As I am watching my Navels splitting this season...

If I understand correctly:
While the exact causes of fruit split are unknown,
1) fruit split is associated with water stress: drought followed by rain may trigger fruit split;
2)thin-skinned fruit is more susceptible.

So, the question I was trying to figure out is whether fruit split may be affected by the rootstock properties. My little theory (that may be totally wrong) is that more vigorous rootstock may result in quicker water uptake that may worsen fruit split. If this is correct, than less vigorous stocks (FD?) should make trees less affected by fruit split. I tried searching the forum but did not find answers. Any thoughts? Am I completely wrong?

While I can't place it at the moment, I have read that trifoliate and trifoliate-type rootstocks can reduce splitting. It certainly makes intuitive sense.

It also has been said that as the tree matures the splitting greatly dimenishes.

I can tell you that the only tree I have a problem with fruit split is my Variegated Cara cara & it is on flying dragon.

My US 119 is splitting.

Not any on my Cara Cara but my Fremont has some.

elsedgwick,

thank you very much for the input! My Navel is on Sour Orange, so I keep thinking that FD would be a much better choice.

Darkman,

I read too that more mature plants suffer less splitting. On the other hand, neighbor's mandarin that is a seedling of unknown thin-rind cultivar has maaany fruits split this year. My guess is that the tree is between 15 and 20 years old. Mine is a bit over two.

Hershell,

is your US-119 a thin-skin variety?

Laaz,

how are your other Navels doing? I assume you have more than one, right? Do you think that Variegated citrus may be more susceptible to split?

GT
Yes US 119 is a thin skinned with a lot of trifoliate parentage even with a little of the smell and taste if you try to eat it too early.

My experience is that when plants are not kept watered during dry periods and when heavy rains come all fruit are subject to splitting. This year I have had very few split. during dry periods my trees were watered at least twice weekly until water actulay stood under the trees.

Bonnie,

thank you very much! I was watering Navel twice per week too. It is on a drip system, so water never stands. I thought that 2 Ga per watering should be enough since the tree was planted just over two years ago and is still not very big.

I probably lost 2/3 of my Daisy mandarins to splitting last yr--less this yr. We had a dry period before heavy rains last yr and then even more dry and then wet periods. This yr it was just wet all yr until the last month.

I have had this for the last 2 seasons with my Page mandarin, while my Cara Cara right next to it never splits. Both are on their 3rd year, and all citrus is on drip, which I will dial up when we get a heat wave, then dial down when our rainy season starts (or turn off entirely). So, hoping my Page will settle down in the next year or two. On C35. Also, it is a PROLIFIC setter, and I am going to thin next season, so I can see if that helps reduce the splitting and also encourages larger fruit. Even though I have splitting issues and small fruit, it is exceptionally delicious, makes absolutely the best juice of all my fruits. Love that tree.

Skeet and Patty,

thank you for your inputs! I hope our splitting problems will get much better in the next few seasons. I absolutely love my Navel too and have no plans to give up on it.