Watermelons
![seedless watermelons howell farming company](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-600x600.jpg)
Seedless Watermelons
According to the USDA, watermelon has 46 calories per cup, which is 20 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C and 17 percent vitamin A.
Watermelon is full of lycopene, a powerful carotenoid antioxidant that gives fruits and vegetables a pinkish red color.
Watermelon is a fruit and a vegetable. It can be traced back to the squash, pumpkin, and cucumber family known as Cucurbitaceae.
Watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the US, followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
Watermelon is also more than 91 percent water, according to the USDA.
Don’t forget to store your watermelon in a cool area (50-60 degrees F) until it’s ready to be cut.
Did you know North Carolina produces roughly 6% of all watermelon grown in the United States?
Our Process
At Howell Farming Company we produce nutritious and delicious seedless watermelons. Take a look at our unique process.
![sprout seed watermelon howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-seeds.png)
Sprout
In March we plant seeds in trays. The plants will be raised in our greenhouse until they are large enough to be transplanted to the field.
![plant watermelon howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-planting.png)
Plant
Howell Farming Co. watermelons are planted in rows on raised beds. Plastic mulch is used to warm the soil and decrease weed growth.
![transplant watermelon howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-transplant.png)
Transplant
Plants are transplanted to the field in late May. Workers ride a setter, placing each seedless watermelon plant in the row by hand. The workers walking behind the setter are planting seeded varieties, which are needed for pollination.
![vine watermelon howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-vine.png)
Growth
Within 60 days of transplanting, the vines produce the first watermelons.
![harvest watermelon howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-grow.png)
Harvest
Vines can grow 6-8 feet during the season. Our watermelons are ready for harvest around July 4th and continue to be harvested until September.
![dig sweet potato howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-hand-picked.png)
Hand-picked
The rind is not tough so watermelons are hand-picked. Workers cut each ripe melon from the vine and carefully load them on a trailer in the field.
![watermelon wash plant howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-wash-plant.png)
Wash
Watermelons are taken to our central packing shed where they are washed, graded and packed based on size.
![watermelon bin package howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-bin.png)
Package
Most watermelons are packed in bins that hold between 35 and 60 melons. The bins are shipped to grocery stores, schools and other markets.
![enjoy watermelon eat howell farming](/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/watermelon-eat.png)
Enjoy
Watermelon is nutritious and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways during the summer.