How to Pick a Sweet Watermelon Every Single Time - Top 8 Tips

John from www.okraw.com/ shares with you his top 8 advanced tips for picking a sweet and juicy watermelon every single time. In this episode, he will share the 8 common traits that a ripe watermelon may have, so you can pick the best one every time you buy or harvest watermelons.
John attends the 2016 National Heirloom Expo and shares with you the heirloom watermelons and shows you his 8 special techniques that he uses in synergy to choose the sweetest and most nutritious watermelon every single time he buys them.
In this episode you will learn about heirloom watermelons, how to select the best watermelon and may different indicators of ripeness in a watermelon to let you know if it is ripe or not.
After watching this episode, you will have the 8 tips you need to choose the perfectly ripe, sweet and delicious watermelon every single time.
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[@bethbartlett5692]

Trust a girl with a childhood in - NW Tennessee and a Family full of Garden Farmers🍉 Quick Tips: 1. Creamy yellow spot on the bottom - Garden Ripening - Good Spot! Sweet-Indicator 2. Dull Finish is ripe, shiny is still unripened. Sweeter 3. Darkest color of the melon geno-type in the batch. Best Flavor 4. Heaviest of the batch of it's kind = Juiciest. FYI - the small round dark green or striped are called "Table Melons" and they are often the best melons in grocery stores, especially early in the summer and also in August. (My favs) The Thumping/tapping a watermelon is harder to judge by (and it bruses some types of melons) - (there's plenty of farm boys smiling at that one - it takes time to perfect that technique) Melons can look fabulous and taste just ok - 🍉use the weight tip for juicy - the yellow "Field Spot" for sweet, (It's the time in the garden for natural on the vine ripening time, that makes that tip the most reliable) Melons flavors are affected by too much or too little rain and gardeners that over use Miracle Grow for the size effect - they come out quite flavor-weak. The stem spot isn't of much value in Watermelon selection - - Ask a Farmer!

[@SB-000]

My Luisianna stepfather always picked a delicious melon everytime. I know how to thump and get the sound of it being hollow. Most people thump a melon and they don't know what they are listening for!

[@wallys11000]

Thanks Beth! The first watermelon we got was fantastic but the second one from the same store was uneatable. We are going to try out luck again today and maybe if we follow your knowledgeable tips we'll get a good one. :)

[@BlackDidThis]

You Beth: Seem to actually know what you are talking about... Unlike the gentleman that for me was simply a disapointment. I double each and all of your remarks. And again ulike the gentleman that has prepared this video: I hold the yellow spot as highest indicator for higher expectations. Thank you for sparing from your time.

[@wallys11000]

@@BlackDidThis My last watermelon was great. I got the one that had the largest yellow spot. Right, that's the highest indicator. :)

[@cableknitter7346]

My grandma always said look for the darkest field-spot, and it should be "hefty".. always worked out for me. She also said for pineapples: smell the bottom; should be fragrant & fruity.. that seems to work out, too.

[@DaisyCreekFarms]

Here are 5 Tips to pick the perfect watermelon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3umgpWtn5V-qdE

[@quickdeuce]

Thanks so much for these tips John,, I did not read all 396 comments to see if I'm duplicating BUT - watching you do the "tap or slap" test I want to add a note - I live in Washington state so farmers in our state can grow some pretty awesome mellons too,, if we hold the mellon in our hand (or place the other free hand on the opposing side of the mellon) and using one finger (I use my index finger) TAP the mellon,, if you can feel the tap resonate thru the mellon, transmitting the vibration into the palm of your other hand "usually" you can be sure the mellon is of a high liquid content and is "ripe". BUT,, as you've said, these tests only help us eliminate the mellon we DO NOT WANT but don't always guarantee a sweet fruit. Thanks again,, your videos are AWESOME!! Thank YOU and Thank KZbin for sharing them!!

[@bossladywesley228]

I live in Washington state. They have delicious watermelons

[@SkylordOzer]

I started this video thinking i would not watch the whole thing, but you are such s joy to watch and so informative! It was a pleasure watching you. Thank you for all these watermelon tips!

[@hlinda0]

My grandmother told me back in the 60's that the way to pick a good watermelon is to turn it over, and look at the under side. The more yellow on the bottom, the sweeter the melon. Since then, I have never picked a bad watermelon.

[@laurierood5224]

Same here.

[@LindaCalabrese-zn9rp]

I. Thank you for the tlp

[@anastasiae.5338]

It may be covered in the video, but weight of the watermelon compared to its size helped me get a really good one this year. I picked out one that wasn't gigantic (it was about the size of a basketball), but seemed rather hefty considering its size, and it was mostly deep red, juicy and sweet. I don't particularly like watermelon, but I've seen so many videos about the health benefits of its juice that I decided to go ahead and get one and try it. I can't help but think of an overenthusiastic little boy every time I watch one of John's videos. What a happy guy.

[@teresajames2725]

One extra thing I look for in a melon is the amount of Bee stings it has on it. In my own findings I have found that the more stings the sweeter the melon. That would be the little brown spots that look like a lot of little dots when looking closely. Great info John.

[@TheCrystalsunshine1]

Thanks. Both my husband and I value your information. Blessings

[@colleenlassie2600]

You the best John.. I love watching you .. I always learn so much.. much love

[@Vranabestia]

Love how informative and passionate you are!!!

[@schwam6]

johns tips: 1. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="190">3:10</a> fragrant smell 2. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="336">5:36</a> press it-u want hard/firm 3. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="392">6:32</a> heavy 4. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="440">7:20</a> sound test/tap 5. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="560">9:20</a> black spot/sugar spots from end 6. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="638">10:38</a> color of melon get deep color 7. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="685">11:25</a> tip that is false, sun spot 8. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="748">12:28</a> buy a cut melon

[@dharmaram7527]

jon smith thank you!

[@yu-chinracle3860]

The sun spot for the sweetness is not a false tip at all. The yellow spot has to be yellow enough, though. It’s not good when the yellow spot either looks too pale or becomes too brown. That indicates the melon is either not ripe or too ripe. The size of the yellow spot is not that important, though.

[@icicicles]

Soils vary and do affect the sweetness. The one you thumped was a bit on the green side it had a higher thud meaning not enough water. A deeper thud means much more water then look for the extra weight. Yellow is very important. The darker the yellow the riper it was when picked while light yellow to white between the green you should pass up. My favorites are watermelons out of Hermingston eastern Oregon and Washington. The soil there was blasted up out of the Columbia gorge when the ice dam broke during the melt back of the ice-age, depositing rich minerals and nitrogen which really adds to the sweetness.

[@pallasathena4133]

at 4 min, he finally gets to the 1st tip...SMELL it, finally at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="354">5:54</a> 2nd tip, you PRESS your finger into the rind, NOT GOOD, if you can actually press your finger into the rind,at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="407">6:47</a> check the WEIGHT.. if 2 watermelons are the same size....choose the heavier one, then the "TAP" test, which we all know about, but he does not explain how tapping it can result in it being the sweetest one on the table, 12 mins to go, but I'm finished. Good luck!

[@berhanegebriel3155]

I like your suggestions. Thanks.

[@josephyacapin3366]

Thanks for the excellent tips. You were entertaining while being informative!

[@luceymajor]

This video is sweet and very helpful!

[@barbarafeeney5262]

Good tips! Clear delivery! Thanks!

[@raschelleybear69]

Great tips and information! Thank you

[@lloydstultz3760]

African movies

[@tonioyendis4464]

This kat talks forever in all of his videos. He loves to hear himself!

[@timc3639]

But unlike most, he was actually really entertaining

[@candidamerritt2251]

Thanks for your advice. And thank you for sharing!

[@faithlessbelievr]

Thanks for taking the time to share your "watermelon picking expertise" Very helpful. :)

[@kimb3852]

I learned a lot. Thanks so much! Have a great summer🍉

[@TheWorldTeacher]

You're the BEST, John! Here in the Philippines we FLICK melons to test them, rather than tap with an open palm.

[@memz5028]

Perfect timing! I just picked out a mediocre watermelon yesterday. Thanks for the tips!

[@M.O.G.]

Very helpful info, thanks!

[@monicapoole1233]

Thank you for your tips.

[@NolaGB]

Your watermelon tips are those that my dad followed many, many years ago when I was a child and he could sure pick out good ones!!! Thank you!!

[@angelamalek]

I’m so envious that you have that marvelous variety!

[@ARCHI-Crypto]

Thank you for this!

[@Ragahits]

Very well performed tips! Thank a milli Jhon!

[@HulkSmash563]

John, to my dismay I tried all your tips. My wife was sitting over my shoulder the whole time going, nope, nope, nope. Well it turns out she was right! The way she picks out the best one is by looking at the ground spot. If it is yellow in color as opposed to white (for store variety, seedless watermelon) it is ripe. She picks it that way and always comes up with a sweet one. I do believe the heaviest is best as well too because of what you said about the water content. Hope this helps some people!

[@PS-qb8rm]

Ive picked ones w a big bright yellow field spot and it’s sucked! There are no ways to tell. Sorry I’ve been trying this for a few decades and it’s all a crap shoot.

[@internetuser12]

Thanks for the tips

[@getmorecontent.]

Thanks for the tips Okraw.

[@hamzahx10x]

Very very nice

[@chay62jen]

How to pick a good watermelon

[@lynsandgren2997]

Thanks for the info.

[@baircichlids5350]

Great tips. Thank you

[@HelloKidney.]

Thanks for the tips!

[@amandac7267]

Thank you! Love your videos.

[@obayedh]

Some great tips. Much thanks for sharing :)

[@vernitaporter7864]

Very good information, thanks

[@essieaku9462]

thks 4 all those tips!

[@cindychurch925]

Thanks so much!!

[@minutesagoedited9761]

Thanks man!

[@willothwisplx2516]

Always love your videos. Thank you much for teaching me how to pick out a better watermelon.

[@cynthiakelly9621]

thank you John

[@troypierce9517]

Great tips John. Thanks very much. Troy

[@pupax2000]

Awesome tips, thank you! My man always laugh at me watching ripe fruit and veggies vids, I guess I am a fruit nerd, but it is so useful!

[@chihaibe69]

Thanks for the tip

[@ZiondeCastro]

Thank youuu!! :) i love your videos!

[@Safenick]

Your watermelon advice makes sense!

[@lynnelliot7256]

thanks from New Zealand for all your great advice with foodstuffs. Look forward to your videos

[@mickamoo1]

Thanks John. Hoping to buy a good one today with your tips. I've had a lot of mealy non sweet ones.

[@mzluvlyladylolo]

New subbie, great info and thank you for sharing GOD bless 💕 💕💕 💕

[@Playtorians]

Good job John! I've just been educated, keep up the great work!

[@mikeash7428]

good job John. I've got a big patch of all kinds of melons growing this year and your tips will help me pick em when they're ripe. Thanks

[@nraymond67]

thanks bro...your good....cheers

[@jayrad8321]

love you man! you rock!

[@ruthgay6067]

My daddy all pick a good watermelon he did all the tips and I didn't understand what he was doing. I miss my dad. With these tips I may get a good one. Thanks

[@wandataylor4873]

So getting ready for them to come in!

[@moniquemonicat]

Thanks!

[@scottsanderson8855]

glad there is many tips not just one thanks!

[@jazminqua77]

;-)

[@janicemorris6085]

Very helpful

[@bonifacemugisa3251]

These are quite educative videos. Thanks to those behind the scenes.

[@davidplummer2169]

Great video John.

[@rawismyreligion]

Just got a huge overripe watermelon yesterday, gonna try your tips next time shopping! Thanks for sharing!

[@bagotoetags801]

You definitely have the expertise and the resonant voice for this video, good job.

[@gabyandthestrawberrymoon]

AWww You know the ways !! Such good tricks !!

[@tinaa1350]

Good to know thanks

[@toddjohnson2190]

+okraw Great man . . . excellent channel and respect!

[@bigbossman3028]

love your channel

[@animalsareinnocent1318]

Love your videos do much!

[@Delmar829]

Thank you for taking the time to do this. It Helped !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lilinelyma1301]

I will your techniques thank you

[@edylcnostrebor9722]

thank you my Friend

[@vincetheveganprince]

I knew about hitting it and the weight but the rest were new info. Thanks man!

[@marvin123o]

I always look like an idiot at the store trying to pick the right watermelon

[@gerrilehman4194]

marvin123o

[@dominadordiaz9308]

Lb.

[@maryluharmon3267]

Thanks for the tips, John! Picking good watermelons is tough!

[@kitwanatyhimba5247]

Great post ✨❗️

[@calnative4904]

Great information, I knew about the thumping and the weight, I didn’t know about the sugar spots, thanks for the info.

[@keithcooper7047]

onion

[@britneybeautiful1919]

Am so proud of you!

[@britneybeautiful1919]

Healthy living is great! Were all so healthy is so great!

[@eldonburk7384]

Very interesting! I was aware of the tap procedure but did not know about the sugar spots or the weight. Very helpful.

[@augustinelopez1508]

Excellent method thanks for sharing. Later 😊

[@meiw8358]

Good job !

[@hawaiinrainbow]

Definite had one today that was sweet and red. It had a yellow spot, not white. It also had the dried, brown vine at the end. It was heavy for it's size, LOTS of water. Finally, I didn't know this, but another shorter video I saw said that watermelons also have gender. The males are longer and oblong, while the females are rounder and stouter. Guess which they said is the sweeter? The female. The one I bought was female. I could tell when he cut the watermelon he bought that it was already getting old, because when you hear them crack open easily, that's a sure sign they are getting old. (I've bought a few like that in the past.) And if you look at the video, you can see that the rind is already started to shrivel. One last tip from the other video, they said you may see some brown, webbed lines on the outside of the watermelon. Signs that bees spent time pollinating that particular watermelon. But I heard him say a few tips that I would consider looking for to confirm all the other ones I have learned. Looking forward to the yellow one I bought to see if it is sweet! Good hunting and watermelons, everyone!

[@wallys11000]

Watermelons are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. :)

[@SartriLLe]

Ohh watermelons, my favorite fruit! Yum! Thanks for the info!

[@mrruch11]

Yeah Sarah indeed they are great fruits

[@PS-qb8rm]

It’s all BS and a total crap shoot. Even this guy admitted the one he picked wasn’t great. Just roll the dice, pick one and hope you got lucky. Trust me, I’ve been trying for a few decades!

[@demissiegeneamo6964]

Tanks a lot it is very interesting. I want to know more about natural remade .

[@Tablahands]

Awesome display!

[@gerrygold9273]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge on the water melon. 😉✔💜🍉✌🍓🍉✔🍎🍉🍉🍓✔✔

[@healthiswealth3john279]

THESE MELONS ARE SO AWESOME LOOKING. THANKS FOR BRINGING US THIS VIDEO. HOPE YOU HAD SOME WONDERFUL MELON MONO MEALS😄😁😋

[@jbeargrr]

Good video, John, want to add just a bit. The yellow belly spot on melons: it's not the size of the spot, it's the color. If it's white, it's not ripe yet. It needs to be yellow. The deeper the yellow, the riper the melon. If it's dark yellow, like school bus yellow, it's over ripe. Also, if the surface is glossy, it's not ripe. You want that dull bloom all over the rind. However, if you rub the rind with a cloth, you can wipe off the bloom and have a glossy surface. Not likely to find polished melons, though, so usually, you can rely on having the dull surface to help identify a ripe melon. It never occurred to me to smell them, great tip! So's and your other tip about pressing on the rind. If the rind is dull, the belly is yellow, and the rind is still hard with no give, I bet you'll have a perfect melon.

[@sigma_six]

good point, I was thinking there had to be more to it, as he didn't explain why not having the natural chlorophyll on the bottom (other than lack of sunlight) should be a good thing, but what you say adds to the picture, thanks...

[@emilymarx9639]

OMGOSH~ JBEARGRR ~YOUR TIP OF FINDING ONE WITH A YELLOW BELLY SPOT IS THE K E Y T I P !!! THE SUGAR HAS HAD TIME TO DEVELOP BY BEING IN THE FIELD LONG ENOUGH FOR THE SWEET FLAVOR TO DEVELOP! I READ THIS LAST YEAR AND HAVE TESTED IT MANY TIMES: YELLOW BELLY SPOT (NOT WHITE, NOT PALE YELLOW!!) IS THE MAIN KEY TO FINDING A RIPE, SWEET WATERMELON! TRY IT ~ IT WORKS! YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING BACK AN UNRIPE OR SPONGY MELON TO YOUR STORE FOR REFUND, TOO. HAPPY MELON HUNTING NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THE MAIN KEY TIP!!

[@paulsmith8421]

jbear

[@mrruch11]

great addition

[@beverlybarnett9664]

jbeargrr hu

[@ronhastings4573]

Thanks thumbs up

[@jazminqua77]

Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves. I was inspired by him to be healthier and lost weight.

[@billybareblu]

He makes me feel inspired too, and I just enjoy the great energy and passion he has. Makes me happy to watch. I think most people's attention spans have been ruined. Just like a lot of people write, if it isn't crammed into 2-5 minutes, they can't handle it. They'll be the first to crumble if the sh.t ever hits the fan.

[@rashidhamid7399]

Jazz-makin-you-smile ki GT

[@secundusytp4517]

@@billybareblu Survival of the fittest

[@secundusytp4517]

That's the sort of positivity this world desperately needs right now

[@imkrane]

Thanks for another awesome video John, I Love the shirt, did you come up with the phrase yourself???

[@keithcline6954]

Very informative. I'll be trying out some of your tips (as well as some others I've got from other experts) next Tuesday when I go shopping. I once had a watermelon that was yellow and it was very good. Some people get turned off cause of the color. One of my brothers wouldn't even try it.Every year I look for seeded watermelons cause I think they ruined them by going seedless. Its not that hard to remove the seeds or just swallow them. Thanks Keith

[@adventureswithgrandmacindy3707]

I have been wondering about this!! I always just grab one , and have got some good & not so good, thank you so much for your tips! I came across your video as I was eating watermelon! Lol

[@tiffanymyers9159]

I ♡ learning from the Pro!

[@shnarfers]

what brand ceramic knife please? good vid.

[@Landrew0]

"Always choose the seeded watermelons because the seeds contain nutrition." If you eat the watermelon seeds, you won't get any nutrition unless you chew them thoroughly.

[@neanam]

Landrew0 thanks Charlie

[@ExtraordinaryLiving]

The okraw guy probably blends it (and he said he juices it at home), therefore all the seeds get broken down. The thing is, seeds, all *seeds* , have anti-nutrients, some even are toxic to humans; it is not good to consume them in excess.

[@rickrollrizal2364]

@@ExtraordinaryLiving the fool who eats apple seeds would probably deserve it. And the toxins usually reside on the skin of the seeds.

[@wallys11000]

Landrew~ Most of the watermelons I run into are seedless but I want the ones with seeds. Hope to find one today.

[@wallys11000]

@@rickrollrizal2364 I don't let my birds get a hold of apple seeds. :)

[@parismercury4464]

Thanx for teaching us how to pick a good Melon