Detailed Explanation of the Causes of Melon Fruit Cracking and Preventive Measures

During melon cultivation, fruit cracking often occurs. Once cracking happens, the appearance of the melon is seriously affected, its market value is reduced, and the economic returns of growers are affected. So what causes melon fruit cracking? How can it be prevented? Let's find out together.

I. Causes of Melon Fruit Cracking

If fertilizer and water are applied early during the fruit expansion stage, the fruit expands slowly and the rind ages and hardens; then, when fertilizer and water are supplied abundantly in the later stage, the flesh inside the melon grows and expands rapidly, but by this time the outer fruit has already aged, so the inner flesh bursts through the skin, causing cracks to appear in the melon. After the melon surface is exposed to sunlight, the rind ages, hardens and contracts; after contracting, concentric circular cracking patterns form on the melon surface. If the plants are watered too much in the late growth stage, they absorb a large amount of water, the flesh swells with water, and because the rind has already aged and has poor flexibility, fruit cracking is caused. In addition, a deficiency of trace elements such as calcium and boron in the soil can also cause cracks to form.

II. Preventive Measures

1. Balanced supply of fertilizer and water

According to the melon's demand for fertilizer and water during its growth period, supply fertilizer and water in a balanced way; do not water and fertilize blindly. When fertilizing, not only should sufficient base fertilizer be applied to meet the nutrient needs of the melon in the early growth stage, but fertilizer should also be applied at the right time in the later growth stage to meet the melon's fertilizer requirements in the later period. When watering, on the one hand, timely water for fruit swelling should be applied to promote fruit expansion; on the other hand, after watering for fruit swelling, do not irrigate heavily again, and especially in the 10 days before harvest it is best not to water, so as to avoid the fruit absorbing water rapidly and splitting or reducing its sweetness.

2. Protect the leaves

Take care to protect the leaves near the fruit, using them to shade the melon fruit from sunlight and avoid fruit cracking caused by direct sunlight and fruit aging.

3. Foliar spraying

After fruit set, combine watering with foliar spraying of Zhuanggua Di, spraying once every week for 2-3 consecutive times, to improve the plant's ability to absorb water and fertilizer, increase fruit yield and quality, reduce the fruit drop rate, and reduce the incidence of cracked fruit, stiff fruit and deformed fruit.

The above is an introduction to the causes of melon fruit cracking and preventive measures. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.