Q.
Hello, I am an amateur gardener and have a lemon tree that has lots of fruit but the leaves are covered in yellowish nodules and they are crumpling up. The fruit is flavoursome but the white of the skin is quite powdery while the outer skin is looking like a case of tiny acne with thin brown lines. What do you recommend I do? Thanks, Rachel.
A.
The lumpy fruit and distorted foliage is caused by a fungus disease called verrucosis. It is prevalent in citrus and by spraying the tree when it has finished flowering with copper oxychloride until it starts to bud and flower will help prevent the disease.
The damage caused by verucosis is largely cosmetic. The fruit flavour is fine, and the fruit usually juicy, it just doesn’t make the fruit look very appetising. As the disease distorts the foliage there is reduced plant vigour but it generally doesn’t kill a plant. In the photos you sent through, the tree looks like it has grass growing right up to the trunk of the tree, the tree will be competing with the grass for water and nutrients. Try and remove the grass from around the tree to the drip line of the tree.
Regular feeding with Tui Citrus Food, watering and mulching will help the tree become more resistant to pests and diseases. Regular applications of Seasol plant tonic will also be beneficial to your tree.
Read more top tips for successful citrus here >
Post a comment
What are the thin brown lines on my lemons? Comments
Hello I have a number of citrus trees and they are for ever having problems. If its not the leaves turning yellow, its the fruit turning black after flowering or the trees not growing at all. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Jess
Hi Jess, we suggest you try a combined feeding, pruning and insect control approach to reinvigorating your citrus. First prune out any spindly and dead growth to allow more light into the centre of the plants, next fertilise each tree with specific citrus fertiliser, this will stimulate new growth. Next gently water blast or using a jet setting on your hose, try to squirt / remove the black sooty mound off the branches. Once this is done, the majority of your insect problems should be reduced, and you can treat any insect problems with a organic insect spray. Apply Tui organic seaweed tonic once a month too boost the trees too. All the best ^Tui Team
jenna
I have several citrus that never have any fruit. They look healthy but never have fruit.
Althea
Hi Althea, without knowing where you live or where your citrus is planted it is hard to say exactly why they are not fruiting. All citrus requires a position in full sun, plenty of moisture over the summer months and a free draining soil. They do not cope with long cold periods or thrive in frosty areas. Fertilise in spring with specific citrus fertiliser. In some cases, a light prune in mid spring can stimulate fresh growth which leads to flowers then fruit. All the best. ^Tui Team
jenna