What is Watermelon Sunburn?

Watermelon can be a super hydrating and healthy snack on those scorching summer days, particularly when you’re out in the sun at the beach all day! It can feel like your skin is burning, even after lathering on the sunscreen.

Watermelon can be a super hydrating and healthy snack on those scorching summer days, particularly when you’re out in the sun at the beach all day! It can feel like your skin is burning, even after lathering on the suncreen.

But have you ever wondered how watermelons fare under the intense sunlight? What if they got sunburnt too? As an actual fact, watermelon plants are not immune to the effects of sun exposure, and just like human skin, watermelons can suffer from “sunburn” too…

What is Watermelon Sunburn?

Watermelon sunburn occurs when the fruit is exposed to excessive sunlight, especially during periods of extreme heat. Unlike the “sunburn” we experience on our skin, which is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays, watermelon sunburn results from intense heat and direct sunlight. As the fruit matures on the vine, they require a lot of irrigation and water resource to keep the plants healthy and the vines full and leafy. The more leaf cover on the vines, the more protection from the direct sun especially in the growth stage.

Excessive Sun Exposure: Watermelons, like other fruits, require the right amount of sunlight to grow. They do thrive in warmer temperatures and need plenty of sun to ripen, but too much direct sunlight, especially in intense heat, can cause the fruit’s skin to burn.

Poor Canopy Cover: Watermelon vines grow with a dense canopy of leaves that offer shade to the fruit. When the melons start the ripen, the vines usually start to die back a little. This is generally ok as by this point in their growth cycle, the fruit skin is more robust. But poor protection of the melons early on lead to discoloured fruit.

Unripe Fruit: Watermelons that are still maturing on the vine are particularly vulnerable to sunburn. Their skin is thinner and more sensitive to temperature fluctuations. As the fruit ripens, its skin becomes more robust, but premature exposure to the sun before the fruit has had a chance to fully mature, can cause damage.

Water Stress: Watermelons need consistent watering to thrive. If they are subjected to drought or inconsistent irrigation, the fruit can become stressed and less able to handle high temperatures. This makes them more prone to sunburn as they may not have the internal moisture needed to protect against the hotter temperatures. And we have had very warm days in the last few weeks!

And what is the difference to the yellow spot on the bottom of the melon you ask? This yellow patch is a sign of a ripe watermelon, but is simply where it sits on the ground, not as a result of any sun damage.

Now, to be clear watermelon sunburn is perfectly fine to eat! It does not damage the skin, although they don’t look as appealing in the shops and can become overripe prematurely. It takes only the best of the team to minimize the risks of sunburn by applying the right techniques of irrigation, shade and vine management.

That’s why our Watermelon Production team have a full time job come summer, keeping our melon fields in top shape to bring you the best produce of New Zealand!