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Split Pit
Split pit of peaches is a problem for Pennsylvania growers, particularly with early maturing cultivars. Cultivars such as Candor or Garnet Beauty may have 25 to 50 percent split pits, especially if overthinned. The term normally refers to the opening of the pit at the stem and splitting of fruit. This split becomes evident during the third stage of fruit growth, the final swell. However, the weakening of the pit that leads to opening at the stem end probably occurs in the latter stages of pit hardening.Fruit with split pit generally develops rot much faster than sound fruit. Also, by federal grade standards, split pit is considered a defect. Some level of split pit in most cultivars is normal, especially in early maturing cultivars. Early cultivars such as Candor may have 25 to 50 percent split pits, especially if overthinned.