High potassium supply is critical in minimizing cracking by thickening the rind. It is particularly important for fruit quality, and reducing the risks of melon fruit cracking and damage during transportation.
Reducing Melon Fruit Cracking
To avoid melon fruit cracking, growers can select more tolerant melon varieties and grow them on soils where drainage is not a problem and where water supply can be properly managed.
Crop Nutrition and Melon Fruit Cracking
Potassium
Boron
Where supplies of boron are not limiting, skin is more elastic, thereby minimizing melon fruit cracking and improving storability. Lack of boron, or heavy infrequent watering at fruit fill are also the usual cause of internal cracking. It is more common in melons that are flatter in shape and lighter in weight.
Calcium
A lot of calcium is taken up during early plant growth. While only a small proportion of this – 15% - is found in the fruit, these low levels of the element are critical in maintaining good fruit firmness with minimal melon cracking. Calcium needs to be balanced with adequate supplies of boron to prevent cracking. High levels of calcium thicken cell walls and firm the fruit. However, calcium needs to be balanced with adequate supplies of boron to prevent cracking.
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