August

Oklahoma Fruit of the Month: Watermelon

"When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what the angels eat."
-Mark Twain

Watermelon is a warm season crop that thrives in Oklahoma's long growing season. Acreage for watermelon has been the second largest for a vegetable crop in our state for many years. The southern pea is number one. Watermelon production is concentrated in central and south-central Oklahoma. In 2015 Oklahoma watermelons added $7 million to our state's economy and ranked number 16 in value of all Oklahoma agricultural commodities. Oklahoma ranked 12th in the nation in the production of watermelon in 2015. (Source: Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics)

More from Mark Twain on watermelon, from his Autobiography, Vol. 1:

I know how a prize watermelon looks when it is sunning its fat rotundity among pumpkin vines and "simblins;"* I know how to tell when it's ripe without "plugging"** it; I know how inviting it looks when it is cooling itself in a tub of water under the bed, waiting; I know how it looks when it lies on the table in the sheltered great floor-space between house and kitchen, and the children gathered for the sacrifice and their mouths watering; I know the crackling sound it makes when the carving knife enters its end, and I can see the split fly along in front of the blade as the knife cleaves its way to the other end; I can see the halves fall apart and display the rich red meat and the black seeds, and the heart standing up, a luxury fit for the elect; I know how a boy looks, behind a yard long slice of that melon, and I know how he feels for I have been there. I know the watermelon which has been honestly come by and I know the taste of the watermelon which has been acquired by art. Both taste good, but the experienced know which tastes best.
*a type of squash
**sampling a section of the melon to test for flavor

• The Oklahoma State Legislature has declared watermelon Oklahoma's state vegetable. What do you think? Is it Fruit or Vegetable? Discuss why it should or should not be our state vegetable.
• Write instructions for selecting the best watermelon or other melon from the grocery store.

The Watermelon Patch Song

Watermelon (1/2 cup, diced)

Viva la Vida, Watermelons by Frida Kahlo