What was the citrull cucumber?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

January 30, 2004

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When John Gerard wrote The Herbal in 1597, the watermelon was called Citrullus officinarum, the Citrull Cucumber. He states that "later Herbarists do call it Anguria..." a name probably taken from the ancient Greek angourion for the watermelon.

Congo Watermelon 85 days-One of the highest sugar contents of any melon!—Congo yields extra-large fruits, up to 50 lbs. Widely adapted and disease resistant.

What would a summer picnic be without watermelon? Sweet, crisp and juicy, watermelon varieties have similar nutritional content. They are 90-95 percent water, low in calories and contain no cholesterol. Sugar content or sweetness ranges between 12-15 percent. Bonus: They contain cancer-fighting antioxidants! Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! Vegetable Seeds!

Gerard wrote that the plants were grown in his garden in London, "We have many times sown the seeds, and diligently observed the order prescribed in planting of Cucumbers." But apparently he never saw a fully ripe watermelon for he describes the "meat within is indifferent hard", "spungie", "greater than those of cucumbers", and mentions it was "more commonly boiled". His description never says anything of sweet, red pulp.

The ancient Greeks and Romans apparently were well aware of numerous plants and hence fruits of the gourd family. The Latin angurium, Greek angourion are thought references to the South African native watermelon, a plant grown by the Egyptians. The Persian or muskmelon was known to the Romans as the melo and the Greeks as melos, melon, or melopepon, names the Greeks used for apples, melons, and large apple-shaped fruit.

The generic name, Citrullus, was retained by Linnaeus and is a New Latin word--words built from Latin after the language was no longer commonly spoken. Gerard mentioned that due to the color of this cucumber's flesh, it should perhaps be named, "...Cucumis Citrullus, be so called of the yellowish colour of the Citron...."

The name, watermelon, did not appear in writing in the English language until 1615. Even then, watermelon was not commonly used for Thomas Johnson did not include the name when he updated The Herbal in 1633.

Lindbloms Frö, a nursery in Sweden, has a photograph of Cucumis melo Sweetheart, a yellow-fleshed watermelon. Although a modern F-1 hybrid, the melon may have similar characteristics to the melons Gerard was familiar with in the 1600s. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.lindbloms.se/Lindbloms/20000/23870.html

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Henry Field's Sweet Cheer Hybrid Watermelon

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Henry Field's Sweet Cheer Hybrid produces 24-26 lb. melons with robust rind and flavorful crisp flesh. Excellent holding. Resists Anthracnose and Fusarium.

What would a summer picnic be without watermelon? Sweet, crisp and juicy, watermelon varieties have similar nutritional content. They are 90-95 percent water, low in calories and contain no cholesterol. Sugar content or sweetness ranges between 12-15 percent. How can you resist growing some of these! Bonus: They contain cancer-fighting antioxidants! Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [Vegetable Seeds!] [All On Sale Today!]

Rattlesnake Watermelon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Big and Super Sweet

A Southern heirloom variety grown by generations of gardeners, and still seen in the supermarket today. Rattlesnake Watermelon have large oval fruits with beautifully patterned "rattlesnake" markings average 25-45 pounds, can reach up to 75 pounds. 90 DAYS.

Who needs dessert when you’ve got this incredibly sweet and juicy treat? Even small-space gardeners can grow compact varieties.

Comments: Old southern favorite, becoming rare. Can grow up to 75 lbs. Uniform size and shape. Very productive. Over 45 years old. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Melons!]

Crimson Sweet Watermelon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Famous for Flavor

Gurney's Choice Deep crimson flesh is bursting with juice and so sweet, the 20- to 25-pound melons will disappear from your refrigerator in no time flat! Fine-grained flesh. Crimson Sweet Watermelon resists fusarium wilt, anthracnose. 88 DAYS.

Who needs dessert when you’ve got this incredibly sweet and juicy treat? Even small-space gardeners can grow compact varieties.

Comments: Disease resistant - fusarium wilt and anthracnose. High sugar content. Contains a few small seeds. Good keeper. Variety at least 35 years old. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Melons!]

Gurneys Delight Hybrid Watermelon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Sweet, Crisp and Seedless

Gurney's Choice Seedless fruit has the famed Crimson Sweet flavor, incredibly sweet and juicy! Thicker rinds mean the melons hold longer after harvest.

Gurney's Delight Hybrid Watermelon is vigorous medium- size plants produce family-size, 12-15 pound fruits. Anthracnose resistant. 90 DAYS.

Who needs dessert when you’ve got this incredibly sweet and juicy treat? Even small-space gardeners can grow compact varieties. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Melons!]

Desert King Watermelon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Drought Resistant and Delicious

Sails through dry spells, stays sweet and juicy. Desert King Watermelon has deep yellow-fleshed fruits are a tasty change of pace from pink and red melons. Light green oblong fruits hold on the vine without sunburn a month after ripening. 85 DAYS.

Who needs dessert when you’ve got this incredibly sweet and juicy treat? Even small-space gardeners can grow compact varieties.

Comments: Incredibly drought resistant. Grayish-black seeds. Holds quality on vine for up to a month after ripening. Good shipper. Does not sunburn. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Melons!]

Sugar Baby Watermelon

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Compact Vines, Consistent Yields

Sugar Baby Watermelon saves space in the garden and in the refrigerator. The only thing oversized is the flavor--rich and incredibly sweet. Compact vines produce plenty of 6- to 10-pound fruits packed with sweet red-orange flesh. Dependably productive, resistant to drought and disease. 85 DAYS.

Who needs dessert when you’ve got this incredibly sweet and juicy treat? Even small-space gardeners can grow compact varieties.

Comments: Firm, sweet red-orange flesh. Small dark-brown apple like seeds. Early producer of small melons. Ideal size for storing in refrigerator. Drought resistant. Heavy producer. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Melons!]

Jubilee Watermelon

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

95 days-Improved drought-tolerance and disease-resistance.

Oblong, green-striped fruits, 35 lbs. on average. Jubillee is a good pick for the south. Click - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery!

What would a summer picnic be without watermelon? Sweet, crisp and juicy, watermelon varieties have similar nutritional content. They are 90-95 percent water, low in calories and contain no cholesterol. Sugar content or sweetness ranges

between 12-15 percent. How can you resist growing some of these! Bonus: They contain cancer-fighting antioxidants! Vegetable Seeds! [All On Sale Today!]