In Australia, watermelons are in season from November to March, with the sweetest and juiciest fruit available during the summer months of December to February.
Choose a watermelon that feels heavy for its size with a creamy yellow field spot where it rested on the ground. A dull rind and a deep, hollow sound when tapped are also signs of a ripe, juicy melon.
Ancient Egyptians placed watermelons in the tombs of pharaohs, including King Tutankhamun, to provide food for the afterlife. Archaeologists have even discovered watermelon seeds inside his tomb.