I never thought I would have a blog post with that title. For one thing, before this year I had never succeeded at growing even one watermelon (Although I don't remember if I had even given it a try). And, had I succeeded, I thought watermelon would be something to enjoy in the warm days of late summer. I had never heard of watermelons storing over two months!
It turns out I inadvertently stored a watermelon for more than two months after I brought it in from the garden when the first hard frost was threatening. I put it in with a crate of winter squash. It was not a very big watermelon, mind you, or I would have noticed it and perhaps consumed it earlier. It was about seven inches in diameter.
Today I had to rearrange my utility room/pantry to make room for the laundry sink drain that the plumber came over to install. (Hooray!) While in the midst of moving things here and there I noticed the watermelon among the squashes. I was tempted to just toss it out the back door, like I have with some winter squashes that have gone bad already, but I paused. This watermelon was still firm and gave a nice "thump" when I tapped it. So I brought it to the kitchen and sliced it open.
I was greeted with the most sweet smelling, tender ivory yellow watermelon flesh I had ever seen. I sliced off a thin piece and cautiously tasted it... wow. Best. watermelon. ever. This is not hyperbole. It really was divine.
To be eating homegrown watermelon in December is one miracle. To have found something so good it defies description and gives me hope for next year's garden is another. This was even better than eating a homegrown tomato in December!
The variety was "Cream of Saskatchewan", an 80-day watermelon we got from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. With its incredible flavor and storage ability, I hope to grow lots of these next year.
9 comments:
that must have tasted heavenly! I love watermellon during all seasons, but the store-bought varieties always taste so green this time of year. I had no idea there were varieties that would keep that long, very cool!
What a nice surprise that must have been.
I thought you had gotten a greenhouse when I saw the post title.
Good work on that watermelon! I hope you are able to grow them next summer.
WoodSong- It was heavenly, nothing any store bought melon could surpass.
FC- I still want a greenhouse badly. I think I could grow dozens of these Saskatchewan melons in a greenhouse. After this tasting, I am determined to have a greenhouse.
Pablo- I will devote a lot of garden space to them. They are that good.
What an unexpected gift Deb! I can almost taste it right along with you. :c)
Ooooh! I gotta get me some of those seeds... Hubby has been bugging me for melons for SO LONG, but I just can't seem to get them to fruit. Maybe these will make it...
Jayne- I had another slice for breakfast. I almost hate to finish it!
Barefoot- I was so surprised when I got any watermelons this year...definitely do plant Cream of Saskatchewan. It's a keeper.
Even being beyond description was truly description enough. I could almost taste it myself while reading this. Yum. What a great surprise for December.
Fresh home-grown watermelon -- what a great surprise Deb.
Post a Comment