What Causes Melon Cracking? Detailed Prevention Measures

During the melon growing process, cracking often occurs. Once melons crack, their appearance is seriously affected, their commercial value is reduced, and farmers' economic returns suffer. So what causes melon cracking? How can it be prevented? Let's find out together.

1. Causes of Melon Cracking

If fertilizer and water are applied early during the fruit enlargement stage, the fruit expands slowly and the rind ages and hardens; if fertilizer and water are then supplied abundantly in the later stage, the inner flesh grows and expands rapidly, but by then the outer fruit has already aged, so the inner flesh bursts through the skin, causing cracks in the melon. After the melon surface is exposed to sunlight, the rind ages, hardens and contracts; after contracting, concentric circular cracking patterns form on the melon surface. If the plants are watered too much in the late growth stage, they absorb a large amount of water, the flesh swells with water, but the rind has already aged and has poor flexibility, thus causing fruit cracking. In addition, a deficiency of trace elements such as calcium and boron in the soil can also cause cracks.

2. Prevention Measures

1. Supply fertilizer and water in a balanced way

According to the melon's demand for fertilizer and water during its growth period, supply fertilizer and water in a balanced way. Do not irrigate and fertilize blindly. When fertilizing, not only should sufficient base fertilizer be applied to meet the nutrient needs of the melon in the early growth stage, but fertilizer should also be topdressed in good time in the later growth stage to meet the melon's fertilizer requirements in the later period. When watering, on the one hand, water well in time for fruit enlargement to promote fruit expansion; on the other hand, after watering for fruit enlargement, do not irrigate heavily again. Especially in the 10 days before harvest, it is best not to water, so as to avoid the fruit absorbing water rapidly and splitting or reducing its sweetness.

2. Protect the leaves

Take care to protect the leaves near the fruit, using them to shade the melon fruit from sunlight and avoid fruit cracking caused by direct sunlight and fruit aging.

3. Foliar spraying

After fruit set, combine watering with foliar spraying of Zhuangguadi, spraying once every week for 2-3 consecutive sprays, to improve the plant's water and fertilizer uptake, increase fruit yield and quality, reduce the fruit drop rate, and reduce the incidence of cracked fruit, stiff fruit and deformed fruit.

The above is an introduction to the causes of melon cracking and prevention measures. We hope it helps you. For more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.