We often ponder why lemons fall off the tree. This phenomena happens due to two main factors: gravity and the tree’s ripening capacity. Gravity affects individual lemons depending on how long it has been on the tree, as well as the root system, which affects the overall fruit’s balance. As for the ripening capacity of the tree, it plays an important role in the process. Depending on the tree’s fertility and rate of ripening, some lemons will fall off faster than others.
Another factor that affects the behavior of lemons is the environment. Temperatures, surrounding vegetation, as well as the amount of water and sunlight, all can have an effect on why some lemons drop while others do not. If the surrounding temperature becomes too cold, some lemons won’t have time to ripen and may therefore fall off their tree faster than those which have had more time to be nurtured by their parent tree.
The season can also have an impact on why lemons drop. As summer arrives and temperatures begin to rise, the soil underneath the trees can significantly dry. This dryness may lead to lemons falling off the tree due to their shallow root systems. Furthermore, winds during summertime can also cause lemons to fall off due to their delicate balance on the tree.
In addition, some farmers will intentionally harvest the lemons prematurely before the fruit has fully ripened. This can cause the lemons to break off and fall from their respective tree early. They do this to insure their crop is ready to be sold and won’t rot on the tree. Farmers may also prune their trees to force them to produce lemons and to make the fruits more accessible to pick.
Therefore, while we may wonder why lemons fall off the tree, the answer can be explained by a variety of reasons, such as: gravity, ripening capacity, environmental conditions and harvesting techniques.
Gravity and Root System
Gravity is an influential factor when it comes to lemons and their trees. The length of time that a lemon has grown on a tree can have an effect on its balance, while the type of root system of the tree is also a determining factor. A lemon’s shallow root system can lead them to be impacted by gravity more severely than those lemons with deeper systems.
In addition, an unequal or weak root system will create an environment in which a lemon’s ability to attach to its tree will be hindered. As a result, this can cause some lemons to fall off the tree more quickly than others. Without a strong root system, the weight distribution of the tree will not be uniform, increasing the likelihood of lemons untying themselves and surrendering to the aerial force of gravity.
Moreover, lemons can move themselves from the stem or branch of the tree if an animal or bird decides to manually remove them. In such instances, the lemons can either be eaten or dropped on the ground. Thus, gravity does not just influence the lemons, but their predators as well.
In conclusion, gravity is a significant determinant of why lemons fall off the tree, as it affects the lemon’s balance and root system, as well as the possibility of lemons being manually removed.
Ripening Capacity of Tree
Another reason why lemons fall off the tree is due to the ripening capacity of the tree itself. Depending on the tree’s fertility and ripening rate, some lemons may be more mature than others. This can lead to premature dropping of the fruit.
In addition, the tree’s ripening process can be affected by the juices in the fruit and may result in the lemons becoming too heavy for the branch. As a lemon matures, its weight increases, and as such, may be prone to drop due to a branch’s inability to support the growing size of the mature fruit.
Furthermore, tree diseases and insect infestations may influence the ripeness of the tree and the lemons attached to it. Insects’ damages to the trunk of the tree can make lemons vulnerable to the force of gravity and, therefore, be in danger of falling off.
On the other hand, too much fertilisation can lead to an oversupply of produce for the tree, causing a weaker root system, meaning fewer lemons will be attached to the branches and further increasing the risk of them falling off.
In summary, the ripening capacity of the tree is another factor that affects why lemons drop, due to the weight of the fruit, tree diseases and insect infestations, as well as over-fertilization of the tree.
Environmental Conditions
The environment in which the tree is located can also affect why some lemons fall off their branches. Temperature, next to sunlight and water, have the power to significantly affect the physical state of the lemons, which in some cases can cause them to untie and fall from the tree.
If the surrounding is too cold and moist, the lemons may not have enough time to reach full maturity before being exposed to low temperatures. This can cause them to fall off due to their decreased adhesion to the branch, or even rot as an effect of the cold.
Likewise, if water and sun are not available in sufficient quantities, it can cause the tree to dry faster and lemons to become withered and fall due to the inability of the tree to nurture them.
Moreover, the wind can pose a great challenge to the lemons. If a branch is surrounded by wind, the lemons will struggle to keep their balance on the thin and lightly shaped surface of the branch and could, therefore, be threatened by a greater risk of falling.
In short, weather such as temperatures, wind, sunlight and water has a great impact on why lemons fall off the tree, depending on the intensity of each to which the tree is daily exposed to.
Harvesting Techniques
Some farmers may choose to harvest their lemons with the purpose of getting them to the market ahead of the competition or even to maximise their profits. Harvesting premature lemons can, however, cause them to fall from their respective tree due to inadequate ripening.
In some cases, lemons may prematurely detach from the branch due to lack of nutrition from the tree, as well as stunted growth in consequence of prematurely harvesting. Therefore, if farmers harvest too soon, whilst the lemons remain attached to the branch, or even before the branch has had enough time to strengthen, it can influence the fruits’ ability to resist their detachment.
Moreover, farmers may prune their trees in order to make the fruits more accessible to pick, as well as to stimulate their fruit production. Though pruning of a tree may lead to an increase in the amount of produce, it can also lead to many lemons falling off the tree due to their lower stability after the trimming.
In conclusion, harvesting techniques, such as premature harvesting and pruning, used by farmers, can be responsible for some lemons dropping from the tree before their time.
