Small watermelon

Last updated 2026-11-15 — The main root system of the watermelon has a primary root that extends more than one meter deep, with the root mass primarily distributed in the 20 to 30 cm soil layer. The roots are thin and brittle, with weak regenerative ability and poor transplant tolerance. The young seedling stem is upright, begins to elongate after 4–5 nodes, and then sprawls after 5–6 leaves. It is highly branched and can form 3–4 levels of lateral branches. Leaves are alternate, with deep, shallow, or entire margins. Male and female flowers occur on the same plant, with male flowers appearing at the 3rd–5th nodes of the main stem and female flowers at the 5th–7th nodes. A few bisexual flowers may appear during peak flowering. The flower corolla is yellow. The ovary is inferior with parietal placentation. Both male and female flowers have nectar glands, making them insect-pollinated; the flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. The fruit comes in shapes such as round, oval, elliptical, and cylindrical. The rind may be smooth or ribbed, with surface colors including green-white, green, dark green, blackish-green, or black, sometimes featuring fine netting or stripes. The flesh color ranges from milky white, light yellow, deep yellow, light red, to bright red. Flesh texture varies between firm and juicy-spongy. Seeds are flat, oval, or oblong, smooth or cracked. Seed coats are white, light brown, brown, black, or tan, either solid or mottled. Thousand-seed weight is 100–150 grams for large-seeded types, 40–60 grams for medium-seeded types, 20–25 grams for small-seeded types, and 150–200 grams for seedless fruit types.