Author Topic: Pomelo split issue  (Read 1279 times)

pinkturtle

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 862
    • LA county, CA Zone 10B
    • View Profile
Pomelo split issue
« on: August 06, 2021, 04:54:01 PM »
Hi all,

My pomelo fruit the first time this year.  I am running into the fruits are slowly splitting.  Does anyone know what I need to do to avoid this issue?



Thanks,
Al

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3356
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2021, 05:40:02 PM »
I had this happen to my Tango mandarin really badly last year.  The explanations I found were:

1) inconsistent watering - peel becomes dry, then fruit swells quickly and bursts it.  This happens very easily with tomatoes

2) too much fruit set.  The mechanism wasn't explained, but my Tango did have a massive fruit load and at least a quarter of them split like this

Not sure if that is your cause, I haven't ever seen this with my pomelos.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2021, 05:56:43 PM »
Too much water. The tree uptakes water faster than the peel can expand. Very common.

pinkturtle

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 862
    • LA county, CA Zone 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2021, 08:48:00 PM »
Thanks, I watered it twice a week.  Possible under water.  I will try to water it one time a week to see it is better or not.

pinkturtle

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 862
    • LA county, CA Zone 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2021, 03:30:28 PM »
No fruits for me this year.  All my fruits get splitted. 

Seanny

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1119
    • Garden Grove, Orange County, California, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2021, 03:36:08 PM »
Watering Chandler once to twice a week.
Not a single split so far.

sc4001992

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3900
    • USA, CA, Fullerton
    • View Profile
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2021, 04:09:38 PM »
pinkturtle, if your fruit splits even when you control your watering (not overwater) it could be just due to the tree fruiting for the first time. I had some pomelo fruits split like that the first time on my trees. Eventually on following years the fruits grew to full ripeness and I didn't change any of my watering. I usually only water once a week, unless I see some of my potted plants with dry soil.

pinkturtle

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 862
    • LA county, CA Zone 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Pomelo split issue
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2021, 04:19:01 PM »
pinkturtle, if your fruit splits even when you control your watering (not overwater) it could be just due to the tree fruiting for the first time. I had some pomelo fruits split like that the first time on my trees. Eventually on following years the fruits grew to full ripeness and I didn't change any of my watering. I usually only water once a week, unless I see some of my potted plants with dry soil.

Thanks Kaz, I think that could be it.  My tree is fruiting for the first time.  Hope it is doing better next week.  My tree is Shatian, that I grew it from seed.