What Causes Cherry Fruit Cracking? A Full Breakdown of Prevention Measures

In the process of growing many fruits, the most worrying phenomenon is fruit cracking, and cherries are no exception. Cherry fruit cracking is a very troublesome matter. Once the fruit cracks, pathogens invade through the crack, causing the fruit to rot, and once cracked, the fruit basically cannot be sold on the market, causing great economic losses to fruit growers. So what should be done about cherry fruit cracking? Are there any prevention and control measures? Below, Qinnong Web brings you the causes of cherry fruit cracking and prevention and control measures.

1. Unsuitable Variety

There are many varieties of cherries, and the characteristics of these varieties are all different, as are their cracking rates. Some varieties have firm flesh and thin skin, so the chance of cracking is relatively high, while some varieties have good flesh elasticity, so the chance of cracking is small. Some varieties have a high fruit-setting rate, which not only gives high yield, but during the fruit expansion period, because the number of fruits is large, the nutrients transported by the plant are relatively small, so expansion is slower and the cracking rate is low. Varieties with a low fruit-setting rate bear fewer fruits, and the plant transports more nutrients and faster, so they grow rapidly during the expansion period, and therefore the cracking rate is high.

Prevention and control measures: Choose crack-resistant varieties to plant, solving this problem from the root source.

2. Soil and Water Imbalance

Some fruit growers choose clay soil with poor drainage for planting, or apply mostly chemical fertilizers when fertilizing and basically do not apply organic fertilizer. This leads over the long term to the soil lacking many trace elements, and finally the soil becomes hardened into blocks with poor permeability. The growth of the plant roots is hindered, and the water storage and drainage capacity is poor. In the rainy season, the soil easily accumulates water, and during fruit expansion, too much water is absorbed, causing fruit cracking.

Prevention and control measures: Choose loose soil with good drainage for planting, use organic fertilizer or farmyard manure for fertilization, and try not to apply chemical fertilizers. Carry out intertillage and weeding 2-3 times each year, loosening the soil around the planting area several times to prevent soil hardening. Water promptly during drought, and drain promptly during the rainy season.

3. Air Humidity

Air humidity is also a major cause of normal cherry fruit cracking. During the fruit expansion period, sudden changes in air humidity can also cause fruit cracking.

Prevention and control measures: If growing in a greenhouse, balance the indoor humidity, especially when the fruit is fully ripening, because cherries can continue to grow while ripening, so the humidity must be balanced. If growing in the open field, set up rain-shelter protection measures to reduce the cracking rate and the occurrence of bird damage. In addition, in cold regions, there is also the need to prevent frost damage.

The above are the causes of cherry fruit cracking and prevention measures brought to you by Qinnong Web. We hope this article can help friends who are growing cherries and those who want to grow cherries. For more agricultural knowledge, please follow Qinnong Web.