Is there any fruit that is more synonymous with summer than a watermelon? Nothing beats the sweetness and refreshing rush of biting into a cold, ripe watermelon. Even better, some of the watermelons you may be buying right now are taking the short trip from a Florida field to your grocery stores and produce stands.

Growing Watermelons

While your enjoying your watermelon from the store, you have unfortunately missed the boat on planting them for this year. Start off your transplants in the Jacksonville

area in March and April for an earlier summer treat and you can even try for a fall run by planning again in July and August.

Keep in mind that they do take quite a bit of room to develop and there are quite a few diseases and pests to look out for. For more information on growing watermelons at home, check out https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/watermelon/#:~:text=If%20you’re%20looking%20for,plant%20to%20stretch%20and%20grow or reach out to your local UF/IFAS Extension Office.

Watermelon Highlight

Watermelon is not a common ingredient in drinks but it can definitely be an awesome addition. Usually, you would enjoy watermelon as a puree by blending the fruit or as a juice with a commercial juice or straining the puree of solids. This can be tasty on its own but try pairing it with lime, fresh herbs, and soda water for a great summer treat.

Here is a quick recipe to start you off using watermelon in your mocktails:

Watermelon Fizz

Ingredients:

0.5 oz Lime Juice

0.5 oz Simple Syrup (or sub in honey, fruit, or herbal syrup)

3 oz Watermelon puree

4-5 fresh mint leaves

2 oz soda water

Directions:

Place mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle before adding all other ingredients other than soda water. Shake with ice to combine. Pour everything into glass and top with soda water. Garnish with fresh herbs and fresh watermelon, maybe a small slice or a cube on a skewer.

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