Origin & Distribution
The wild watermelon is widely distributed in Africa and Asia, but originates from southern Africa occurring naturally in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. It is widely cultivated in warmer parts of the world. Watermelon is thought to have been domesticated at least 4,000 years ago, and the plant was grown as a crop in the Nile valley. The indigenous people of the Kalahari, in their search for water-containing foods, selected varieties with low glycoside content. From there followed the spread to the Mediterranean areas and in an eastern direction to India. Watermelons were developed as a crop in Egypt in ancient times and according to Encyclopedia Britannica " The history of watermelons is a long one; there is a Sanskrit word for watermelon, and fruits are depicted by early Egyptian artists, indicating an antiquity in agriculture of more than 4,000 years". Purse glove ( 1968) indicates that it is of ancient cultivation in the Mediterranean and reached India in prehistoric times, but did not reach China until the eleventh century AD. Some websites suggest an introduction to India in 800 AD. C. lanatus var. fistulous, the "tinda", which has small, apple sized fruit, is grown as a vegetable in India. Modern day cultivated varieties are a popular crop that can be cultivated in any climate that has warm summer, and are best suited to those climates that have long hot summers.
Availability of Watermelon in India
Wild watermelon thrives in the country’s northwestern plains, as well as India’s south and central regions. These two are the areas most conducive to growing commercial varieties. A number of India’s states grow watermelon. Interestingly, these regions vary considerably in their climate, but the adaptability and versatility of watermelon allows the fruit to thrive in a number of soils. Watermelon simply desires heat: the hotter the better, in fact. According to the National Institute of Industrial Research, watermelon is cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. In India there is approximately 25 commercial varieties,
Watermelon comes into season during the summer months, usually from April to June. However, unusual weather patterns during planting sometimes introduce the fruit to cities as early as March.
The wild watermelon is widely distributed in Africa and Asia, but originates from southern Africa occurring naturally in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. It is widely cultivated in warmer parts of the world. Watermelon is thought to have been domesticated at least 4,000 years ago, and the plant was grown as a crop in the Nile valley. The indigenous people of the Kalahari, in their search for water-containing foods, selected varieties with low glycoside content. From there followed the spread to the Mediterranean areas and in an eastern direction to India. Watermelons were developed as a crop in Egypt in ancient times and according to Encyclopedia Britannica " The history of watermelons is a long one; there is a Sanskrit word for watermelon, and fruits are depicted by early Egyptian artists, indicating an antiquity in agriculture of more than 4,000 years". Purse glove ( 1968) indicates that it is of ancient cultivation in the Mediterranean and reached India in prehistoric times, but did not reach China until the eleventh century AD. Some websites suggest an introduction to India in 800 AD. C. lanatus var. fistulous, the "tinda", which has small, apple sized fruit, is grown as a vegetable in India. Modern day cultivated varieties are a popular crop that can be cultivated in any climate that has warm summer, and are best suited to those climates that have long hot summers.
Availability of Watermelon in India
Wild watermelon thrives in the country’s northwestern plains, as well as India’s south and central regions. These two are the areas most conducive to growing commercial varieties. A number of India’s states grow watermelon. Interestingly, these regions vary considerably in their climate, but the adaptability and versatility of watermelon allows the fruit to thrive in a number of soils. Watermelon simply desires heat: the hotter the better, in fact. According to the National Institute of Industrial Research, watermelon is cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. In India there is approximately 25 commercial varieties,
Watermelon comes into season during the summer months, usually from April to June. However, unusual weather patterns during planting sometimes introduce the fruit to cities as early as March.