Homegrown Watermelon Splitting What Makes Watermelons Split In Garden

Causes of Watermelon Splits The most common cause for a bursting watermelon is erratic watering. Whether it's due to poor irrigation practices or drought followed by heavy rain, excessive accumulation of water can put the fruit under a lot of pressure. ... As a result, the watermelon bursts.

Why do my melons split?

Melon splitting occurs when the vine takes up too much water too quickly. The fruit rind is unable to expand rapidly enough to accommodate the growing flesh. A heavy rainfall just before harvest is often responsible for this. Even if fruit does not split, heavy rain or irrigation will decrease its sweetness.

What does a split in a watermelon mean?

In reality, what's happened to this watermelon is a natural condition called "hollow heart." That's right. This piece of fruit literally looked exactly like that when it was cut open. Reddit. "Hollow heart" develops when there is poor pollination during the growth process that creates cracks inside of the watermelon.

How do I increase the yield of my watermelon?

To maximize the size of the melons, water the plants at the base in regular, deep-watering sessions that keep the soil moist. Side dress the watermelon plants with fertilizer designed for edible crops or compost tea to feed the plants. The fertilizer encourages growth to get larger melons.

How often should you water your watermelon plants?

While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged. Water at the vine's base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering.

When should you not eat watermelon?

It is recommended to not consume watermelons at night right before going to bed. "I would not recommend consumption of watermelon or any fruit after 7 pm. Watermelon is slightly acidic and if consumed at night, it may delay the process of digestion when the body is inactive.

How do you crack a watermelon with a toothpick?

Break a toothpick in half and insert one end into the watermelon, then place a blueberry or grape over the toothpick to create an eye. Repeat on opposite end. Cut the flesh from the mouth cut-out and use the rind to make the triangular fin. Break a toothpick in half and insert one end into the watermelon.

Can I eat a cracked watermelon?

Do not eat watermelon with cracked pulp, otherwise you risk getting cancer, warns the website bajecnylekar.sk. The cracks in the pulp of the fruit allegedly are “a clear proof that the melon was not grown naturally but rather with the use of dangerous synthetic substances that sped up its growth”.

Why is my watermelon mushy in the middle?

Over-ripeness

Watermelons that are too ripe have soft and mushy flesh. ... The most common method is to thump the watermelon lightly; a hollow sound indicates ripeness while a muffled, dull sound may indicate over-ripeness.

Do watermelons explode?

Watermelon splitting (or exploding) can be caused by the “exploding gene,” which is found in many of the heirloom varieties, or from increased water turgor in the watermelon. ... Pressure can build inside, causing the watermelon to split and erupt like a volcano or to foam uncontrollably.

What's the best fertilizer for watermelon?

When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.

How do I make my watermelon sweeter when growing?

Sweetness Starts in the Soil

To encourage strong growth, blend 4 to 6 inches of composted manure into your melon beds prior to planting. Then add a balanced organic fertilizer (such as a mixed blood meal/bone meal product) every 3 to 4 weeks.

Are coffee grounds good for watermelon plants?

Old coffee grinds really do enhance the flavor of many crops, cantaloupe, tomatoes, melons. No study to prove it, but it is said you get bigger melons if you use coffee grinds. As they break down, the grinds will release nitrogen into the soil.

Do you water watermelon everyday?

Watering Watermelons

Give watermelons 1 to 2 inches (2.5. -5cm) of water every week (1 inch equals 16 gallons/60.5 liters.) Keep the soil moist until the fruit reaches full size then stop watering while the fruit ripens.

Can you over water watermelon?

Too much water can be detrimental when growing watermelons, reducing the quality of the fruit or causing it to burst. This can be especially problematic if you're having unusually heavy rains during the growing season because you have no control over how much rain falls.

How many watermelons do you get per plant?

The number of vines determines how many watermelons there are per plant as each vine can produce between two to four melons during the growing season.

What does watermelon do sexually?

Watermelon may be a natural Viagra, says a researcher. That's because the popular summer fruit is richer than experts believed in an amino acid called citrulline, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like Viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

What happens if you eat watermelon everyday?

If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society.

What time is best to eat watermelon?

No doubt watermelon is one of the healthiest fruits you can have. However, to stay in shape and gain maximum benefits, one should try and have the red fruit in the daytime. In fact, it can be one of the best things you can have for breakfast. Avoid drinking water for at least 30-45 minutes after having the fruit.

How do you split a watermelon?

You have just enough rind to hold onto and the rest gets eaten.

Make vertical slices down the length of the melon. ...with the rind on, at 1 to 1½ inch intervals.
Cut crosswise down the width of the melon. ...at 1 to 1½ inch intervals to form a grid.
Separate into batons and serve. ...
Separate into batons and serve.

Can you cut a watermelon with an electric knife?

The rind is extremely difficult to slice through. Recently, my husband suggested I use the electric meat-carving knife. This worked so quickly and smoothly, I will use it for watermelon, squash and pumpkin rind.”

How do you flick open a watermelon?

Thump the melon sharply a couple of times with your finger to set up a sort of mini seismic wave that allows you to hear what the insides sound like. Take the tip of your middle finger, brace it against your thumb and flick outward very firmly on the melon's hide.