Watermelon is the quintessential fruit of summer, and biting into a juicy wedge is one of the season's greatest pleasures. But knowing when they are ready to pick from the vine or how to buy the best one can be a bit of a head-scratcher. If you’ve ever stared down a display of the giant green orbs at your local farmers' market or checked the status of one in the garden, you know how daunting it can be to know when one has reached peak ripeness. (And you might feel even downright silly knocking on them and listening for some sort of secret signal.) Here are tips for picking and buying watermelon straight from the pros who grow them, plus some of our favorite sweet and savory summer watermelon recipes. And if you're wondering how to cut your watermelon? Head over to our story, How to Cut a Watermelon 3 Ways.

How to Pick a Good Watermelon from the Watermelon Patch (or Your Garden)

Know the Varieties

There are many varieties of watermelons, but they fall into three broad categories which are determined by how long they take to grow and mature: early (65-days), mid-season (80-days) and full-season (90-days).

“Basically, when you plant the seed, it’ll have a gauge from seeding to harvesting,” explains Nick Augostini, who focuses on watermelons as part of his role as N.C. Department of Agriculture’s assistant director of marketing. “[Farmers] keep track of when the watermelons were planted and if it’s an 80-day variety, they might go out there on day 70 or day 75.”

Find the “Pig Tail”

According to the N.C. Department of Agriculture, farmers look for the “pig tail” as a tell-tale sign that the melon is mature. A pig tail is the tendril coming out of the top of the melon; it starts out green and smooth, but once it turns brown and shrivels and curls up, thus resembling a pig’s tail, it means the melon is ready to be picked.

How to Pick a Good Watermelon from the Supermarket

Look a Cream-Colored Ground Spot

Farmers also flip the melon over and look at the side of the melon that’s been resting on the ground. They’re looking for the “ground spot” to have a cream-like, off-white color. If it’s still white, that means it’s “fresh,” or not ripe, and if it’s yellow, it’s over-ripe.

Select a Lighter-Melon

If it’s a striped watermelon variety, both the dark and light green stripes will get lighter as the melon ripens. Even on a solid-green watermelon, the overall hue will lighten up a few shades as it ripens.

Reach for a Melon that's Heavy for Its Size

Pick up the melon to see how heavy it is. Melons are 90 to 92 percent water, so the heavier it feels for its size, the better and juicier the watermelon is going to be.

What About the "Thump" Test?

As for the thump test? Augostini explains that when the average shopper knocks on a melon, they’re unlikely to be able to determine whether it’s making a thud (ripe) or a hollow (unripe) sound. When he visits packing houses, workers who perform the thump test on melons on the same surface, day in and day out, are more likely to be able to discern if it’s ripe.

How to Tell If Watermelon Is Bad

Examine the watermelon for imperfections, bruising or cuts on the exterior - avoid those. Tell-tale signs of a bad watermelon are squisy, darker areas on the rind or whiteish mold.

Once you cut a watermelon open (or look at already cut wateremlon in your fridge), you can tell it's bad if the flesh smells sour, feels slimy or has darkened in color. If it's pre-pacaked watermelon, always abide by the sell-by date. If you take a bite of watermelon, and it tastes acidic or fizzy, that's also a bad sign.

Watermelon Recipes

Watermelon Salsa

Made with a medley of watermelon, cucumber, mango, jalapeño, onion and basil, Trisha's salsa hits the sweet-savory-spicy flavor trifecta. It’s a natural match for tortilla chips but try it atop grilled fish or tucked into tacos, too. Pair with a pitcher of frozen watermelon margaritas.

Tomato and Watermelon Gazpacho

This chilled tomato soup is extra refreshing thanks to the addition of juicy watermelon. It’s healthy, easy to make, and best of all, there’s no stovetop required.

Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad

Watermelon’s sweetness is tempered by an all-star cast of supporting players in Ina's salad: peppery arugula, salty feta and bright fresh mint leaves. It all adds up to a refreshing and satisfying 5-star summer dish.

Tomato, Watermelon, and Basil Skewers

Giada's colorful skewers are like summer-salad-on-a-stick. Watermelon cubes balance tangy cherry tomatoes while basil leaves add a touch of herbaceous freshness. Try packing them for your next picnic, toting them to a cookout or serving them as an elegant and easy summer entertaining app.

Related Links:

Top Watermelon Recipes

Favorite Summer Drink Recipes

Great Fruit Desserts