This upcoming week is probably one of the most popular weeks of the year when it comes to fireworks, family reunions, concerts, barbecues, picnics and parades. Red, white and blue will be displayed most everywhere as we gear up for the weekend’s 4th of July celebrations.

Of course we all know that the Fourth was set aside to commemorate the adoption of the declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Aside from the patriotic part, though, most consider this a great time for a summer party.

Here in the South, what could be more Fourth-of-Julyish than a wonderful, outdoor barbecue punctuated with a Mississippi-grown watermelon? No matter whether you get your melon from the local grocer, a roadside stand or the new Farmers’ Market downtown, just make sure you get lots of watermelon for your guests for the upcoming weekend.

Have you ever noticed how Southerners take a great deal of pride in being able to select a ripe, tasty watermelon? It’s all in the thumpin’. Of major importance, however, is the ability of the person growing the melon to wait until the stem that attaches the melon to the vine to become brown and crispy. Also, we Extension agents say that watermelons are ready when the undersurface (ground spot) turns from white to cream-yellow. For any of you out there growing melons, that’s 42-45 days from pollination or about 90 days from planting.

I’ve got to admit, as a young teenager working at Mrs. Nina Dottley’s Jitney Jungle between Cherry and Drummond streets, I, too, thought I had a pretty good thumping technique for helping shoppers get a good-tasting melon. If the thumped melon resonated with a dull, hollow thud, I would figure that one was ripe. A high, ringing sound indicated the fruit was still too green. Never once got any complaints on my thumpin’ skill.

If you look hard enough, you can even find a few seedless watermelons out there, but who really wants them? After all, how would you ever get to have a seed-spitting contest? Actually, seedless watermelons do have a few soft, pale seeds.

Here is some watermelon trivia to share with your July Fourth guests:

* Early explorers actually used watermelons as canteens.

* China leads the world in watermelon production followed by Turkey and Iran. The United States is fourth in watermelon production.

* Watermelon is thought to have originated in Africa in the Kalahari Desert.

* In 1796, the first cookbook published in the U.S. contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.

* Watermelons are a great source of delicious summer flavor and they are packed with nutrition. Watermelon has more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. (Lycopene is found in tomatoes, too.) Lycopene is an antioxidant, which helps to prevent some forms of cancer. The sweet, juicy fruit also contains vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as potassium.

Reminders: Cattlemen’s’ meeting at Hinds Community College Vicksburg Branch Auditorium is Monday evening at 6. Call the Extension office for reservations.

First-Tuesday Gardening with Extension Horticulture Agent Donna Beliech is Tuesday at noon at the Extension office. Topic will be “Beware of Invasive Plants.”

John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or call 601-636-5442. E-mail him at jcoccaro@ext.msstate.edu.