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.
View Comments (21)
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?
inside of a watermelon is melon
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?