How to prevent and control watermelon fruit cracking that lowers quality?
Watermelon fruit cracking is a physiological disorder, and it occurs most often in watermelons that are close to ripening. The watermelon splits from the blossom end into two or more sections, causing cracked fruit. Watermelon fruit cracking severely lowers watermelon quality. Causes of fruit cracking: 1. Variety reasons; generally small watermelons with thin rinds crack easily. 2. Moisture reasons; excessive water control in the early stage causes the rind to age, and then excessive water in the later stage makes the flesh grow faster than the rind. This easily causes fruit cracking. 3. Climate reasons; alternating cold and heat easily causes fruit cracking. 4. Light reasons; continuous cloudy days followed by sudden bright sunshine easily causes fruit cracking. 5. Using swelling agents too late or at too high a concentration can also cause fruit cracking.
Watermelon
Prevention and control methods:
1. Select excellent varieties. Seedless or few-seeded watermelons are prone to flat fruit and flat-headed fruit; large watermelon varieties are prone to wide-shouldered, thick-rinded fruit; watermelon varieties with thin, brittle rinds and small-fruited watermelon varieties are prone to fruit cracking. Therefore, avoid choosing these watermelon varieties.
2. In the early stage of watermelon development, if adverse weather occurs, such as low temperature, drought, or insufficient light, and then conditions improve in the later stage, flat fruit, gourd-shaped fruit, and big-bellied fruit are easily formed; if the early stage of watermelon development has suitable weather, and the later stage has low temperature and dryness, pointed-tip fruit is easily formed. In the late stage of watermelon enlargement, low temperature with heavy rain or excessive irrigation can also cause fruit cracking. During the flowering stage, young fruit stage, and watermelon enlargement stage, spray Zhuanggualing to thicken the fruit stalk, ensure sufficient nutrient supply, and coordinate balanced nutrition in the watermelon plant. At the same time, spray Xin Gaozhi Mo during the flowering stage, young fruit stage, and watermelon enlargement stage to quickly form a protective film on the watermelon surface, so as to prevent the watermelon from being harmed by natural disasters.
3. Strengthen fertilizer and water management. In the early stage of watermelon enlargement, if fertilizer and water are insufficient, and then fertilizer and water are sufficient in the later stage, big-bellied fruit is easily formed; if fertilizer and water are sufficient in the early stage, and then insufficient in the later stage, pointed-tip fruit is easily formed. Large local temperature differences, injury, and other factors can also form deformed watermelons. At the same time, insufficient fertilizer and water in the early stage and sufficient fertilizer and water in the later stage easily cause fruit cracking; plots lacking calcium and lacking magnesium easily cause fruit cracking. Therefore, fertilizer and water management in the watermelon field needs to be strengthened.
4. Spray trace elements. After fruit setting, combine with watering and spray 0.3% calcium chloride and 0.12%-0.25% boric acid solution on the leaves, spraying once every 7 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays, to supplement the deficiency of trace elements in watermelon.