This pulp colors as the fruit ripens. The seeds found in the pulp may be white, brown or black.
Scientists have produced many varieties of watermelon. Bantam sized melons will weigh between five and 10 pounds and giant monsters may weigh more than 100 pounds. One of the newest types of melons available on the market is a seedless watermelon. The watermelon actually belongs to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae.