Watermelon Seeds: A Guide to Eating and Growing

What do you do with the seeds when you’re eating that juicy piece of watermelon? For many people, the solution is to spit them out or buy seedless grapes. But what if the diminutive black seeds could deliver a wallop of nutrition?

Frequently discarded, the watermelon seed is more than a nuisance. They’re nutritious and can make for a crunchy, healthful snack. Beyond their nutrition, these seeds are the magic elixir for growing your very own tasty watermelon at home.

Here, we will be addressing everything related to watermelon seeds! You’ll discover some of the impressive benefits watermelon seeds have to offer, what it means to roast them into a delicious snack, and even how you can plant them to grow your own personal-sized watermelons. By the end, you’ll never look at those little seeds the same way again.

These watermelon seeds may be tiny, but they pack in a lot of nutrients. It can connect your body with essential minerals. Incorporating healthy fats into your diet supports your overall well-being.

High in Essential Minerals:

A watermelon seed is a good source of iron, magnesium, and zinc. According to Forbes, a 4-gram portion (a tiny handful) has 21 mg of magnesium, a mineral that is necessary for healthy muscles, nerve function, and immune system support. Additionally, that meal contains roughly 0.29 mg of iron, which is a component of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen to your body. Zinc is another essential nutrient in these seeds that helps out your immune, digestive, and nervous systems.

Low in Calories:

If you’re in search of a healthful snack, look no further than roasted watermelon seeds. A big handful (about 4 grams’ worth) packs just 23 calories, making them a far lighter option than many processed snacks.

Source of Good Fats:

The seeds are an excellent source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These “good” fats can help ward off heart attack and stroke by reducing so-called bad cholesterol. 2.

Antioxidant and Vitamin C Rich:

With excellent antioxidants and vitamin C, watermelon seeds aid in preventing damage to the body from free radicals and maintaining a sound immune system.

It turns into a crunchy, tasty snack when raw watermelon seeds are roasted. Roasting brings out their nuttiness and makes them accessible.

Simple Roasting Instructions

Collect and Clean: After you have the watermelon again, don’t throw those black seeds away! Wash well under cold water to remove fruit pulp and gently pat dry with a paper towel.

Season: Add the cleaned seeds to a small bowl. Mix them with a teaspoon of olive oil. And… a pinch of salt. This is the most straightforward recipe, but feel free to improvise.

Roasting: Lay the seasoned seeds out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake them in a 325-degree F (160 °C) oven for 15-20 minutes. So, toss them occasionally to ensure they roast evenly and become crispy.

Cool and Store: Cool the roasted watermelon seeds to room temperature before eating. Please keep them in an airtight container for a tasty, good-for-you snack.

Flavor Variations

Want to spice things up? Try these flavor combinations:

• Spicy: Season with a pinch of chili powder. Add a squeeze of lime juice before roasting.
• Sweet: Top with cinnamon and a light dusting of sugar for a sweet treat.
• Savory: Add garlic powder, onion powder, and a small pinch of smoked paprika for more delicious flavor.

You can find watermelon seed flour as a gluten-free source of high-protein for baking, as well.

Varieties of Watermelon Seeds for Planting

All watermelon seeds are not created equal. If gardening is new to you, selecting the proper variety is critical to a successful harvest. Types of watermelon seeds for planting. These are some of the popular varieties of watermelon seeds you can plant:

• Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds: Another variety that makes a small, round melon with lovely, red flesh. With their dwarfing vines, they are a good option for small gardens.
• Black Diamond Watermelon Seeds: We offer enormous, dark green/black melons with bright red, firm flesh. They are a timeless option for a classic watermelon.
• Crimson Sweet: Red-fleshed heirloom with large, round fruit that has a striped rind and firm, sweet flesh.
• Orangeglo: This watermelon is known for its bright orange, super-sweet, and flavorful flesh. It’s an exceptional choice that’s bound to impress.
• Moon and Stars: An heirloom type with a dark green rind covered in small yellow “stars,” each with one larger “moon. Its flesh is sweet, and the plant makes a great conversation starter.

You can also find organic watermelon seeds for the vast majority of these varieties, if you like to garden organically.

How to Grow Watermelon From Seed: How Long Does It Take for a Watermelon Plant to Produce Fruit?

Watermelon from seed is so uplifting. A little care and you’ll have homegrown melons all summer.

Planting Watermelon Seeds

The way to plant watermelon seeds varies based on your weather. In warmer areas, you can also plant seeds directly into the garden. It’s a good idea to start them indoors in cooler climates.

Timing: Sow watermelon seeds 1-2 weeks after the last frost when the soil temperature is at least 65°F (18°C).

Location: Select an area that gets full sun (6-8 hours per day). Watermelons need space for their vines, so give them some room.

Planting: Sow the seeds 1 inch deep. It’s typical to sow the seed as small mounds and place 3-4 seeds per mound, thinning out later, leaving just a couple of the most vigorous seedlings.

Caring for Your Watermelon Plant

Once your seeds have germinated, give them proper care to help the seedlings grow.

Watering Throughout the growing season, watermelons should receive an even supply of moisture as they develop their fruits—water deeply once or twice a week, enough to deliver 1-2 inches of water. To prevent the spread of disease, watering from above should be avoided since this can cause fungal illnesses.

Soil: Well-drained sandy loam with high organic matter content is preferred.

Harvest: The most crucial part is knowing when to harvest. Search for the location where the melon has made contact with the ground: this will be a cream or pale yellow color. The tendril nearest the fruit stem should also be dry and brown. A hollow sound when you thump the melon is another good sign.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are you supposed to eat the black seeds in a watermelon?

Yes, you can eat black watermelon seeds. They are rich in nutrients like magnesium, iron, and healthy fats. Roasting them turns them into a delicious, crunchy snack.

And those white seeds in watermelon?

The tiny white watermelon seeds are essentially unripe. So yes, they are soft and perfectly edible at this stage, but not as rich in nutrients as fully grown black seeds.

Do seedless watermelons have seeds?

Yes, there are seedless watermelon seeds, but they don’t work as you might expect. Seedless watermelons are hybrids that bear undeveloped, edible white seed coats. They’re not really “seedless” but have a lot fewer mature black seeds.

How can you tell if a watermelon seed is suitable for planting?

Typically, the best seeds for planting watermelon are mature, dried, and hard, with a black or dark brown color. The white seeds are immature and will not become a plant.

Are yellow watermelon seeds different?

Some watermelon varieties will indeed produce Watermelon yellow seeds or Tan seeds when completely mature. These are just as suitable for planting as black seeds, provided they are from heirloom or open-pollinated types.

From Snack to Garden Staple

Watermelon seeds are good for much, much more than spitting out. They provide a significant amount of nutrition when consumed and also have the potential to be a tasty, homegrown yield. Whether you snack on them as juiced little gems or plant them in your garden, you officially have no excuse not to save and store your watermelon seeds.