Blame Nutrient Imbalance for Deformed Fruit

Q: I am in Zone 8b (South Carolina) — should I prune my 3-year-old Meyer lemon plant in January to stimulate more growth in spring? It has lots of lime green leaves, but it bore large deformed fruit last spring. How can I rectify this?

A: I think January is a bit early in Zone 8b to prune. You risk frost damage to new growth. Wait till February or March. A couple of factors cause deformed fruit. The major one is the nutrient balance in the soil. Too much nitrogen or too little phosphorus can cause malformed fruit. A disease called lemon scab is a common cause, too. Have the soil tested by the local extension office, and make it a habit to spray the tree with a homeowner copper fungicide after its fruit is gone each year.