What to Do If Muskmelons Are Not Sweet? The Latest Solutions Are Here
Summer is precisely the season when muskmelons hit the market. Muskmelons have a faint, sweet fragrance, but many friends find when buying them that many muskmelons have poor color and a rather bland taste, not sweet at all, and even a bit bitter. In fact, this is also what troubles many fruit growers, so what is going on? Below, Qinong Net brings you the reasons why muskmelons have poor color and are not sweet.
1. Variety
The sugar content of muskmelons is related to their variety. Different varieties have different sweetness levels, so when planting, try to choose varieties with higher sweetness.
2. Small day-night temperature difference
We all know that many fruits from Xinjiang are world-famous, and many of them are very sweet, such as grapes and Hami melons. In fact, a large part of the reason is that the day-night temperature difference in the Xinjiang region is large, which is conducive to the accumulation of sugars in the fruit.
Greenhouse cultivation methods can be used: reduce ventilation during the day to increase the greenhouse room temperature, which is conducive to sucrose synthesis, and strengthen ventilation at night to lower the room temperature, artificially creating an environment with a large day-night temperature difference.
3. Improper fertilizer and water management
During the growth of muskmelons, nitrogen fertilizer can promote rapid plant growth, so more nitrogen fertilizer is applied during the growing period, but applying a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer has a relatively large impact on sugar content. Excessive absorption of nitrogen fertilizer causes accumulation of nitrate components, making the plants prone to excessive vegetative growth and disease, especially during the fruit ripening period, when even more attention should be paid to the control of nitrogen fertilizer and water.
When fertilizing, pay attention to reasonable combinations and do not favor only one type. A calcium deficiency in the soil easily forms fermented melons, causing the fruit to be not sweet, so when fertilizing, try to apply organic fertilizer together with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. It is best not to water or fertilize half a month before harvest.
4. Improper harvesting at maturity
The sweetness of muskmelons is also related to maturity. If the fruit is harvested before it is fully ripe, the sugar has not yet fully converted, so the sugar content is lower and it is not sweet; but if harvested too late, its cell tissues will gradually soften or age, resulting in a poor mouthfeel and likewise affecting the taste.
Harvesting must be timely, neither too early nor too late. According to research, sugar gradually accumulates during the development of muskmelons, but the sugar accumulated during the ripening period accounts for 70% of the total.
The above is what Qinong Net brings you on what to do if muskmelons are not sweet. After knowing the reasons why muskmelons are not sweet, you can then treat the problem accordingly. We hope this can help you. For more agricultural knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinong Net.