Why Do Lemons Split on the Tree?

Environmental factors can cause lemons to split.

Environmental factors can cause lemons to split.

Lemon (Citrus limon) grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Splitting fruit is a common problem for citrus trees. Usually it affects navel oranges, but under certain conditions, it may affect lemons and other citrus, too. While some situations that cause splitting are out of your control, such as weather changes, others may be the result of your actions. Understand the reasons that lemons split and correct the cause to prevent the loss of more fruit.

Temperature Change

Severe swings in temperatures can cause the fruit on lemon trees to split. If the soil is dry and the temperature shifts 30 degrees F or more during the day, your fruit will be more likely to split, according to the University of California Gardenweb. Maintain adequate soil moisture to protect your lemons.

Rainfall Change

The amount of rain that falls on a lemon tree may determine if the fruit splits. If you are experiencing warm weather and a sudden, heavy rain falls, the lemon tree will take up as much water as possible. This water makes its way to the ripening fruits, which may burst their skins if the lemons swell. Growing a dwarf lemon tree in a pot indoors or on a patio allows you to move the tree into shelter if heavy rain is forecast.

Soil Moisture Fluctuation

If you forget to water and then overwater your plants to compensate, your lemon fruit may split on the tree. Soil that constantly goes from dry to soaking is not good for a citrus tree. Water so the soil around your lemon tree is constantly moist but never soggy for young trees that are becoming established. You can let the soil become dry down to 3 to 4 inches below the surface around older lemon trees, but do not water to excess to compensate for the dry soil. The University of California Cooperative Extension for Sacramento County warns that overwatering a citrus tree can cause death more readily than a drought.

Humidity Change

Just as the moisture in the ground is important, the amount of moisture in the air may cause lemons to split their skins. A dry spell that follows on the heels of an extended period of high humidity may result in split fruit. While you cannot change the weather where you are, keeping your lemon tree well watered and mulched can prevent environmental conditions, such as humidity shifts, from taking a severe toll.

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