Ever come across square watermelons? You’ll find them in Japan 

What shape and colour does a watermelon come in? If someone asked you this question, you wouldn’t have bothered to answer it considering it as a no-brainer. But hold on. If you think that watermelons could only have the usual oval shape with its green rind and red or pink flesh, you are wrong. As Indians, we are mostly accustomed to this variety of watermelons. But these juicy, succulent fruits come in all shapes and colours. For example, you can commonly find square or cube watermelons in Japan.    

Square watermelons  
Square or cubed watermelons can go for up to $200 each in Japan. For a price tag that steep, you'd likely expect something very special about these unusual watermelons. But the truth is 

these are just like regular watermelons, apart from their shape. Square watermelons have the same colour flesh, seeds, and the same flavour as their oval counterparts.  

You must be wondering how would a farmer can grow watermelons in such a shape naturally? Well, the process is pretty simple. When the watermelon is still small on the vine, a square box made of tempered glass is placed around it. So, when the watermelon grows, it takes the shape of the box. However, the fruit may not always respond to the mould, which means fewer are successfully made. This is what shoots up the price of these differently shaped watermelons. 

Fun fact: Now, you also get watermelons in the shape of hearts and pyramids available in many countries including Germany. 

Why square watermelons?  
This is the question that’s probably intriguing you. Well, there are two reasons behind this. Square watermelons are easy to stack. So, shipping and displaying them in the shelves of departmental stores become easier too. Secondly, they fit in well in small refrigerators. Well, overcrowded Japanese cities have small living spaces and small kitchens. So, the refrigerators are not big as well. Hence, the need for cubed watermelons.  

This brings us to the next question: Who came up with this idea? According to some reports, the credit goes to a local farmer. However, other reports suggest that in 1978, a Japanese horticulturist and artist named Tomoyuki Ono found this process of molding a natural fruit and applied for its patent too.  So, square watermelon Fun fact: More than 3000 years ago, ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamun was buried with watermelon seeds. s hit the market in 1979. 

Different-coloured watermelons  
While the different shapes could only be possible with human intervention, the same is not true about varied coloured watermelons. They grow naturally due to cross-breeding among different varieties. You could easily spot a yellow or an orange watermelon around the world and these are generally sweeter than those with pink or red flesh.  

Origin of watermelons 
Recent findings suggest that sweet, domesticated watermelons that we eat today originated in Egypt some 5000 years back.  

Fun fact: More than 3000 years ago, ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamun was buried with watermelon seeds.