Mouthwatering watermelon

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Principle 9: Use small and slow solutions

I was thinking about which principle to use to illustrate this, and decided on use small and slow solutions, I've been realising that home grown food is a fantastic example of this principle. It's also a good example of obtain a yield.

I was given a large watermelon last year by a friend that grew it at the Seymour Community Garden, it was so delicious that I keep some seeds. This year I raised some seedlings and planted a few of them out. One of them took off and eventually produced a single enormous watermelon. It was so big that Kai couldn't lift it (about 8kg).

Kai trying to lift our first watermelon, that came in at around 8kg
How did I know when to pick it? Well, I asked around and was told that I should pick it when 'you knock it and it sounds hollow'. I was also warned by another friend not to pick it too early, or too late. Hmmm... well I knocked it, it sounded hollow and I picked it. I was waiting for a time when we were visiting friends because we have no room in our tiny fridge to store it and I wanted to share the abundance. Fortunately, when I cut it open, it was perfect! Mmmm, so sweet - way better then anything that you'll find a t the stupermarket. Everyone loved it and it was finished off by the next day.

Enjoying the fruits of our efforts, perfectly juicy and sweet
Next year I think I might try some smaller melons too, it's a bit of a mission tackling a item like this.

Comments

Linda said…
Yahoo! You got it right. You are now the official watermelon checker!
February 10, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Paul - The Kind Little Blogger said…
Richard - It's like you read my mind. We have a lone melon that has decided to climb some vines but seems to be dangling safety, with good support. We had no idea when to pick and I intended to have a look into it tonight but, ta dah, advice right here in front of me. Thank you!

February 10, 2013 at 6:43 PM
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