Are Watermelons a Fruit or a Vegetable?
Watermelons are one of the most popular summer fruits, but are they actually a fruit or a vegetable? The answer is both! Botanically speaking, watermelons are considered a type of berry called a pepo. This means that watermelons are technically both fruits and vegetables.
Fruit
Watermelons are classified as fruits because they contain seeds and develop from the ovary of a flowering plant. Fruits are typically sweet and have a fleshy outer layer. Watermelons fit this description perfectly, as they have an edible rind and sweet, juicy flesh inside.
Vegetable
Watermelons are also considered vegetables because they belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. All of these plants are grown for their edible parts, such as the rinds and seeds. Therefore, watermelons can be classified as both fruits and vegetables.