Yellow watermelon is naturally grown in the same way as red watermelon. Both look exactly the same from the outside, as they have the green-striped grid. You will only see the difference when you cut it, where you will see the yellow color of the inner flesh. The juice of the yellow watermelon is sweeter and more delicious than the juice of the red watermelon. Yellow watermelon is suitable for use since it protects us from eye diseases and cancer because it contains more antioxidant beta-carotene.
Watermelons are grown from seeds in the spring when the soil is warm. The yellow watermelon is naturally grown as a red watermelon, but mostly high fertility, good soil drainage, and the sun cause them to be yellow. The yellow watermelon takes around three months to be ready to harvest.
Below are five things to consider when growing yellow watermelon:
1. Soil
Yellow watermelon needs soil with high drainage, mainly sandy loam soil, which produces the healthiest yellow watermelons during harvest. You should add manure or compost to the poor soil to support the watermelon plant’s growth and use raised beds with amended soil to improve drainage.
2. Fertilizer
You will use fertilizer when the soil has poor drainage, but it’s unnecessary when it has good drainage. When you fail to use fertilizer, you are advised to use commercial growers to inject the fruits with nitrogen fertilizer.
3. Water
Yellow watermelon needs water to stay moist, but it is applied only when the soil is dry. When you apply over-watering, it can cause rapid growth, which leads to cracking.
4. Light
The yellow watermelon plant requires a full day of sun, so you should plant it away from trees, which cast shade, and buildings.
5. Temperature
Yellow watermelon plants need hot weather, but when the sun is extended, it will be stressful for the plants, so you must use shade cloth. When the hot weather is combined with high humidity, it might cause the plants to be susceptible to powdery mildew.
Is Yellow Watermelon Healthier than Red Watermelon?
Yes. The yellow watermelon is healthier than the red watermelon because the yellow one has more antioxidant beta-carotene than the red. Beta-carotene is vital to people because it protects them from eye disease and cancer. The red watermelon contains lycopene and an antioxidant, which are less crucial to humans than those in the yellow watermelon.
Yellow watermelon contains more vitamin C compared to red watermelon, which makes it better for preventing thrush than red watermelon. The higher number of yellow watermelons helps strengthen your body’s immune system. In red watermelons, vitamin C is limited compared to yellow watermelons.
There are different yellow watermelon types, including yellow doll watermelon, a ubiquitous hybrid in the trading market. It can produce a maximum weight of 6 to 8 pounds with small and few seeds. It can take approximately three months to be ready to harvest.
How Long Do Yellow Watermelons Take to Grow?
Yellow watermelons can take around 85-120 days for the fruits to be ready, depending on the season. As yellow watermelons are planted from seeds, there are some key factors you need to know, such as the weather, soil condition, fertilizer, light, season, and the type of yellow watermelon you want to grow. The best season to grow yellow watermelons is summer.
The yellow watermelon plant’s leaves are usually pale green when young and turn yellow when they mature. The other factor that can cause the leaves to turn yellow is a lack of nitrogen (nitrogen deficiency). This mainly appears when the plants are not faded enough, and it can be caused by dry spells. When it is so hot, you can apply irrigation and mulching to the plants.
Yellow Watermelon Vs. Red Watermelon
There are some differences and some similarities between yellow and red watermelons.
Differences Between Yellow and Red Watermelons
1. Yellow watermelons contain high levels of lycopene, which helps in the eye health of human beings and can also prevent cancer, while red watermelons do not. Yellow watermelons are yellow inside (when cut), while red watermelons are red when you cut them.
2. Yellow watermelons are much more expensive than red watermelons.
3. Yellow watermelons are much sweeter than red ones since they taste like honey.
4. Yellow watermelons are harvested earlier than red watermelons.
5. Yellow watermelons are challenging to get in groceries, while red watermelons are readily available in the market.
Similarities Between Yellow and Red Watermelons
The following are some of the similarities between the red and the yellow watermelon:
1. Red and yellow watermelons both contain more water, accounting for 70-90% of their weight.
2. Both red and yellow watermelons contain vitamins A, B, and C, which are important to people.
3. Both watermelons contain chemicals such as beta-carotene, zinc, selenium, and antioxidants, which typically help relieve muscle pain.
4. Yellow and red watermelons both have similar outer skins and the same flavor.
Types of Watermelons
There are different types of watermelons around the world; below are the four best types:
1. Picnic Watermelons
This type of watermelon is quite extensive and has an average weight between 15 and 70 pounds. The size depends on the climate and how it was cared for by the farmer or producer.
2. Icebox Watermelon
It is a smaller type of watermelon, with a size that weighs 10–25 pounds. These are for small families or just a person.
3. Seedless Watermelons
This type of watermelon has fewer seeds when you cut it than the other types. When you cut this watermelon, you might miss the seeds, making it challenging to grow them. When you get the seeds, you should keep them at around 350 degrees Celsius.
4. Orange Watermelon
This type of watermelon can either contain seeds or be seedless. The seed varieties include yellow baby, yellow doll, tender gold, and desert king.
