Let’s get one thing out of the way right up front: It doesn’t matter what shape the watermelon is, it’s what’s inside that matters. That said, you have to admit there’s something cool about watermelons that defy convention by assuming different shapes.
Last month, I talked about Japanese farmers who had figured out a way to grow heart-shaped watermelons. Of course, the precursor to those sweethearts are the unusual square watermelons that got their start in Japan almost a decade ago. But how are they grown, and why bother tampering with Mother Nature? Both are good questions. I’m glad I asked them.
First, the how. It’s actually pretty easy (relatively speaking) to grow a square watermelon. Just about anyone can do it. While the watermelon is still small on the vine, a square, tempered glass box is placed around it. When the watermelon gets bigger, it assumes the shape of the box! You can do this too. There are even websites dedicated to teaching you how. Just remember to use a glass or transparent mold so the sunlight can reach the watermelon on all sides (except the bottom, I guess).
And why are square watermelons grown? Two reasons actually. First, the square watermelons are easier to stack, which makes them easier to ship. Second, and perhaps most ingeniously, with space being an issue in crowded areas of Japan, the square watermelon is designed to fit perfectly inside smaller Japanese refrigerators.
But, just like the heart-shaped creations, square watermelons cost a bit more than one shaped by Mother Nature. It’s a small price to pay for the ability to store it in your fridge, although I guess you could just cut up a normal watermelon and make it fit. Oh well… the square ones still look pretty darn cool.
How cool is that:) Thanks for sharing, Watermelon guy!!!
My pleasure Louise. Meanwhile, I’m at home working on my super secret plan to create watermelons in the shape of small woodland creatures. It’s not going well.
What is inside watermelons?
we are providing the plastic molds to grow the square shape watermelon and heart shape watermelon , pls see http://www.fruitmould.com to check more information …
we are also providing the information of how to shape the watermelon or how to grow the square watermelon with our molds , for more instruction , please check the http://www.fruitmould.com
we also providing the information of how to grow of these shape fruits , like square watermelon ,heart watermelon ,buddha pears ,cube shaped apple ,heart shape tomato, or cherry ,this is going to be fun, find your interests on http://www.fruitmould.com
well the square water melon…..i dont know where to start why were it made how did u make it where did u make that is i preserve???????????i need to know why , when and how
hi loving your website so cool
Dude, over in Vancouver, we have square watermelons at $68.88(compared to a normal regular one at $5). Really? After I eat a square melon, do I start sh!tting out gold bricks? I’d understand if a square one is maybe $15-20, but $70 just blows my mind…
On the morning news they ran a clip on growing square watermelons in Japan. They are unusual, but the clip said they were not only expensive but they were not for consumption. So why then? for display is what they said. They didn’t elaborate, I’m assuming for carving purposes maybe, like ice sculptures? One would think that with space so tight in Japan and land so expensive they would put their ingenuity to better use, like growing food for the masses, food that their people could eat and afford. But so much of what we humans do make no sense anyway, so why not watermelons. That then leads to the question, Why did the watermelon tumble across the road? To get to the other side! Of course, who didn’t know that?
They are actually NOT edible, as they are harvested when they fill the cube (or heart, or whatever) instead of when they are ripe. So they are harvested early for ornamental purposes only as if they keep growing to ripeness they would split or rot.
Here’s a link supporting this http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/06/28/growing-overseas-demand-japans-square-watermelons
Thanks for the link Chad!
We sell the mold used to make both the Box and Heart Shaped watermelon at Melonmold.com
Check us out if you’d like to try making one of these!
Melonmold.com
fruitmould.com says:
October 21, 2013 at 12:31 pm
we are also providing the information of how to shape the watermelon or how to grow the square watermelon with our molds , for more instruction , please check the http://www.fruitmould.com
I should point out that the price tag of these squared watermelon is anything but “a small price to pay”… they go for about 200.00US$ in Japan (yes, you read it well, 200 DOLLARS!), and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t stick with my 2-Euros, 3-Kilograms watermelon, fully natural and well ripe, here in Italy.
like chad said…you cannot eat them! Anyone who spends 60 or more dollars for something you cannot eat is insane! If you want to throw your money away, send it my way!
hi,
how we can produce square watermelons.
please advice.
thank you.
Ugh. Too many people. So glad I don’t live in Japan. You CANNOT improve upon nature,
just have less offspring and enjoy a bigger refrigerator.
Actually, it’s not the amount of kids, it’s the death average, people are living longer than they did back then, which is why the population is increasing.