I don't know how mine did not split this year, last year they poped before fully ripe, only about halfway there, this year only one had a slight crack on the skin. The plant is getting root bound so maybe there isn't much root pressure with it being on the drier side or maybe because I oiled them or there wasn't significant enough rainfall/moisture to cause it. I have to keep it now, my girlfriend loves it so instead of me chopping it up this year like planned I will have to root prune and transplant into a 30 gallon container.