In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at a watermelon’s stages of growth from when you plant a seed to when it’s a fully grown fruit. 

Let’s dive right in. 

Stages of Watermelon Growth

Stage 1: Planting the Seed

If you’ve ever eaten a watermelon, you know that these fruits are packed with hundreds of small, flat, black seeds. Therefore, if you want to grow a watermelon, we recommend washing a handful of seeds from the last watermelon you ate. 

If you don’t have a watermelon to harvest seeds from, you can always buy some seeds. There are over 1000 varieties of watermelon worldwide, so we recommend doing some research to see which varieties are grown in the area that you live in. 

For best results, we recommend chitting the seed before you plant it in soil. This means that you let the seeds germinate for a couple of days before transferring them to some soil. To do this, here’s what you need to do: 

• Wash your watermelon seeds in plain water.
• Dampen a paper towel, but do not let the water soak the towel all the way through. 
• Place the seeds on the damp paper towel. 
• Transfer the paper towel and seeds to a plastic container, and cover the container with cling film or plastic wrap. 
• Let it sit for at least three days. 

Once you notice that roots have formed, the next step is to transfer the seeds to a soil mix. We recommend using a loamy soil mix that drains well. Plant the seeds in an area of your garden that receives a lot of sunlight. 

When planting the seeds, it’s a good idea to plant each individual seed at least three feet away from the next one. This way, once the watermelon starts to grow, it won’t crowd the other melons.

You must water the seeds thoroughly every day, and ensure that your seeds get a minimum of eight hours of sunlight per day. 

Also Read: Top 10 Delicious Florida Fruits You Must Try

Stage 2: Germinating and Sprouting

The next step in a watermelon’s growth stage is germination. While you might have kickstarted this stage by chitting the seeds, a watermelon seed won’t germinate properly for a while; it will take at least 3 days to two weeks to germinate. 

During this phase of growth, the seed will begin to sprout a small stem, which is called the hypocotyl. This tiny stem plays an important role in the life cycle of any plant, because it allows that plant to grow and form roots in the soil. 

After the watermelon seed has germinated, it starts to produce leaves. These are embryonic leaves that are found in seed-bearing plants, and they are called cotyledons. They are the first leaves that a seed produces after it has been planted, and they will slowly push through the surface of the soil. 

During this stage of germination and sprouting, it’s important to note that your watermelon plant is especially susceptible to danger. Therefore, if you have pets or live in a place with a colder climate, you must take extra care of your plants. 

You must also ensure that your watermelon patch is moist at all times. Having said that, while moisture is important, you must not over-water it. 

Stage 3: Vegetative Growing

This next stage is when things start to become more exciting! Now that your seeds have sprouted, you’ll notice that your plant is starting to grown quicker. 

It will take around five to ten days to see leaves sprouting. It’s worth noting that the new leaves you’ll see at this stage are different from the leaves during the sprouting stage. Those are embryonic leaves, and these are true leaves. They represent the stages of vegetative growth, and resemble what mature watermelon leaves look like. 

During the vegetative stage, the true leaves begin to photosynthesis, and convert sunlight into energy that helps them to grow. Over the following two weeks, you’ll notice that the leaves will become more sturdy as they begin to grow even more. During this time, you will also notice that the watermelon plant grows its main vine. 

Stage 4: Branching

The next stage of watermelon development is branching. As the main watermelon vine grows, you will start to see smaller and newer vines emerge from the main one. It’s worth noting that the length of these vines will vary depending on the watermelon’s variety, though the average watermelon vine grows to around 10 to 12 feet long. 

Since the vines are branching out and growing rapidly during this stage, it’s important to keep you watermelon plant’s nutritional needs in mind. To help keep it healthy, you could add some bone meal to the soil, taking care to mix it in gently with the roots. 

It’s also worth noting that a single branch can produce several melons, not just one. If the watermelon plant is healthy, it can grow anywhere from 3 to 6 melons. However, if it is struggling to grow, you can care for the plant by taking off any weak branches or removing the excess branches. 

Also Read: Red Vs White Dragon Fruit.

Stage 5: Flower Production and Pollination

The next stage is the flower production and pollination stage. During this stage, the plant will product yellow flowers, both male and female ones. The male flowers usually grow first when the phase of branching begins, and the female flowers start growing when the vine branches mature. 

The male flowers have a pollen-covered anther, while the female flowers have the stigma. The two flowers will pollinate, but the male flower generally dies after some time. Unlike some other flowers, watermelon flower do not have the ability to self-pollinate. 

Stage 6: Setting Fruit

The final stage of watermelon growth is the setting fruit stage. It begins after pollination. If you observe your watermelon plant carefully during this time, you’ll notice that a bulge forming behind the female flower! This bulge will eventually turn into a whole melon over the course of a month. 

Fun fact: the watermelon is actually a form of berry! 

Stage 7: Harvesting 

After the fruit grows for over a month, it is time to harvest it. Depending on where you live and the time of year it is, the timeline for harvesting will differ. Still, you’ll know that the watermelon is ripe and ready to be harvested when you tap on it. If it produces a hollow sound, then it is ripe. If you’re still unsure about its ripeness, you can also check for a yellow spot or brown tendrils on the vine. 

Check out our article on ‘Are Black Spots on Broccoli Safe to Eat?'

Conclusion

In this article, we walked you through the different stages of watermelon development. This fruit is eaten all over the world and is prepared in a wide variety of ways. If you had always wanted to grow a watermelon but felt intimidated by the process, we hope this article put your mind at ease!

The post Watermelon Growth Stages: From Seed to Sweet Slice appeared first on Wellness Pitch.

In this article, we answer the question “Is sugarcane a fruit or a vegetable?” (hint: neither, it’s a grass!) and discuss other interesting information about this wonderful plant. Read on to find out more.

Scientific Classification of Sugarcane

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionta
• Super-division: Spermatophyta
• Division (Phylum): Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Subclass: Commelinidae
• Order: Poales
• Family: Poaceae
• Genus: Saccharum L.
• Species: Saccharum officinarum

What is Sugarcane?  

Saccharum officinarum or sugarcane is a tall perennial tropical grass with lateral shoots at its base leading to the growth of multiple stems. These stems can grow up to 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) in height with a diameter of 5 centimeters (about 2 inches). The plant is grown and harvested as a cash crop for these stems from which sugar is produced. 

The sugarcane plant was first domesticated in New Guinea by Papuans, who selectively bred the plant from the native parent plant Saccharum robustum. However, they only used it as fodder for domestic animals like pigs. The modern cultivation of sugarcane to primarily produce sugar originated in northern India. The sugarcane plant travelled to the West through colonial trade routes.

Could Sugarcane be a Fruit?

To answer this question, let’s look at the definition of a fruit.

What is a Fruit?

Botanically speaking, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant and contains seeds within it. In fact, several plant products which are culinarily considered vegetables are actually fruits; this includes gourds, tomato, chilli peppers, capsicum, raw banana, and corn.

Reproductive System of Sugarcane

Sexual reproduction in sugarcane occurs through its seeds and flowers. Sugarcane flowers are typically unisexual, meaning that individual plants produce either male (staminate) or female (pistillate) flowers and are rarely hermaphrodite. 

Although sugarcane is capable of sexual reproduction, the occurence of natural pollination in sugarcane plants is rare as they are usually propagated by farmers through vegetative reproduction using stem cuttings (seed cane or cane sets). 

Is Sugarcane a Fruit? 

With the above definition of a fruit, we can conclude that sugarcane is not a fruit as it is a stem which does not develop from the fertilized flowers of a flowering plant and contain seeds with it.

Also Read: Top 10 Delicious Florida Fruits You Must Try.

Could Sugarcane be a Vegetable?

First, let’s discuss the culinary definition of a vegetable. 

What is a Vegetable?

The term “vegetable” is not a botanical one, in that, there is not part of a plant which is called a vegetable in botany. The term is instead a culinary one, wherein any non-reproductive part of a plant which is used for culinary purposes is called a vegetable. This includes flowers (cauliflower), fruits (avocado), stems (celery), leaves (spinach), roots (carrots), and seeds (beans and peas).

Culinary Uses of Sugarcane

Sugarcane may be primarily used to extract sugar, but its culinary uses do not end there. Sugarcane stems are a food staple in countries where they are cultivated. They are used in sweeteners like jaggery, alcoholic drinks like cachaça, and even cooked dishes like lemon chicken with sugarcane juice. 

Is Sugarcane a Vegetable?

The answer to this question is a bit tricky. Going by the definition of a vegetable, it technically makes sense that sugarcane falls into the category. However, sugarcane is not a vegetable as it is primarily used as a sweetener and not cooked into dishes. 

Unlike other vegetables, sugarcane is not primarily used for culinary purposes. It is an addition, yes. However, it is often just used raw or as a sweetener to add flavour. To put this in perspective, consider rosemary sprigs; they are herbs and not vegetables despite there being other leafy produce which are considered vegetables as they are only added for extra flavour.

Could Sugarcane be a Grass?

To explore this question thoroughly, let’s look into the definition of grass. 

What is a Grass?

Grass can be defined as any of the green, non-woody plants belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), the sedge family (Cyperaceae), and the rush family (Juncaceae). Grasses have a wide range of uses. Depending on their type, they are used as cereal grains, forage and pasture grasses, ornamental grasses, wetland and marsh grasses to name a few. 

Is Sugarcane a Grass?

Yes, sugarcane is a type of grass which belongs to the grass family (Poaceae). Although it doesn’t have the conventional appearance of grass, sugarcane carries many of the typical characteristics of grass including long, narrow leaves with parallel veins and jointed stems. Additionally, like other grasses, sugarcane exhibits a tufted growth habit with new stems emerging from the bottom of the plant. 

Also Read: Red Vs White Dragon Fruit.

Sugarcane as an Edible Plant

You would be surprised to know that sugarcane is an important ingredient in most South Asian, African and South American cuisines. For instance, sugarcane holds cultural significance in the celebration of harvest festivals in southern India. Here are some of the methods in which sugarcane is used to make food and drinks:

1. Raw sugarcane: A common way to enjoy sugarcane is to have it as a snack. The stems are peeled, cut into bite-sized pieces and chewed thoroughly to extract the juice. 
2. Sugarcane juice: Also known as air tebu, usacha rass, guarab, guarapa, guarapo, papelón, aseer asab, ganna sharbat, mosto, caldo de cana, or nước mía, this cool, refreshing drink is made by extracting juice by hand or small mills and mixing it with some lemon juice and ice. 
3. Sayur nganten: An Indonesian soup made from the trubuk (Saccharum edule) variety of sugarcane. 
4. Rum: This may come as a surprise but rum is made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane juice or sugarcane molasses. The distillate is then aged in oak barrels. 
5. Basi: Basi is an alcoholic beverage or wine made from fermented sugarcane juice in the Philippines and Guyana. 

Sugarcane is also used to produce products like: 

1. Molasses: Used to sweeten and flavour foods, it is also used as a side syrup for foods like cheese and cookies. 
2. Jaggery: Traditionally consumed in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Africa, jaggery is solidified molasses which is used in making sweets and desserts.
3. Panela: Also known as radapura, these are solid pieces of sucrose and fructose created from boiling and evaporating sugarcane juice. Panela is a food staple in the Caribbean and Latin American countries including Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Sugarcane

Sugarcane is an excellent source of carbohydrates and also contains essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. 

Sugarcane juice is packed with powerful antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins which have proven anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and help improve hair, skin, and nail health. 

Non-Edible Uses of Sugarcane

Apart from having a diverse range of uses for culinary purposes, sugarcane also produces myriad byproducts, some of which are listed below:

1. Sustainable alternative: After the juice has been extracted from the canes, a fibrous substance is leftover; this substance is called bagese. Bagese fibers can be used to produce environmentally sustainable products like paper, packaging materials and even biodegradable containers and kitchenware.
2. Biofuel Production: Sugarcane can be used to produce biofuels like ethanol and bio-diesel. Ethanol is extracted from sugarcane by fermentation and is added as a renewable fuel additive to petroleum products. 
3. Renewable Energy Production: The leftover bagese can be burned to produce heat and electricity. Sugarcane mills often use bagese to power their operations and equipment. 
4. Construction Materials: Building equipment like boards, panels and planks can be made using bagese fibers with other materials, thus offering a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials. 
5. Animal Fodder: The tops and leaves of sugarcane are usually used as animal feed for livestock. 
6. Handicrafts and Artisanal Products: In some cultures, it is a traditional practice to use sugarcane fibers to create handmade products like baskets, mats. Sugarcane fibers are also used to construct fences and roof thatching. 

Check out our recent article on ‘How to prevent fruit and vegetable wastage‘.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, we now know that sugarcane is neither a fruit nor a vegetable; it is a perennial tall grass which is cultivated for its stem from which juice is extracted and crystallized to produce sugar. In addition to sugar, sugarcane also produces other products and benefits which are listed above.

The post Is Sugarcane a Fruit or a Vegetable? appeared first on Wellness Pitch.