THE FUTURE OF LEMONS ON THE PENINSULA: WHY AN URGENT “REFORM” IS NEEDED
Lemon cultivation in the Sorrento Peninsula and along the Amalfi Coast is going through a critical phase. Despite the landscape, historical, and commercial value of these areas, current agronomic conditions reveal major structural problems: outdated orchards, recurring plant health issues, inadequate water management, and the gradual abandonment of modern cultivation techniques. Video The outcome is evident: tired plants, irregular yields, inconsistent fruit quality, and a growing loss of competitiveness. To prevent the definitive decline of one of the symbols of Italian citrus growing, a decisive change of direction is required. Video The solution proposed by Agronomist Vito Vitelli is clear and unequivocal: a true “reform pruning,” understood not as a simple cutting operation, but as a complete rethinking of the cultivation system 1. Overcoming the inefficiency of “giant” trees One of the main problems of historic orchards lies in excessively developed trees, often...