Watermelon Popsicles
3 cups watermelon juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 t. Fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup water
To prepare watermelon juice, cut watermelon into cubes and rub through a strainer to remove seeds. In small saucepan mix together sugar and water; simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in watermelon juice and lemon juice. Turn into 2 ice trays. Freeze until very mushy and insert a popsicle stick in each cube. Freeze.
Makes about 36 small popsicles.
USDA ARS Image Gallery.
Scoop out the seeds from a ripe melon and put them into a wire mesh sieve, then with running water over the seeds rub them gently against the mesh, using it to loosen and remove the stringy fibers. Next place the cleaned seeds in a bowl of water, stir it a few times. Some seeds will float to the top....these are immature or sterile melon seeds, they are hollow and/or light-weight and will float to the top of the water. Skim away these bad seeds and discard them. Stir a few more times and repeat the process until no more sterile seeds float to the top. Drain the water from the remaining seeds.
Afterwards, line a heavy plate or baking pan with waxed paper, spread the seeds out in a single layer onto the waxed paper and place it in sunny spot to air-dry.
Stir the seeds occasionally during the next few hours to make sure all sides are exposed to fresh air, this facilitates even drying. After a day in the sun bring the seeds into the house where they continue to dry for another week or two, stir them daily so they dry evenly. If you've got rainy weather the increased humidity can prolong the drying process another week or so.
Melons have thick seeds so be sure they are thoroughly dry before packing them for storage. I like to store my seeds in paper packets.
MontGuide Factsheet #199905/Horticulture
by Bob Gough, Extension Horticulturist
Montana State University
Watermelon: An African Native of World Popularity
Plant Answers
Texas A&M University