According to an internet search, its citrus canker, or something like that. A fungal thing, and what I found suggested that infected trees need to be destroyed. Or maybe an iron deficiency.
Y’alls have any thoughts? The tree is in a pot, as I think our winter is too cold for plant it out, but its outside from March to November. And outside mostly from Nov to Feb, only inside on those nights that dip too low. I did repot it into a bigger post last month and gave it some fertilizer, and I at first thought I’d put in too much, but the spots are not starting at the edges, but the middle of leaves. The leaves have gotten “leathery” which I saw first, then the spots.
I have a fungicidal spray I could use, as this is 2.5 years of work to get this tree this far. Or do I just leave it alone? I’d love to hear y’alls thoughts!
Hi Rachel, how do you plan to locally adapt lemon trees to your context? If you use fungicides, then you will select for lemon trees that need that treatment - assuming you’re saving seeds in the first place - and you’ll not be able to see which trees might have some resistance and could be used as seed sources.
This is the only lemon tree I have. I’ve been saving seeds and figured when this one starts producing fruit, I’ll save seeds and begin the process of adapting then. But it hasn’t produced fruit yet.
I’ve not yet treated or done anything, other than leave it alone and keep it properly watered. It is cooling off here, finally, so there are a lot of circumstances and environmental changes, thus I’m not moving fast on doing anything at all.
If it were iron related you would see more yellowing along the veins. And I think citrus canker would probably have more variation in color including browning and even texture differences.
. Still I loved listening to this podcast.