Is it a fruit or a vegetable?

The distinction between fruits and vegetables

The botanical affiliation to the vegetable category is often used as an argument for classification within the vegetable category Genus of the cucurbitaceae and thus a close relationship to pumpkins and cucumbers cited. The classification as a fruit is therefore more based on a culinary assignment to the supposedly sweet fruit. From a strictly scientific point of view, there is actually no such distinction between fruit and vegetables based on taste. After all, there are also some types of fruit that don't necessarily taste sweet:

• Quinces
• rosehips
• Avocados

Rhubarb, on the other hand, is usually perceived as a vegetable, although it is mostly processed into desserts. The taste alone does not answer the question of belonging to fruit or vegetables.

A question of the age of the plants

In fact, the assignment to fruit or vegetables is based on the age of the respective plants. Fruits are perennial plants that can sometimes reach a very old age as bushes or trees. Therefore, strictly speaking, the fruits of the olive tree are also considered fruit. Vegetables, on the other hand, are defined as anything that dies with the rest of the plant parts after harvest or, like asparagus, has a maximum cultivation period of two years. With the melon as a vegetable, all parts of the plant die off until the next one

season new plants from the Seeds grow.

Put in watermelon as a spicy vegetable garnish

The actually sweet-tasting watermelon is also consumed as a spicy vegetable side dish in some countries. To do this, the fruit is cut into pieces and placed in a vinegar solution inserted, this is also a good practice for that long-term retention the watermelon.

Tips & Tricks

Due to the shorter growing season and the cooler temperatures, melons have to be brought in early in this country or in the greenhouse be grown when the fruit is to be ready for harvest.

WK