May is Watermelon Month!

Have you ever eaten watermelon? You can eat the crunchy rind and seeds of a watermelon! Watermelons are over 90% water. The seeds contain protein which helps your muscles grow. Instead of tomatoes, you can chop up watermelon into small pieces and make a salsa.

Watermelon is 92% water and fat-free. Watermelon is a good source of lycopene.

Lycopene gives watermelon their red color. Tomatoes have lycopene too! Studies show that a cup and a half of watermelon contain about 9-13 milligrams of lycopene. Research suggests that lycopene protects the body against some cancers.

Florida Watermelon! Florida leads the U.S. in watermelon production. You can find Florida watermelon from April until July. Watermelon is the most consumed melon in the nation!

Watermelon is mostly grown in the western part of the state: from North Collier County to Columbia County.

Watermelons can have as many as 1,000 seeds. You need at least 20 sq. ft. of space to grow watermelons. Watermelon seeds can be white or black and are a good source of protein.

Watermelons can be different shapes, colors and sizes. They can even be square!

Reproducing Plants Petal: The parts of a flower that are often conspicuously colored. Stamen: The pollen producing part of a flower, usually with a slender filament supporting the anther. Anther: The part of the stamen where pollen is produced.

Reproducing Plants Pistil: The ovule producing part of a flower. The ovary often supports a long style, topped by a stigma. The mature ovary is a fruit, and the mature ovule is a seed. Stigma: The part of the pistil where pollen germinates. Ovary: The enlarged basal portion of the pistil where ovules are produced.

Reproducing Plants Sexual reproduction occurs when pollen from the anther (male reproductive part) is transferred to the stigma (female reproductive part).

Reproducing Plants This is when pollen from the same plant fertilizes the ovary. Did you know that watermelons can selffertilize? They can do this because they have both male and female flowers. This is when pollen is transferred to the stigma from an entirely different plant. This transfer can be done by the wind, bees or birds when they transfer pollen from plant to plant.

Reproducing Plants Both male and female flowers grow on the same vine and pollination from bees helps fertilization occur.

Reproducing Plants Both male and female flowers grow on the same vine and pollination from bees helps fertilization occur. The fertilized plant ovary will, over time, develop and grow into the watermelon. If left unharvested, the watermelon will rot and expose the seeds. These seeds can be replanted.

Reproducing Plants Both male and female flowers grow on the same vine and pollination from bees helps fertilization occur. The fertilized plant ovary will, over time, develop and grow into the watermelon. If replanted, the seeds grow into a new watermelon plant. It will take about 3 months for it to become a mature watermelon. If left unharvested, the watermelon will rot and expose the seeds. These seeds can be replanted.

Wow, I didn t know that it takes about 3 months for a watermelon to grow! Our farmers work very hard to provide us with food.

How a Watermelon Grows Seeds are planted in the ground. They should be planted in an area with a lot of space that receives plenty of sun. The sprout appears in about seven to ten days after the seed germinates. It is very important to water the seeds for the plant to grow.

How a Watermelon Grows With enough sunlight, the seedlings will begin to grow. Give the biggest, healthiest-looking seedling more room to grow. As a young vine, it is important to make sure the area around the plant is weeded. Applying mulch made from compost or pine straw is a great way to stop weeds from appearing.

How a Watermelon Grows Flowers will begin to grow on a vine. Bees are needed to pollinate the flowers. Both male and female flowers will grow on the same vine. The flowers on the plant s vine begin to make fruit. Once the fruit begins to grow it can take an entire month to mature.

How a Watermelon Grows Ripe watermelons have a yellow or cream-yellow ground spot in the place the melon rested on the soil. If this spot is green or white, the watermelon is probably not ripe.

For cool and educational fruit and veggie games and lessons: http://foodchamps.org/ For watermelon activities: http://www.us.me nsa.org/learn/gift ed-youth/lessonand-activityplans/activityplans/summerfun-activitiesnationalwatermelon-day/ Or Here! Have fun with J Slice: http://www.watermelon.org/kids/j-slice Try This Site!

Learn how to do a watermelon dance with Jill! Get moving and have fun! http://www.jumpwithjill.com/naturescandy-dance-party/