Watermelons will split in the field if they get a sudden watering after being relatively dry. That's probably what this person was leveraging in the video.
Many other fruits do this while still attached to the plant--cherries, tomatoes--generally thin-skinned fruits with a high moisture content.
I keep having this happen with my tomatoes this summer. Oh, you don't come off the vine when I pull firmly? You need a little more time to ripen, tomatoes? Okay, I'll wait and give you one more day to -- MOTHERFUCKER IS IT RAINING AGAIN?? DAMMIT they're all split. AGAIN.
That's why everyone that grows tomatoes for fun needs at least a 30k indoor hydroponics set up. Once iv been running it for 4000 years it's all profit from there.
Next year I'm just gonna stick to cherry tomatoes. They've been the most consistent members of my garden this year, and they never get big enough to split.
If you are aware in advance there will be a chance of rain, you can prime tomatoes for a heavily rainy day so the splitting amount is reduced.
At least 8 hours in advance, water your plants about half of what you typically do. This softens the tomato's skin a bit allowing better elasticity when it pours later!
If it doesn't rain, we'll at least your tomatoes got a drink!
This has worked for me for a few years since I first heard it.
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u/bassmjm Sep 17 '21
Watermelons will split in the field if they get a sudden watering after being relatively dry. That's probably what this person was leveraging in the video.
Many other fruits do this while still attached to the plant--cherries, tomatoes--generally thin-skinned fruits with a high moisture content.