Expert: James Shellenback - 7/4/2009

Question
I have a lemon tree and it has abundant fruit,but when cut open I find the lemons have a brown discoloration as if bruised, I spread fruit tree fertilizer around the tree line last year thinking lack of fertilizer was the problem but it doesn't appear to have cured the problem can you help please???
Peter S Barnes

Answer
Peter

The brown you are seeing is probably a fungus making its way in to the fruit itself.  Your problems are systemic and you need to raise the brix levels in your tree.  Fertilizer will sometimes do the trick but it may also sometimes make matters worse.  I would recommend a systemic flushing with a product caled Atomic Grow.  Its only available in the U.S. though.  

You may try aereating the soil aroung the tree line with a long rod.  Push it down about a foot deep in several places.  

Atomicgrow.com
atomicgrow.net