What are the methods for preventing watermelon fruit cracking in spring
Watermelon fruit cracking can be divided into field cracking and harvest cracking. Field cracking is the bursting of the rind under static conditions, and its main cause is a sudden change in soil conditions. For example, if soil moisture is low during a certain stage of fruit development, fruit development is hindered, and then rain or heavy irrigation suddenly causes soil moisture to surge, the fruit rapidly expands and cracks,...
Watermelon fruit cracking can be divided into field cracking and harvest cracking. Field cracking is the bursting of the rind under static conditions, and its main cause is a sudden change in soil conditions. For example, if soil moisture is low during a certain stage of fruit development, fruit development is hindered, and then rain or heavy irrigation suddenly causes soil moisture to surge, the fruit rapidly expands and cracks. Generally, the blossom scar area cracks first, and some believe that slow development in the early stage of fruit development due to low temperature, followed by rapid expansion, causes fruit cracking. Fruit cracking is related to variety; varieties with thin, crisp rinds are prone to cracking.
Preventive measures: choose varieties that are not prone to cracking, use greenhouse cultivation to protect against rain, and manage fertilizer and water reasonably. Cracking at harvest is caused by the thin rind of the fruit and vibration during harvest. Experienced melon growers believe that increasing potassium fertilizer application improves rind toughness, and harvesting in the evening can reduce cracking.