The end of summer is coming, which means it’s time for delicious and sweet watermelons. By the way, did you know that the fruits of this annual herbaceous plant morphologically it is considered to be a berry?! In this short instruction I want to tell you how to choose the right one ripe watermelon so that it is ripe and sweet. Since childhood, many people believe that the ripeness of a watermelon can be determined by its sound, or rather by its knocking sound. The ripe one has a duller sound. And if you press on it, it will crunch. And if the knock is loud, then it is not yet ripe.
In fact, there are many more signs of watermelon ripeness. Let's look at them all.
There is a dry tail on a ripe watermelon
The tail of a watermelon indicates its ripeness: green indicates that the fruit was picked too early and its taste will no longer be as juicy. The one with the already dried hard tail will be ripe.
And if you are lucky and you are in a melon patch, then to choose a guaranteed ripe watermelon will be the one with a dry tendril on the stalk. Here he is:
By this criterion, professional melon pickers determine a ripe watermelon when they load them into transport.
How to determine maturity by an earthen spot
While the fruit is growing, it lies on the ground and this part of it is yellowish in color. It's called "Earth Spot". So, the ripest, and therefore very sweet, watermelon will be the one whose earthen spot is closer to dark yellow or even orange. The greener the fruit, the lighter the stain, closer to white. Here's a clear example:
On the right is the “correct” watermelon. But the one on the left was picked too early and it’s not ripe, which means it’s not worth taking.
Looking for the right watermelon using a bee's web
If you inspect watermelons in a store when purchasing, then the so-called “ bee web" Here she is:
These are small brown spots, somewhat reminiscent of a spider's web. They tell us that during pollination the bees often touched the ovary of the fruit, that is, pollination occurred very intensively, which means the fruit will be sugary!
Boy or girl?
Do you know that watermelons are also differentiated by gender? “Men” are distinguished by a narrower and elongated shape. They have large seeds, and the taste is not very bright, but the pulp itself is very, very juicy. “Girls” are smaller and rounder. They seem to be flattened. They have a very sweet, rich taste and small seeds.
A big watermelon is a ripe watermelon!
Another way to choose ripe and sweet watermelon- This is to look for medium-sized specimens weighing from 6 to 10 kilograms. Wherein good fruit always quite heavy for its size.
The largest specimens are also not worth taking. The fact is that even “local” fruits (that is, grown in Russia) weighing more than 15 kilograms are pumped to capacity with nitrates. Unfortunately, the nitrate content cannot be determined by eye.
Try to buy watermelons in trusted places. The retail outlet must be equipped with a tray for these fruits and covered with an awning. Alternatively, a covered truck. It’s clearly not worth buying watermelons piled up on the ground, and even next to the road.
Most delicious watermelon It should also be beautiful in appearance - shiny, not flaccid, without cracks, dents or scratches. The stripes are clear and contrasting. Through damage to the rind, dirt and bacteria enter the fruit and this can not only spoil the taste, but also cause an upset stomach.
Many sellers offer to cut out a piece of watermelon you like to try. You shouldn't do this. As a rule, sellers do not wash knives and introduce unnecessary bacteria into the fruit, which is why it can quickly disappear.
There is hardly a person who does not like watermelon. It's an integral part of summer.
However, sometimes it happens that the contents of a striped berry are upsetting. In order not to get upset, you need to learn how to choose the right watermelon. In this article we will tell you how to do this. You will learn how to choose a watermelon, and in the summer you will be able to apply your knowledge to the delight of yourself and your loved ones.
How to choose a watermelon?
First of all, choose a place and a seller. Under no circumstances should watermelons lie on the ground. The seller must carefully place them on a tray high enough above the ground.Next, choose the watermelon that you like in appearance. Fortunately, there are a great variety of them on the tray, and everyone can choose the fruit to suit their taste. However, try to choose a watermelon of the correct spherical shape, slightly elongated. It is better if it is a fruit weighing 7-12 kilograms. These are often of high quality. Small watermelons will most likely turn out to be unsweetened, but in large ones you risk “finding” a sea of nitrates.
Also pay attention to the weight of the fetus. Ideally, even a large watermelon should feel light. This means it is ripe and most likely juicy and sugary.
It has long been noted that watermelons, which have the most contrasting colors, are sweeter than their pale counterparts. Therefore, try to choose bright fruits with even light spots on the side. This watermelon most often turns out to be bright red in color and very sweet in taste.
Special close attention should be paid to the tail. If it is still green, then the watermelon was most likely picked unripe and will taste rather bland. Ideally, the tail should be dry; such watermelons are delivered at the end of August. The pulp of such a fruit will be ripe, juicy and very sweet.
The watermelon rind, on the contrary, should be smooth and bright. There should be no cracks or dents on it. Such a fruit will most likely turn out to be sour or completely tasteless. You shouldn’t waste your money and nerves on such a dubious purchase.
Also, to finish the process, tap the watermelon. The sound of the blow should be loud, as if the fruit might split. This watermelon will delight you with the sweetness and juiciness of the pulp. If the sound from the blow turns out to be dull and muffled, the fruit is not yet ripe and you should not buy it.
Finally, never, under any circumstances, allow a salesperson to cut your watermelon. The knife may be dirty. In addition, while you are carrying such a fruit home, bacteria and dirt may get into the cut. There is no need to risk your health.
There are many ways to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon. However, not all of these methods are always accurate. Thus, many are convinced that a high-quality watermelon should certainly crack slightly if you squeeze it with your hands. However, this is not quite true. The fact is that the liquid in good watermelons can be shaken during transportation, and the fruit will not crack, although it will remain ripe and tasty inside.You should not buy watermelon in close proximity to the highway, as the peel of the fruit quickly absorbs all harmful substances. The place of sale must be equipped with a table and an awning from the sun's rays.
If strange spots and dents are visible on the skin of a watermelon, most likely it was grown on “feed”, which can form harmful nitrates in the human body. These watermelons have bright red flesh with a slight purple tint. In addition, fibers that should be white turn out to be an unpleasant yellowish color.
A good watermelon should have a slightly rough, coarse cut surface. The harmful fruit has a smooth and even cut surface.
Yellow accumulations in watermelon pulp are dangerous: they often contain a large number of harmful nitrates. Consumption of a product containing nitrates can lead to poisoning. The main signs of the latter are increased fatigue, headache and diarrhea. The temperature may also rise. The consumption of nitrates is especially dangerous for children under one year of age (since the natural protective barrier begins to form only after a year) and for nursing mothers.
How to choose a watermelon?
However, if you carefully choose a watermelon, you will not encounter such unpleasant problems. The watermelon itself is very healthy, it’s a pity that we can’t eat it all year round.
By the way, surprisingly, watermelon is considered a berry, not a fruit and not a vegetable. Coming from South America, he was loved by one and all. The pulp of watermelon contains many useful substances. So, it is rich in vitamins such as: C, A, B1 and B6. Watermelon contains beneficial carotenoids: beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein.
In addition, watermelon perfectly quenches thirst and cools during hot weather. Its juice tones, its pulp improves digestion and metabolism.
The main thing, according to the editors of the site, is to carefully choose this sweet exotic berries, - and all will be well.
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Unfortunately, in last years people began to like watermelons less and less. And this is not due to the fact that someone stops liking the taste of dark red pulp with a wonderful aroma, but to the fact that the chances of purchasing a good and ripe watermelon are very small. What can they do with them to speed up ripening! They pump you full of nitrates, give you an injection of urea to quickly turn red - they use any means to quickly sell their products to customers. Naturally, both quality and taste suffer from this. This is why so many buyers remain disappointed. So, how to check a watermelon for ripeness? Let's try to answer this question.
Time to buy
Time is the main indicator. The first watermelons appear in markets and stores long before their normal ripening time, which means they have clearly been helped. It is not worth purchasing such products. The optimal time to buy watermelons is from late August to mid-October.
How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by its rind
The rind of a ripe watermelon is harder, woodier, and if you press on it with your fingernail, it will not damage it. The striking contrast between the stripes on the rind also shows that the crop was harvested in optimal time. The characteristic yellow spot is also an indicator of ripeness, but it should not be too large.
How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the tail
Contrary to popular belief, a dry tail does not guarantee the ripeness of a watermelon. You can use this sign only if you are waiting for your own harvest - during the ripening period, the vine begins to gradually die off. In store-bought watermelons, a dry tail can indicate both ripeness and the fact that unripe berries have been in storage for a long time. However, it is worth paying attention to the “button” - a small calloused seal at the point where the whip is attached. If it is dense, light and convex, then the watermelon is ready to eat.
How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by sound
A ripe watermelon makes a very characteristic sound when tapped - light, ringing and slightly rattling. This is due to the fact that ripe berries have looser starchy pulp, which resonates well. This same property explains the good buoyancy of watermelons - a ripe berry should float at least halfway. When squeezed, ripe watermelons crackle.
How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon using smell
Unripe watermelons have a strong grassy smell. Ripe berries have a different aroma - lighter and sweeter. It is difficult to explain this in words, but with a little practice you can learn to distinguish watermelons well by smell.
This explains how to tell the ripeness of a watermelon without cutting. However, it is best to determine quality and ripeness by appearance pulp. It should be red, starchy, without large yellow streaks. The optimal weight for a good watermelon is 5-7 kg. Remember: the main indicators of the presence of nitrates are large veins, as well as the coloring of water pink when a piece of pulp is stirred in it. For watermelon without nitrates, the water will become cloudy, but will not change color. You should not buy cut watermelon, even if it is ripe - there is no guarantee that microbes have not already settled in it.
“How to choose a watermelon?” — a question arises in the minds of thousands of people as soon as green-striped beauties begin to appear on the shelves of shops and markets. The task is not easy, but solvable.
You just need to remember a few proven ways to identify a ripe and sweet watermelon.
There are a number of characteristics that will help you choose a truly ripe and sweet specimen from a pile of alluring striped fruits. Here is the treasured list:
- size;
- spot on side;
- unharmed;
- sound when tapping;
- color and structure of pulp;
- season;
- appearance of the crust;
- "floor" of watermelon.
In addition, there are quite popular “signs” of watermelon ripeness, which actually do not work and will not help you in such a task as choosing a ripe watermelon. The most common of them is the myth that a ripe watermelon must have a dry tail.
Many try not to choose too much big fruit. Some fear that it will be too heavy and difficult to carry, while others are afraid that the watermelon has become large only because of the abundance of nitrates in it.
But there are different varieties of watermelons, and in some varieties the size of the fruit can reach 20 kilograms. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to give preference to a medium-sized watermelon. The rule of the golden mean also works in this case.
Ripe watermelon does not hide its “cheeks”
For reference: a “cheek” is a small light spot on the side of a watermelon, formed in the place where the watermelon lay when ripe. The spot is not a sign of disease or immaturity; the sun simply did not touch that area of the crust.
So, looking at the light spot on the rind will help you determine how to choose a good watermelon. Everything is simple here: the more yellow it has, the better.
But when buying a watermelon with a white circle on the side, you risk running into a tasteless product.
The size of the spot also requires attention. Be aware that a large spot indicates that the watermelon has been ripening for a long time in not too warm conditions. Because of this, the fetus loses taste qualities and becomes less juicy.
When buying a watermelon at the market or from the back of a car on the side of the road, pay special attention to this characteristic.
Under no circumstances should watermelon have the following flaws:
- cracks;
- dents;
- cuts;
- rotten areas (even very small ones!).
The fact is that the juicy and nutritious pulp of a watermelon is an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria, which, together with air and roadside dust, can get inside in abundance.
Eating watermelon with such a surprise can lead to poisoning and gastrointestinal upset. The same applies to cut watermelons, so don’t try to save money by buying not whole watermelon, but only half. Such frugality can cost you dearly.
The most commonly used method of checking watermelon for ripeness is tapping. Yes, here’s the problem: everyone knocks, but few people remember what the sound of a ripe fruit should be. So remember: a ripe and juicy watermelon makes a ringing, booming sound, while an unripe one makes a dull sound.
An overripe watermelon also sounds dull, in which there is already too much moisture and it has begun to sour. It is also better to refuse such a purchase. Thus, a voiced sound is good, a voiceless sound is bad.
To be sure, you can also squeeze the specimen you like with your hands. A slight crackle indicates readiness for use. The main thing is not to overdo it.
Color and structure of pulp
And this is a characteristic that will help you determine the ripeness of the fruit after cutting it. If the purchase is made in a supermarket, you can see halves of watermelon on the counter.
They wrap themselves in cling film, which almost eliminates the entry of bacteria into the pulp, and provides you with the opportunity to study the product in detail. So, how to choose a delicious watermelon based on the appearance of the pulp?
There are two main positions: color and structure. The color of the pulp should be pinkish.
Scarlet color indicates the presence of nitrates or that the watermelon is overripe. Both of these things are not in his favor. The structure should be porous and granular. These watermelons are sometimes referred to as “sugar” watermelons.
Selling season
As a rule, watermelons begin to be sold almost from the beginning of summer. However, if you want to get your fill of the real southern fruit, and not the product of chemicals, you will have to wait until about mid-August.
Of course, there are also early varieties, but it still takes time to transport them. You may be lucky and the July watermelon will indeed be sweet, but it is unknown how healthy it will be.
A ripe watermelon can be easily distinguished from its peers by paying attention to the appearance of the rind.
Here Several main signs of a tasty watermelon:
- the stripes forming the pattern must be clear;
- glossy peel;
- the crust is hard, it cannot be damaged without effort;
- When the colored layer of the peel is damaged, a recognizable smell of fresh grass appears.
Signs indicating immaturity or disease of the fetus:
- the pattern is broken or uncharacteristic, the stripes are blurry;
- dullness of the peel;
- the crust can be easily damaged even with a fingernail.
Choose a watermelon with more space between the stripes, as they are considered to be sweeter.
"Floor" of watermelon
It is believed that girl watermelons are sweeter than boy watermelons, although the division itself is arbitrary. How to choose a watermelon girl? Just look at the speck left in the place where the flower once was.
If the spot is flat and quite large, then it is a girl. In male watermelons, the spot is convex and smaller in size.
This division has nothing to do with biology and exists only to simplify the selection process. Indeed, girl watermelons turn out to be juicier and sweeter in practice. There is an assumption that this is due to the characteristics of pollination.
Is a dry tail a sign of ripeness?
It is believed that when a watermelon ripens, it can no longer take in nutrients and moisture and, under its own weight, separates from the bush. In general, the theory is correct, but it is broken by the fact that in practice the watermelon can be separated from the food route before being cut.
And the tail dries in 3 days, so it can easily lie on the counter green watermelon with a dry tail.
If you still do not want to give up this method, pay attention to the tip of the ponytail. Even with a dried stalk, you can determine whether it was cut or broke off naturally.
All characteristics listed above are general.
It doesn’t hurt to highlight several varieties of watermelons that end up on tables more often than others and highlight their features.
- Kherson watermelons. Sugar Kherson watermelons never grow too large, their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If they show you a twenty-kilogram giant and claim that it is from Kherson, do not believe it. It is either of a different variety or grew on nitrates alone. The appearance of watermelons of this variety is classic: bright light stripes, oblong shape, soft pinkish flesh and rather thin peel.
- Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really large. The average weight of one specimen can range from 10 to 17 kg. In addition, watermelons of this variety can withstand long-term transportation. They are also grown in the south of Russia. In appearance they resemble the Kherson ones, but differ in their thick skin and greater weight.
- Hybrid chill. The peculiarity of this variety of watermelons is that they can be stored for a very long time, until the New Year. You just need to provide the fetus with comfortable storage conditions. To do this, place it in a dry, dark place. However, representatives of this variety appear on the market only in early September, as they ripen late.
- Skorik. Watermelons of this variety are early and appear on the shelves among the first. They can be distinguished by the dark green, uniform color of the skin and low weight - no more than 7 kg.
- Photon. The same applies to early varieties and differs from Skorik only in that it has a light skin with pronounced stripes.
Market or store?
Wherever you buy this juicy berry, this place must meet certain requirements. They are their own for both the market and the supermarket.
Watermelon at the market
To begin with, it should be noted that a market does not mean a spontaneous accumulation of tents near your entrance, but a territory specially designated for this purpose. And tents along the road are not even considered, since buying watermelon there can result in severe poisoning instead of enjoying the taste.
So, The following requirements must be met by the owner of a retail outlet selling watermelons:
- the presence of a canopy that protects watermelons from direct sunlight;
- distance from the roadway;
- the storage tray is located at a height of at least 20 cm from the ground;
- availability of an Epidemiological Surveillance service certificate for each batch of goods.
Watermelon in the store
When buying a watermelon in a store check the following points:
- watermelons are not stored outdoors, under the sun or near the roadway;
- storage trays are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor and do not have any damage;
- availability of necessary documents on the purchase of goods from trusted suppliers.
Now you know what the perfect watermelon looks like, and you can safely go in search of it. Where to buy and which variety to choose is up to you to decide.
The onset of watermelon season in the second half of summer is eagerly awaited by both big and small gourmets. It just so happens that in our country, where most of the territory belongs to the risky farming zone, it is this southern culture that enjoys mass popularity and love. Juicy, sweet watermelon pulp Not only does it perfectly quench thirst on hot days, it gives pleasure in taste, pleasant emotions and is a source of many useful substances.
Ripe watermelon contains ascorbic and folic acid, magnesium, iron and potassium, alimentary fiber and pectins.
But how to determine what is hidden under the green dense peel? How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon so that, once on the table, the cut berry does not disappoint, revealing tasteless pale pink pulp to the audience?
If watermelons are grown on own plot, you don’t have to worry about their quality, but purchased fruits sometimes, in addition to their pale appearance, also present much more unpleasant surprises. Failure to comply with agricultural practices, rules for the use of fertilizers and storage of watermelons entails the risk of poisoning. Therefore, it is important not only to be able to distinguish a ripe berry from a green one, but also to know how to choose the right watermelon that is safe for health.
The beginning of watermelon season
Today you can buy watermelon in a supermarket at any time of the year. Sweet fruits treated with preservatives or grown in greenhouses from remote corners of the world easily reach Russian shelves. Is it possible to compare them with watermelons grown on open ground, in a country garden, under the hot summer sun? Based on ripening time giant berries, we can conclude.
The first ripe watermelons on melon fields may appear only in July, and the mass harvest of these gifts of summer begins in mid-August and lasts until October.
Moreover, the sooner a watermelon reaches the counter, the greater the risk of containing nitrates and other compounds that are dangerous to the body and cause increased growth in the fruit. So there is no need to rush, because it is much easier to choose a good watermelon when they begin to ripen en masse. The ripening season of watermelons coincides with the time of mass accumulation of sweetness in the berries.
How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the appearance of the bark?
Today, farmers and summer residents have at their disposal many varieties and hybrids of watermelons with a wide variety of patterns and bark colors. Breeders offer to grow fruits not only with bright red or pink flesh, but also with yellow and even white flesh. At the same time, not a single scientist has been able to create a plant whose type of berries could immediately determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden.
And yet there are a number of signs on how to choose a ripe watermelon. When choosing a fruit, pay attention to the condition of the peel, the brightness of the pattern and the presence of all kinds of damage. With all the richness of the existing colors of watermelons, the pattern on the bark should be clear, and the color of the monochromatic berries should be uniform. It is better to put watermelons with an uncharacteristic or blurred pattern aside. After all, this can be a sign not only of unripe berries, but also a symptom of a disease, for example, viral mosaic.
- Watermelons, which are not yet ready to leave the melon tree, have a matte bark.
- In a ripe fruit, the peel becomes glossy and hardens to such an extent that it is difficult to pierce it with a fingernail, and you can only scratch the top colored layer.
- In addition, in an unripe watermelon, the damaged bark secretes juice and emits a characteristic herbal odor.
According to popular observations, from striped watermelons you need to choose the one with a wider distance between the dark stripes.
And some, even dry-looking defects and traces of scabs on the surface of the bark can signal scab or anthracnose, which leads to underdevelopment of the pulp and deterioration in the quality of the watermelon. 
How to choose the right watermelon based on the size and color of the soil spot?
Fruits grown on melons always have a characteristic spot on the skin - the place where the watermelon comes into contact with the ground. In this area, the peel did not receive enough sunlight, and less chlorophyll was produced here.
To determine the ripeness of a watermelon in the garden or on the counter, pay attention to the size, condition and color of such a spot:
- The bark here should not be damaged or be softer than in other areas.
- There are no stripes on the earthen patch. This suggests that the watermelon was not disturbed during growth.
The spot, on average not exceeding 7–12 cm, should ideally have a yellow color; if the shade is closer to white, it is better for the watermelon to lie in the garden for another couple of weeks.
Is it possible to choose a sweet watermelon based on its dry stem?
Any other tips on how to choose the right watermelon? You can often hear the recommendation that you can choose a delicious watermelon by taking a berry with a dry tail. But what if the watermelon on the counter does not have a stalk at all, or, by all indications, the ripe berry in the garden does not want to separate from its native vine?
Indeed, in a fetus that has reached full maturity, the tail begins to dry:
- Knowing this, unscrupulous traders pick green watermelons, and the stems dry out during transportation and storage.
- In addition, the tail could dry out due to twisting or breaking of the lash long before the watermelons ripened.
- Also, trusting the dry stem, you can bring an overripe watermelon to the table.
Therefore, you should not completely trust this sign.
It is much safer to pay attention not to one of the signs of watermelon ripeness, but to their totality at once.
So, for example, at sweet berries When ready for harvesting, the stalk becomes smooth and the characteristic hairs that are present while the watermelon is unripe fall off. If watermelons grow in the country, you can determine the ripeness of the watermelon in the garden by other features. For example, melon growers know well that the tendrils at the point where the watermelon stalk attaches to the vine always dry out when it’s time to pick a ripe berry. In addition, in the place where the flower once was, by the time it ripens, not a trace of the bract remains.
How to choose a good watermelon by weight?
And in China and other Asian countries, when collecting watermelons, they use another interesting feature these berries. Due to the specific internal structure, mature watermelons are lighter than water and always float on the surface. Based on this, one more sign can be deduced, how to choose a ripe watermelon. Of two fruits of equal size, the lighter one will be sweeter.
However, there is an exception here too. If there was cold, rainy weather at the beginning of summer, it is possible that this affected the formation of watermelons, and voids did not form inside them. Even when ripe, such fruits seem less juicy, and closer to the core the tissues become noticeably coarser.
As for the actual weight of the watermelon, at the beginning of the season, when buying a sweet delicacy, it makes more sense to give preference to medium-sized fruits. And already at the height of watermelon season, you can feast on real giants weighing from 7 to 15 kg.
How to choose a good watermelon by sound?
You can often see how, when determining the ripeness of a watermelon, buyers or sellers tap the peel or squeeze the fruit with their palms:
- In response to knocking, a ripe sweet watermelon makes a booming sound, but if the fruit is not yet ready to hit the table, the echo will be dull and unclear.
- When squeezed, a good watermelon may crack slightly, green fruit does not produce such an effect.
If the listed methods for determining the quality of the fruit did not fully answer the question of how to choose a ripe watermelon, the video will help you understand everything clearly.
The main thing, when choosing a high-quality, tasty watermelon, is not to forget that success is possible if all the considered characteristics are taken into account.
Summer residents who grow watermelons in their own beds do not worry about the quality of the fruit. They know for sure that following the rules of agricultural technology, only healthy sweet berries will be collected from melons without excessive amounts of nitrates, pesticides and dyes.
How to choose a watermelon of the right quality?
But how to choose a good watermelon on the store counter or in the vegetable stall? Can all sellers be trusted, and how can you protect yourself from low-quality fruits?
When approaching the counter, you need to pay attention to the conditions of wounding and display of watermelons. In street trading conditions, for the sale of melons, special pavilions must be organized, equipped with pallets and canopies to protect watermelons from contact with the soil and sunlight. In the store, watermelons are also placed on pallets or in baskets and do not touch the floor.
Since the pulp of a watermelon instantly absorbs the slightest contaminants, settling dust, and pathogenic flora reproduces well on the sweet pulp, you should never buy watermelons at roadside points or choose fruits with cracks and cuts.
It is better to refuse to buy a watermelon if the seller cannot present documents certifying the quality and safety of melons. Such certificates and identifications indicate the place where the batch was grown, the date of harvesting and its expiration date. A certificate from a specialized laboratory assures that watermelons do not contain substances harmful to health.
Ten rules for choosing a ripe, healthy watermelon - video
