.......that thumping and bumping technique

For the past several years.... our farm has grown two unique varieties of watermelons.....Black Watermelon and the Orangeglo Watermelon. Returning clients for these melons is exactly what we were after. Now it is time to add another variety....the North Carolina Giant Watermelon. 

If you live in the area of our farm....you may have noticed some crops that are growing behind our farm stand.....those are the test crop of the North Carolina Giant Watermelon. We test grow everything before committing hundreds of man hours and wallet bucks....to avoid any major setbacks of the unknown......such as our lime tree orchard was five years ago. Mega failure. 

Testing is over...and the results are a whoa! Yesterday I took a 32 pounder off the vines....and that was not the largest one out there! Taste test is today.....I shall force myself to volunteer for this task. I know what you might be asking bout now....how did I choose the right melon to be ripe?

For the green skin melons......look for that lush green color and has deep green stripes. The skin..... or rind it really called...... should have a smooth texture that’s nearly free of lumps and bumps. Steer clear of a watermelon with bruised, cracked, or dented skin. The rind should feel hard when you press it with your fingers in a few places. When you pick up the melon..... it should feel like it weighs more than it should for its size. When you thump the watermelon with your knuckles or fingertips..... it should sound a bit hollow inside. This thumping and bumping technique......carries a debate whether it works or not.... among the professional eaters of the sweet interior offering.

It does.

Turn the melon over to make sure it has a flatter side that’s yellowish or cream-colored. This is a good indicator that the watermelon stayed planted long enough to reach full ripeness. Being white or no whiteness at all...is a warning that it was harvested too early. After a watermelon is picked, it stops ripening.