Causes of Stiff Fruit in Melons and How to Prevent and Control It

Stiff fruit in melons is a common phenomenon during melon cultivation. It can severely affect melon yield and quality and cause huge economic losses to farmers. So what causes stiff fruit in melons? Follow the editor to take a look at the prevention and control methods.

1. Symptoms

Stiff fruit in melons means that when the melon grows to the size of a walnut, it no longer continues to expand. The fruit is noticeably smaller than the normal melon of that variety, and the outer skin is hard. It matures relatively late, greatly reducing the commercial value of the melon. Some stiff fruits will also drop or rot within a certain period, giving pathogens an opportunity to take hold and gradually spread to the vines, which is extremely unfavorable for melon growth.

2. Causes

There are many causes of stiff fruit in normal melons. First, the fruit-setting node is low, forming a sink effect that prevents the fruit from growing large. Second, after fruit setting, the fruit-swelling water is not irrigated in time, or fertilizer and water management is improper, so the fruit cannot be properly supplied for growth and development, resulting in stiff fruit. Third, after fruit setting, if there is long periods of unfavorable weather, such as prolonged cloudy and rainy weather, nutrient transport will be blocked, the normal rind will gradually become stiff, the flesh cannot expand, and sometimes fruit cracking will also occur. Fourth, if pruning and fruit thinning are not done in time, the plant grows weak or becomes excessively vigorous, the balance between vegetative growth and reproductive growth is lost, and the fruit cannot expand due to lack of nutrients, so over time stiff fruit forms.

3. Prevention and Control

1. Choose a suitable fruit-setting node

The fruit-setting node of melons has a great impact on single fruit weight, quality and maturity period. Fruit setting at a low node very easily produces deformed melons, and later the plant begins to weaken. Fruit setting at a high node results in thin rind and low sugar content, so a suitable fruit-setting node must be chosen.

2. Strengthen fertilizer and water management

After fruit setting, when the fruit cells enter division and expansion, a large amount of supply is needed. When the melon grows to the size of a walnut, irrigate once to provide sufficient water for fruit expansion. At the same time, apply fertilizer with the water, 20-3 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu. At this time, if water is insufficient, cell division will slow down, fruit expansion speed will slow, and insufficient watering or too little watering will cause stiff fruit, so watering and fertilizing must be timely and sufficient.

  The above is an introduction to the causes of stiff fruit in melons and the prevention and control methods. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.