Common crops affected
What is it?
Fruit cracking is a physiological disorder driven by uneven water uptake and weak cell structure. When a dry spell is followed by heavy watering or rain, the fruit rapidly takes up water and swells, but the skin can't keep up and cracks. Calcium and overall cell-wall integrity strongly influence how well fruit resists splitting.
How to identify it
- Splits and cracks in the skin, often radial (from the stem) or concentric (rings)
- Cracking that appears after rain or heavy watering on ripening fruit
- Secondary rot entering through the cracks
- Worse in fast-growing, heavily watered, or calcium-short plants
Damage and how it spreads
Cracked fruit is unmarketable and quickly invaded by rot organisms, so a single wet event near harvest can spoil a large share of a crop. Because the cause is water movement and cell-wall strength, prevention focuses on steady watering and building firmer, more resilient fruit rather than spraying for a pest or disease.
How to control it
- Keep watering even and avoid big swings from dry to saturated, especially as fruit ripens.
- Mulch to buffer soil moisture and harvest promptly as fruit matures.
- Maintain calcium and cell-wall strength through the fruiting period.
- Choose crack-resistant varieties where available.
Recommended Vegalab solution: Cellular Boost
Vegalab Cellular Boost is formulated to prevent drought-induced cracking in fruits and vegetables by supporting cell integrity, making it the direct answer to splitting. Pair it with Rigid Boost, which provides pre-harvest support for strong cellular membranes, and Calcium Boost to reinforce calcium-dependent cell-wall strength. Combine these with steady watering for the best protection.
| Role | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary correction | Cellular Boost | Cell integrity / anti-cracking |
| Companion / broader pressure | Rigid Boost | Pre-harvest cell-wall support |
| Plant support | Calcium Boost | Soluble calcium correction |
Preventing it next season
Water evenly, mulch to buffer moisture, harvest promptly, and build cell-wall strength through fruiting with Cellular Boost and Rigid Boost. Crack-resistant varieties add another layer of protection.
Claims and product availability vary by jurisdiction. Always read and follow the product label.