Fruit Splitting

 

Several factors may cause fruit to split. The most common cause of cracking/splitting is water. If the fruit is repeatedly wetted by rain or sprinkler water, the drops that hang on the tip of the fruit will lead to cracking. The fruit apparently absorbs this water unevenly, resulting in a crack at the blossom-end. Another water-related cause is irregular and/or excessive irrigation as the fruit ripens or even during development. I have seen green oranges split on the tree as the result of a thorough irrigation after a dry spell. Irregular watering causes growth spurts. The flesh of the fruit will take up water faster than the skin can grow to accommodate. This causes cracking, usually at the tip. The same phenomenon occurs when the plant is repeatedly excessively watered. Other factors that may cause fruit splitting are insect injury and insect residues. If an insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts punctures the fruit, scar tissue may develop at the puncture site. This tissue will not grow. Thus, as the fruit grows, a pucker or tear may develop at the puncture wound. Honeydew deposits are basically a concentrated sugar solution on the surface of the fruit. The differential osmotic pressures set up by the presence of a honeydew deposit may cause the fruit to crack under the deposit. Since water (usually too much) is the most common cause of fruit splitting, try reducing the amount and/or frequency of irrigation slightly as the fruit approaches maturity. Hopefully, this will cure your problem.