Lemons that split on the tree may seem like an odd phenomenon, but there are several causes behind it. Firstly, heavy rains may cause lemons to split as they become too heavy and the lemon can’t handle the increased weight. When this happens, the fruit will start to crack and split open under pressure. Secondly, when there are multiple heavy rainfalls in a short period of time, it can be too much water for a tree to absorb, causing the lemons to split open due to the pressure of the swelling. Thirdly,split lemons can be caused by uneven irrigation, as moisture absorption by one side of the tree will be greater than the other, leading to an imbalanced distribution of weight in the fruit as one side swells and splits.
Fourthly, some cases of split lemons have been linked to too much nitrogen in the soil, which encourages the tree to grow large amounts of foliage rather than fruit. This can mean a tree has too much foliage as that leaves will draw nutrition away from the growing lemons, leaving them too thin-skinned when they do ripen and eventually splitting.fifthly,extreme temperatures and prolonged exposure to heat or cold can weaken the skin of the lemon, causing the lemon to split. Although some climates are better for growing lemon trees than others, if temperatures reach outside of the natural range for a few days or longer, lemons can split due to the sudden shock of hot or cold temperatures.
Finally, if the tree isn’t planted deep enough, the lemon might split due to an accumulation of shallow soil and inadequate support for the fruit. If a tree isn’t deep enough in the soil, the fruit will be vulnerable and susceptible to splitting as it grows too large for the amount of root structure supporting it. In conclusion, split lemons on a tree can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from heavy rainfall to too much nitrogen in the soil.
Lack Of Water
Not enough water is one factor that can cause lemons to split on the tree. If a lemon tree is not watered regularly, it might not be able to handle any rainfall that is received, as the tree will not be accustomed to the sudden influx of water. Additionally, if the lemon tree is planted too deeply, it might not receive enough water as the soil can be too dense for moisture to penetrate it. When the lemons become over-watered, their skin can split from the pressure caused by excess moisture in the tree.
Over-Fertilizing
Over-fertilizing a lemon tree can cause lemons to split as the tree receives too much nitrogen which encourages it to produce large amounts of foliage, taking away from the fruit being produced. When this happens, the lemons that do develop can be over-large compared to the amount of skin, which causes them to split when they are growing as the skin is too weak to hold the large lemon.
Bugs
Certain bugs, such as aphids, can cause lemons to split as they suck the sap away from the tree and weaken the skin of the fruit. Additionally, some bugs leave eggs behind on the tree which can further weaken the skin and cause it to be more prone to splitting as the lemons grow.
Disease
Certain diseases, such as citrus scab, can cause lemons to split as the disease can weaken the skin of the lemons and cause them to be more prone to splitting. Citrus scab attacks the young fruit of a lemon tree, causing scab-like lesions that reduce the fruit quality and can cause them to split as well.
Improper Harvesting
Improper harvesting techniques can cause lemons to split. When a lemon is ripe, it should be cut cleanly from the tree rather than stripped-off as stripping can cause the skin of the fruit to be more prone to splitting. Additionally, mishandling of the lemons can be a factor in split lemons, as the skin of the lemon is sensitive and could split if it is dropped or mishandled.
Chemical Pesticides
Using chemical pesticides on a lemon tree can cause the lemons to split. This is because the chemical pesticides can weaken the skin of the fruit, making it more prone to splitting as the fruit increases in size. It is important to use organic and natural pest control methods on a lemon tree as these are less likely to affect the quality and strength of the lemons.
