Melons and Tomatoes seem to Crack

Why do melons and tomatoes seem to crack when the fruit gets ripe? The cause is inconsistent soil water and heat. Do not let the soil dry completely then water. The surge of water in the fruit will expand causing cracking. Heat is involved when the fruit does not absorb water during the day and start taking water up at night when it cools outside.

To help alleave this stress, keep the soil damp but not wet. I use drippers so the water soaks down deep lessening the soil drying out too quickly. Adding a mulch certainly helps.

Certain varieties tend to split because of a thin rind. Icebox type of watermelons are called exploding melon because of this reason.