Watermelons are one of the most loved fruits when the weather turns hot. They’re full of juice, taste great, and can cool you off, but you might have asked yourself at some point if watermelon plants are split into males and females. Let’s dive into this topic and talk more about watermelons.
To answer the question directly, no, watermelons are not separated into male and female types. Some plants do have male and female parts on different plants, but that’s not the case with watermelons. They are what’s called monoecious. This word refers to plants that have both male and female flowers on a single plant.
The male flowers make pollen, which is needed for the plant to produce fruits. The female flowers are the ones that turn into the watermelon we eat. If you look closely, you can spot a tiny watermelon at the bottom of female flowers. With the help of pollination, these will grow into the big, ripe watermelons we find in the store.
Bees and other insects carry pollen from one flower to the next, which means they go from male flowers to female flowers. This is called pollination. When pollination works out, the watermelons grow until they’re ready to pick. If it doesn’t happen, the watermelon might never grow or it could grow into a weird shape.
Even though there aren’t male and female watermelons, there are various kinds with different looks and tastes. Here are a few of the most common ones:
- Seedless Watermelon – These watermelons are made specifically to grow with very few or no seeds, which makes them easy to eat. People also like them because they’re sweet and the taste is always the same.
- Yellow Watermelon – These have yellow or light green insides instead of the usual red. They’re sweeter and more subtle in taste compared to red watermelons, and you can find them more often in stores and markets these days.
- Mini Watermelon – They’re just like regular watermelons but smaller, usually weighing only 3 to 5 pounds. They’re perfect if you want a taste of watermelon without buying a big one.
- Sugar Baby Watermelon – This small, round type of watermelon is known for being very sweet and juicy. They’re not bigger than a basketball. People who grow their own fruits like planting this kind.
Beyond these common types, there are special watermelons grown in different parts of the world. For example, Crimson Sweet is favored in the US, while Europe has a liking for Blacktail Cricket watermelon.
Although we usually grow watermelons for just one season, they can live and make fruit for quite a few years if the climate is warm enough. In cooler places, they’re grown from new plants each year.
So to sum it up, watermelon plants do not come in male or female forms. They have both male and female flowers. For a healthy and grown watermelon to develop, the female flowers need pollen from the male flowers, usually brought over by bees and insects.
While the plants themselves aren’t male or female, there are many different types of watermelons to choose from. You can find seedless ones, yellow ones, small mini ones, and very sweet sugar babies. Watermelons are enjoyed all over the world. Plus, knowing about the different kinds can help you pick the type that suits what you want, whether it’s for snacking or growing in your garden.
