Question by Marianna C.
My lemons have rough darkish skin, why? I'm in Brisbane, thanks!
Sarah's answer
Hi Marianna,
It would seem your lemon tree has a fungal disease called Melanose. Infection is more likely in rainy hot weather when the tree is flowering or when the fruit is young. The disease has an increased frequency in older trees as it can harbour in dead wood within the tree, so pruning to remove the dead branches can help.
You won’t fix this season’s lemons but you can preventatively spray with a copper based oil spray as a good control method for next season, but the timing is important. Spray in mid to late September when half to three quarters of the petals have fallen. It may be necessary to spray again so follow the directions on the spray packet. Also use good hygiene practices in the garden and use clean tools and dispose of infected materials by burning or disposing in the rubbish, but not with your compost.
I hope this helps.
Cheers Sarah
