Reason Why Melons Split Before Ready

Q. A second crop of mini-melons I planted split before it was ready to harvest. I think it was the heat because the first crop using same seeds ripened on the vine. These have a mild taste but not very sweet. Is there a "sow by" date so they will ripen before it gets so hot?

A. Melons split before they are fully mature because the soil becomes dry and then watering or rain occurs. The result is burst or split fruit because the fruit swells. This happens with many kinds of fruit, not just melons. The seed inside the fruit may be mature but the fruit hasn’t yet finished ripening before it splits.

Blood orange fruit split

            When a plant is not getting enough water, but the soil begins to dry, the fruit will either abort early or the plant will try to finish as much ripening as possible before the water runs out. This early ripening due to a lack of water can affect the sugar content or its sweetness, the quality of the fruit, the size of the fruit or all three!

Kara Gul pomegranate split and interior rotted

            When the plant is not getting enough water and begins ripening the fruit, but the soil gets extremely wet again, water is pumped from the roots into the fruit and it splits. The fruit might not be fully ripe, but the seeds are oftentimes mature enough to grow. Applying a thin surface mulch to the soil or growing a variety that shades the soil better and retains soil moisture may reduce fruit splitting during the heat. Also, using a plastic mulch when growing vegetables helps retain water in the soil and reduces splitting.

Myers lemon fruit split

            The sweetness or quality of the fruit depends on many things, but weather and climate are major factors. In fruit and wine culture, this is called the “terroir” of the crop. Therefore, some varieties of fruit produce better quality fruit than others in the hot desert versus coastal California. Try a different variety of mini-melon next time, particularly one that has parents which performed well in hot climates.

Nubiana plum fruit split

            Most of the seed packets tell the days to harvest. If the soil is kept moist, the days to harvest should be accurate. However, add five days to this number if harvesting a fall crop that is normally grown during the spring and summer months.