How are Square Watermelons grown?
The key factor is timing. The best time is when the Watermelon is still small and on the vine. They are placed into a square glass box or sometimes a concrete block. As the Watermelon gradually grows, it takes the shape of its container. The Japanese usually use glass boxes as it helps with the growth of the Watermelon where it can receive sunlight on all sides.
Square watermelons by Joi, on Flickr
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License by Joi
Square watermelons as well as those heart-shaped ones are a lot more expensive compared to the regular round ones. In Japan you can purchase them around for $82 or 10,000 Yen, while the regular watermelons are sold for only $15 or $20. In some places in Europe, depending on size and quality, they can fetch for over 200 to 300 Euros. In recent news, a Square Watermelon in Russia is being sold for over 700 dollars.