Harvest of the Month
How Does it Grow?
Fun Facts
• Watermelon is the top agricultural
crop in Texas. Over 42,000 acres of
watermelon are grown throughout
the state in over 100 counties.
• Texas is the third largest watermelon
producer in the United States.
• Locally grown watermelon can be
found all over Texas, especially in the
summer months.
• Cucumbers, pumpkins and squash
are cousins of the watermelon.
• There are 200-300 varieties of
watermelon grown in the U.S. and
Mexico. In Texas, all types of
watermelon are grown, ranging from
seedless to sweet picnic to yellow and
orange flesh varieties.
Activity: See How
Watermelon Grows!
The next time you eat watermelon,
wash and save your seeds!
Supplies you will need:
• Watermelon Seeds (about 10-15)
• A planting pot
• Dirt (enough to fill the pot)
• Water
• Sunshine
Water at the base of the plant. Keep soil moist,
but do not overwater.
Instructions:
1. Fill your planting pot with dirt.
2. Place your seeds about 1 inch deep
into the dirt.
3. Water right after planting and
continue to water once a week.
4. Give your watermelon some love
and sunshine!
5. Observe how the watermelon grows.
Be patient, it will take about 10 days
to see growth. While your plant may
not grow a watermelon, it will grow
a vine.
• Farmers plant watermelon in raised
beds, in rows 8-12 feet apart to give
the watermelon vine room to grow.
The vine can grow as much as 8
feet within the first month.
• Watermelons start off as a blossom.
Honeybees pollinate the blossoms
in order for them to fruit.
• After 3 months, the watermelon is
ready for harvest. The rind of a
watermelon is not as tough as it looks,
so the watermelon is still handpicked.
• In Texas the harvest season starts in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley (South
Texas) in early May, moves through
East Texas in June and July, progresses
in the West Texas Rolling Plains area in
August and finishes in the
northwestern High Plains area in
early fall.
How to Pick the Perfect
Watermelon
• Look for a firm, symmetrical
watermelon that is free from bruises,
cuts or dents.
• The watermelon should be heavy
for its size since it is made up of
mostly water.
• The underside of the watermelon
should have a creamy yellow spot
from where it sat on the ground and
ripened under the sun.
Give Meals a Nutrition
and Flavor Boost:
• Enjoy them as is or throw
slices on the grill.
• Cut watermelon into cubes
and freeze them. Add to a
glass of water for a
refreshing twist!
• Slice watermelon into sticks
and dip with low-fat yogurt.
• For easy watermelon kebabs,
cut watermelon, turkey and
cheese in cubes and skewer
on straws!
Watermelon Nutrition 101
• Watermelon is rich in eye healthy
Vitamin A and provides immune
boosting vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
• Watermelon is 92% water. This
perfect thirst- quencher will keep
you hydrated throughout the Texas
summer heat.
' Gmc Produce' Watermelon
The Green family's tradition of growing
watermelon dates back to the 1940’s when
Marc’s grandfather produced 800 - 1000 acres
of watermelon per year.
In 1999, Marc Green & his family
established GMC Produce in Henderson.
Today, GMC Produce utilizes the knowledge
and experience passed down from previous
Green generations to produce and sell top
of the line watermelons.
September 2015
Henderson, TX