A Detailed Guide to Preventing and Treating Small Fruit and Fruit Cracking in Melons
As temperatures rise, melons grow rapidly, and the critical period for field management has arrived. Recently, some farmers have reported that small fruit and fruit cracking occur during melon growth. How should these problems be solved? To prevent small fruit, strengthen fertilizer and water management in the early stage to promote vegetative growth. According to variety characteristics and cultivation...
As temperatures rise, melons grow rapidly, and the critical period for field management has arrived. Recently, some farmers have reported that small fruit and fruit cracking occur during melon growth. How should these problems be solved?
Preventing Small Fruit
Strengthen fertilizer and water management in the early stage to promote vegetative growth. According to variety characteristics and cultivation methods, prune reasonably and control the fruiting position. Generally, keep 1-2 fruits per vine.
When the plant's growth vigor is weak, young fruits can be removed to promote vegetative growth and delay fruiting.
For vigorously growing plants, artificial pollination should be used to promote fruit set. From 6:00 to 8:00 every morning, use male flowers that opened that day to pollinate female flowers that opened that day, gently touching twice to carry out artificial pollination.
Preventing Fruit Cracking
Irrigate reasonably, and pay attention to the timing and amount of irrigation. On the one hand, water well in time for fruit swelling to promote melon fruit expansion; on the other hand, after watering for fruit swelling, do not water heavily again, especially avoiding watering as much as possible in the about 10 days before harvest to prevent fruit cracking.
Fertilize scientifically. Apply topdressing in time in the later stage of melon growth to meet the fertilizer requirements for later melon growth.
Protect the leaves. Take care to protect the leaves near the fruit, using them to shade the fruit from sunlight, so as to avoid fruit cracking caused by peel aging due to direct sunlight. Grass or leaves can be placed over the fruit to prevent the peel from hardening prematurely.
Spray trace elements. After fruit set, combined with watering, spray the leaf surface with 0.3% calcium chloride and 0.12%-0.25% boric acid solution, once every 7 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays, to supplement the deficiency of trace elements.