Before my lemons have a chance to get fully ripe on my lemon tree they rind is splitting. Any ideas what is causing this? I am growing the tree indoors (outside during the summer in its pot) and the plant is about 1.5 - 2 feet tall. It had 5 lemons on it this year, and so far 4 of the 5 have split before becoming fully ripe.
I waited a day or two to let others answer, but as no one has answered I will try. The seemingly spontaneous splitting that occurs in citrus fruits, particularly in navel oranges, but also in many other varieties, is discouraging. Splitting is an abiotic disorder, that is, it is a problem that cannot be attributed to any living organism, such as an insect or plant pathogen, but one that stems instead from environmental or cultural conditions. There is no chemical control for this physiological condition. The split usually starts at the stylar end of the fruit, which is the weakest point in the rind. Splits probably occur when water and sugar are transported from the roots of the tree to the ripening fruit, and the rind is unable to expand quickly enough to accommodate the added volume. The rind burst open under the pressure. Some citrus varieties, especially thin skinned or weak ones, may be more likely to split than other varieties. Rinds that have been sunburned or otherwise damaged may be less elastic than normal and therefore more apt to split. Although the exact cause is unknown, fruit splitting is likely the result of stress to the tree. Splitting appears to be most closely related to extreme fluctuation in temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and possibly fertilizer levels, and the disorder is probably caused by a combination of these factors rather than by a single cause. For example, when hot weather is combined with high winds, the tree becomes drought stress and begins to take water from the fruit, causing the fruit to soften causing it to crack. Young trees or dwarf varieties with relatively small or shallow root systems, as well as trees grown in very sandy or porous soils that do not retain moisture well, may be more susceptible to fruit splitting. Reasonable cultural practices to avoid extreme fluctuations in soil moisture and fertilization levels throughout the growing season may help to minimize fruit split. Trees should be irrigated regularly to assure a continuous supply of soil moisture, especially during hot or windy weather. When hot winds are anticipated, irrigate before the winds begin. After the hot winds subside, irrigate lightly for a few days and then resume a normal irrigation schedule. Instead of a single large application of quick release fertilizer each, smaller monthly applications throughout the growing season may help keep nutrient levels constant. Timed release fertilizers offer the convenience of supplying nutrients at an even rate over the length of the growing season, but they are usually more expensive than other fertilizers. Split oranges are edible, although they are usually not ripe enough to be usable; they break down quickly and eventually drop from the tree. Damaged fruit should be removed and discarded, since they are susceptible to invading organisms that may cause disease such as Alternia Rot. Decaying fruit may also harbor fungi, bacteria, insects or other unwanted pests. You probably would rather hear of a simple step that could be taken to immediately cure the problem, but so far it does not exist. The problem will lessen as the tree ages. Good luck to this tree. - Millet
Thanks, Millet. I was wondering if watering might be the issue. The tree got a small amount of water during a two week period while I was gone and then I came back and watered it more thoroghly when I returned--that's probably what caused the splits is having too long of a break when it was dry. Thanks for the advice!
