Removing the fruits VS leaving the fruits

17 years ago

I am now convinced that removing the fruits will enhance growth. You can do this for the first three years of growth.

Last Spring, March 2006 I removed most of the fruits to all of my citrus. I left 2 fruits in one of my Satsumas and hereÂs how it looked like pic taken on May 15 2006. Notice the number of buds sprouted in the branches. Not too many.

And hereÂs her sister Satsuma that I removed all of its fruit.

HereÂs also citrus that I removed all of its fruits.

{{gwi:585313}}

Chandler Pomello

{{gwi:585314}}

This Chandler should have been a typical example because before while it was in a wine barrel and I let it have its fruit, I can count on my fingers the new branches it produced a year. But take a look at it now when I transferred it to the ground and I clipped perhaps 4 fruits on it.

I also have one OroBlanco that is prolific fruit bearer. I just clipped most of its fruit- more than 10 fruit and it has just started to sprout new buds but still too small yet to take pictures.

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Comments (9)

lemon_dreams
17 years ago
All my research points that it is better for the first couple years to pick the fruits off... but its just so hard, esspecially since its my first year with citrus trees. My calamondin is small, but bushy, has several good sized fruits on, also in full bloom and is still pushing out new growth. its a crazy tree... still quite small though. I did pick off the fruit on my key lime, I wanted it to grow a tad bigger... but boy did that hurt. Not sure I vould do it with my other trees though... but in the end, I know I'll end up with a much healthier, larger tree, and more than likly, better fruit.

thanks for showing the pictures, allowing us to SEE the differences rather than just read about them. I'm always in awe of your pictures, your trees are always so amazing.

Betty
bencelest
Original Author
17 years ago
Betty:
I know how you feel Betty.
It took me three years before I actually did it last year. And I did not do it with all of my plants. I did not do this with my calamondin trees because I need all the fruits that I can have for my cooking.
I even advice my friends here that forget what the experts said. We are just hobbyist and what we want is to see beauty of our plants and not growth. Besides I want to taste first the fruits of my plants.
Now that I satisfy my 'hunger' I did what the experts said. And this is the result.
So actually you have two choices and both of them are right. If you want growth, remove the fruits but if you want fruits then leave the fruits on the tree and the tree will take care of itself.
Nature did not ask for humans to intervine with their natural growth.
And thank you for a very nice compliment.

Benny
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softmentor
17 years ago
I have regularly practiced this. I have helped friends plant citrus at the same time I was planting mine and the difference is remarkable. For instance I have a Royal now begining it's 5th year that is 7 feet tall with dense, full leaf cover and last year had well over 100 pieces of fruit. My friends, planted the same time, is about 4 foot and has about a dozen fruits.
The Jews have a law that prohibits "taking any benifit" from a tree for the first 3 years. Guess they knew something.
Arthur the Date Palm Guy
lemon_dreams
17 years ago
I know oranges are suposed to get better with time, so I will, go without for the first 3 years... it seems a long time. my lemons... so far just put out new growth, no fruit... and thats fine too. I'd be happy to see them larger first... least I dont have to pick them off! the one meyer did have fruit on it, but went through a lot of leaf drop so I pulled them off, now, just lots of new growth. my other lemon, ponderosa, is a seedling, granted a big seedling, but still, I dont think is mature. then, I just got a lisbon... its a smaller grafted tree... I doubt to see much from it this year, other than new growth whiich its doing a ton of.

I'm happy with my trees as long as they stay green and continue growing. fruit... will come eventually!
bencelest
Original Author
17 years ago
Here are some of the fruits that I harvested in my yard

Honey and Oroblanco

{{gwi:585319}}

Page Mandarin
{{gwi:561404}}

{{gwi:576897}}

W. Murcott
{{gwi:585322}}
{{gwi:557896}}

Eureka Lemon

{{gwi:585324}}

Calamondin

{{gwi:585326}}

Satsuma

{{gwi:561386}}
another satsuma
a href="http://photobucket.com"; target="_blank">{{gwi:561407}}
dancy
{{gwi:561403}}

Washingto Navel
{{gwi:561382}}

And many more
bencelest
Original Author
17 years ago
Here are some of the fruits that I harvested in my yard

Honey and Oroblanco

{{gwi:585319}}

Page Mandarin
{{gwi:561404}}

{{gwi:576897}}

W. Murcott
{{gwi:585322}}
{{gwi:557896}}

Eureka Lemon

{{gwi:585324}}

Dancy

{{gwi:585328}}

Satsuma

{{gwi:561386}}
another satsuma
a href="http://photobucket.com"; target="_blank">{{gwi:561407}}
Calamondin
{{gwi:561403}}

Washingto Navel
{{gwi:561382}}

And many more
rickjames
17 years ago
Nice job bencelest--what beautiful trees and pictures:)
bencelest
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Arthur, I have not heard from you for a long time?
What's happeining and what's the news with your citrus trees at Date Palm?

And thank you so much for your compliments Rickjames!

Benny
bencelest
Original Author
17 years ago
How can I delete the second batch of pictures that are duplicate of the first ones?