I’ve noticed some discussion online lately about seedless watermelons and claims that they are “genetically modified,” which somehow makes them a black sheep in the world of produce. I’d like to take this time to set the record straight and restore dignity and honor to the great seedless watermelon by making this declaration:
Seedless watermelons are NOT genetically modified. They are hybrid watermelons that have been grown in the United States for more than 50 years and are safe and delicious in every way!
Allow me to explain. Actually, I’ll let the National Watermelon Promotion Board explain, because they do a good job of it on their website. Here’s what they have to say:
“A seedless watermelon is a sterile hybrid which is created by crossing male pollen for a watermelon, containing 22 chromosomes per cell, with a female watermelon flower with 44 chromosomes per cell. When this seeded fruit matures, the small, white seed coats inside contain 33 chromosomes, rendering it sterile and incapable of producing seeds. This is similar to the mule, produced by naturally crossing a horse with a donkey. This process does not involve genetic modification.”
So there you have it. Seedless watermelons are just regular watermelons, albeit a relatively younger relative of the traditional seeded watermelon. Despite being the new kid on the block, the seedless watermelon actually outsells its seeded peers by a significant margin. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, only 16 percent of watermelon sold in grocery stores has seeds. In 2003, that number was 43 percent.
Oh sure, sometimes I miss those little black seeds, but it’s mainly for nostalgic reasons. Sort of the way I miss shopping for new clothes before the start of a new school year. Does it mean I want to spend an entire Saturday in the mall with my mother telling me I’ll “grow into” the five pairs of pants we just spent three hours trying on? Not a chance.
If you want to learn about how to grow seedless watermelon, then read our seedless watermelon article.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedge of watermelon in the fridge with my name on it. Seedless, of course… and my pants fit me just fine.
View Comments (53)
you are definitely an idiot, the taste of seeded watermelon is not even comparable to the fake seedless ones. you moron get off the internet.
I agree and the texture can't compare. The only reason they sell more is because a lot of grocery stores don't ever have the seedless.
Theta was suppose to be seeded not seedlessq
Agreed!!!! I thought the same thing to myself when I read that tidbit.
Lol...straight FACTS
I have been tasting both types, to me seedless one is more tasty.
The seedless watermelon tastes great, just like a red dyed sweetened cucumber. If you like red dyed sweetened cucumber. Personally, I'd rather have a REAL watermelon. But they almost never sell them anymore... which is the real reason the seedless sell better, the seeded ones aren't for sale!
I always ask for the seeded variety, and often settle for the seedless. I should boycott more often.
So sad to read this, i’m fron Chile south america, and the watermelon on January (summer here) is great, a lot of seeds, but the heart of the watermelon...
Come here in summer, and ask for a watermelon from Paine, the size at least 50cm, the cost less than usd$7.
I love Chile watermelon! Worried about eating seedless, hybrid watermelon, which, to me, means not really a watermelon.
The female cell with 44 chromosomes is may be made by treating the plant or seeds from which the female flower comes with a chemical which causes a mutation of the cell to have 44 chromosomes instead of the 22 it would otherwise have.
Funny how seedless watermelons were "invented" 50 yeas ago.
Someone figured out how to double the no of chromosomes?
So the suspect Colchicine first isolated in 1820 was not the agent?
If an agent is used to modify the genetic nature of a plant is this not GM.
Interestingly the plqnt source has been used medicinally for >3500 years.
I agree with you my dear Friend...The (mafies) take the original water mellow out of the shops and they forcing the (brainless) public (of course not 100% of them) to pay the seetless... wake up World and don't pay those fake (water Bealow) SUPPORT THE NURTURE NOT THE SMART share holders and companies...they want to control 100% of our World and our brain...JUST FOR MONEY...
I love watermelon with seeds. This year we bought four of them, after over 10 . years of nothing. We don’t eat nothing seedless. Why we don’t have choice??????? One note about wotermelons. They should be eaten by them selves. Not with other food
I am Definitely of the Seeded watermelon school…nothin’ quite like a good old -fashioned red watermelon with black seeds…drippin’ with sweet pink watermelon juice…
No one has mentioned the Real reason for Seeded Watermelons…Watermelon -spittin’ contests…
where has good old American completion gone?
that last comment should have said: “competition”( not Completion…)
Only thing you miss out on with seedless is the traditional seed spitting contest with everyone else eating it
Not true at all. The taste of a properly grown seeded watermelon is far superior.
I don’t think I have had a good watermelon in over a decade. I am going to grow my own next year. My theory is that this is because they are all seedless now. Seeds provide fat, and fat tastes good!
I recently had an old fashion watermelon with dark seeds and what a glorious difference in taste. I’ve been eating the tasteless seedless ones for so long I’d forgotten just how sweet and intense the flavor of the old variety was. Give me seeds all day long.
Every seedless watermelons I have eaten still have the little white seeds. Is that normal?
The little white seeds are absolutely 100% okay to eat! They are white because they are still growing; fully-matured seeds appear black like the ones you see on this page!