Question
In Queensland we have had drought conditions for 5 years however it has broken within the last month. Citrus trees, planted in deco(decomposed granite soil)have leaves which have flourished and look bright and healthy and fruit that has ripened a little early and the skins have a pale brown to orangey colour. If left on the tree the fruit now seems to dry out and the skin becomes papery and peels off. As there appears to be no disease on the foliage and the fruit inside seems to be OK (i.e. at that stage of it's development) we are at a loss to explain the strange colourations and resultant papery skin peel. We are thinking extensive years of drought with a years annual rainfall in one month may have occasioned the change.

Can anyone help?

Regards
Linda

Answer
Hi Linda, you should be watering a citrus tree weekly, especially when there is no rain.  A citrus will pull the water out of the fruit to survive.  No rain and then allot of rain can cause the fruit to burst open and split.  It sounds to me that the problem is caused by the drought by not getting enough water.  Hopefully the drought is over and the next crop will come out fine as long as you give it extra water during droughts.