Re: Citrus fruits
- Subject: Re: Citrus fruits
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 13:03:57 +1200
> Richard Lovejoy wrote:
>
> We are presently experiencing some problems with our second fruit crop
> this year and wonder if our knowledgeable members can help us. Whilst
> mainly affecting the oranges, a lesser extent the mandarins and some
> lemons they are nearly all splitting at their base and in the worst
> cases the fruit are virtually halved as they approach ripening. It is
> almost as if the inside of the fruit is growing faster than skin/peel.
> We thought it might be a lack of water during late August early
> September, although the trees are regularly watered, but in recent
> days we have had a very good share of rain and the problem continues.
> Is it due to water or should we be looking at a disease?
>
> Can anyone help please as we would actually like to enjoy what is
> potentially a very good crop.
What a pity Richard.
The only reference I can find to fruit splitting in Citrus upholds your
notion, saying that it is usually caused by weather changes. Most of us
are familiar with the disastrous effects of a sudden rainfall on
ripening fruits of many kinds, particularly grapes and cherries. The
sudden increase in available water causes the inner cells to swell and
the skin is not sufficiently elastic to accomodate this, so it simply
splits.
Something like this has most probably happened to your citrus fruits and
I would certainly be inclined to blame weather rather than disease. It
probably will not seriously spoil them for eating, except that will make
them more vulnerable to rots, so they will probably not store well and
need eating up quickly.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
