What to Do If Melons Aren't Sweet? Cause Analysis and Sweetening Methods

Summer is the season when melons hit the market. Melons have a faint, sweet fragrance, but many friends find when buying them that lots of melons have poor color and a bland taste, not sweet at all, and sometimes even a bit bitter. In fact, this is also a headache for many fruit growers, so what is going on? Below, Qinnong Net brings you the reasons why melons have poor color and aren't sweet.

1. Variety

The sugar content of melons is related to their variety, and different varieties have different sweetness levels, so when planting, try to choose varieties with higher sweetness.

2. Small temperature difference between day and night

We all know that ** has many fruits famous worldwide, and many of its fruits are very sweet, such as grapes and Hami melons. In fact, a large part of the reason is that the ** region has a large temperature difference between day and night, which is favorable for the accumulation of sugars in the fruit.

You can use the greenhouse planting method, reducing ventilation during the day to raise the greenhouse temperature, which is favorable for sucrose synthesis, while strengthening ventilation at night to lower the temperature, artificially creating an environment with a large temperature difference between day and night.

3. Improper fertilizer and water management

During melon growth, nitrogen fertilizer can promote rapid plant growth, so more nitrogen fertilizer is applied during the growing period, but applying large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer has a relatively large effect on sugar content. Excessive absorption of nitrogen fertilizer causes nitrate components to accumulate, making plants prone to excessive vegetative growth and disease, especially during the fruit ripening stage, when even more attention should be paid to controlling nitrogen fertilizer and water.

When fertilizing, pay attention to reasonable matching, and do not favor just one type. A calcium deficiency in the soil easily leads to 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 in the half month before harvest.

4. Harvesting when not properly ripe

The sweetness of melons is also related to ripeness. If the fruit is harvested before it is fully ripe, the sugars have not yet fully converted, so there is less sugar and it is not sweet; but if harvested too late, its cell tissues will gradually soften or age, leading to a poor texture and likewise affecting the taste.

Harvesting must be done at the right time, neither too early nor too late. According to research, melons gradually accumulate sugar during development, but the sugar accumulated during the ripening stage accounts for 70% of the total.

The above is what Qinnong Net brings you on what to do if melons aren't sweet. After knowing the reasons why melons aren't sweet, you can then apply the right remedy. We hope this helps you. For more agricultural knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinnong Net.