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1st 'Cara Cara' of the season

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

9 years ago

I didn't think it would be ripe but it was quite tasty. A few fell off the tree. Planted around January 2012. This is the 2nd year of fruit. We got about 10 last year. We had terrible and constant heat from the 2nd week in August to the 3rd week in October, apparently the tree enjoyed it.

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Comments (9)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is the tree. It is on 'Flying Dragon' root stock. There are only about 30 fruits, but pretty good for a youngster.
cory (Zone 7a, NJ)
9 years ago
Very pretty tree and fruit.

Cory
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I don't think fertilizer or pH issues are causing the splitting. This is usually due to either the after effects of some freeze damage or, possibly the trunk is getting wet repeatedly, and you're seeing some foot rot going on. Get rid of all that grass, make sure your tree is not being hit by lawn sprinklers, and pull the mulch away from the trunk. Be sure the trunk is not the lowest part of the water well, but that a water well will cause the water to pool in a ring around the tree at the tree's drip line. Patty S.
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I think it depends on what environment(s) or climate your tree will be living in. Not knowing too much about Michigan's climate (I assume this because of the MSU part of your - Michigan State University?) I may not be the most qualified to answer this. I'll just assume for the most part the tree will live inside for most of the year- 6-8months?. If this correct, AL's mix is probably perfect for your tree. AL's mix is best for indoor/outdoor trees spending most of there time in partial or some shade when outside(around 6hours of direct sun). If your tree is exposed to much more light(10hours+) you will find AL's mix is not Ideal for your tree. It will dry out too quickly. As with any soil type, its a balancing act. Not all soils are good at everything. So, as long as you have an indoor/outdoor tree and when outdoor it receives medium about of direct light it should thrive in that mix. The depth of the root crown is not low enough. It's probably not enough to require a re-pot but, that's probably the best thing to do. If you don't want to re-pot you can push some soil up around the crown to cover it, creating a small pyramid type shape. As far as fertilization rates Its probably best to fertilize once a week and allow runoff, and in between watering with no fertilizer allow for minimum runoff. This way, for the most part the fertilizer is not washed away on in between waterings. Of course watch the tree and adjust as necessary.
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Hi Laura, thank you! I can't believe how much it has grown in 2 years either. As for the variegated branch, no it did not flower this season, I'm hoping it does next season. My tree has 4 fruit left on it, this is the first season it produced. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get double that amount of fruit next year. The fruits that are on the tree now are very heavy, they're weighing the branches down and the fruit is almost sitting on the ground. I will probably have to support the branches before too long to keep them off the ground. I'm tempted to plant another Cara Cara where I just pulled the seedless kishu out of the ground. They seem to do well in the desert, every time we have a heat wave it pushes out a bunch of new growth. Laura can we see a photo of your Cara Cara? Evan
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What Silica said. Then, remove that much more. The absolute WORST place you can plant a citrus tree is in a lawn. If this tree is being hit by your lawn sprinklers, it will just be a matter of time before it develops foot rot, due to constantly having the trunk be hit by water. You may be better off moving it to a non-lawn area. Treat with an appropriate product for Citrus Leafminer PRIOR to evidence of disease (search our forum for both Imidacloprid systemic options which as not organic, and Spinosad/Hort oil such as Neem or Volck, which is). I'm not sure why you think your low fruit is "bad"?? It isn't, just leave it and enjoy it when it's ripe this late winter/early spring. It does pay to leave your Cara Cara on the tree a little longer than is stated out there, especially on younger trees. At least, this has been my personal experience. They seem to need a bit more time to sweeten up, but when they're at their peak, they are delectable. My favorite navel orange hand's down. And, they make a beautiful fruit salad, the flesh is so pink. Now, comment to make - your lawn appears to be absolutely spectacular (can't say mine looks this nice, you clearly know how to grow a beautiful lawn). This leads me to think you're probably putting down a fair amount of insecticides, fungicides, etc., that may not be labeled for edible use. Your citrus tree will be soaking up all those chemicals, and will be in the fruit. So, think about what you're applying to your lawn, because those chemicals will be in your fruit. I try to stay organic as much as I can (with some specific exceptions I have to make). That way, I KNOW what I'm eating. So, think about what's going down on that lawn, because it's being taken up by your Cara Cara and will be in the fruit you eat from that tree. Patty S.
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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
9 years ago
Wow, hoovb. That is ONE very very happy Cara Cara on FD. Amazingly large and robust. I am so jealous of everyone's Cara Caras. Oddly none for me this year, and I had a ton last year. And they were outstanding.

Patty S.
axier - Z10, Basque Country (Spain)
9 years ago
Nice tree! I have one young Cara Cara, no fruits yet.
Patty, I thought that Cara Cara was not alternant, but it seems as yours is.
By the way, how long CC stays well on the tree once ripened?
MrClint
9 years ago
Looking good, hoovb. I really like the setting.
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
9 years ago
Axier, it is not. Usually. But, if you let a tree carry too much fruit, and, if you do not pick the fruit quickly (because there is SO much fruit), you can force any citrus tree to alternate bear to some degree. This tree decided to not bear anything this year. And, it is very robust and healthy. I was shocked, frankly, as it has been consistently bearing since I planted it. They can stay on the tree for a couple of months. I've left it on longer, and this is probably what caused it not to bear this year.

Patty S.
axier - Z10, Basque Country (Spain)
9 years ago
Thanks Patty.
What is strange is that suddenly, last year it "decided" enough!
The good thing is that, probably, it will fruit in abundance next year.
It is said that with late navel varieties (Lane Late, Rohde, Barnfield, Chislett, Powell...) it is not advisable to leave many ripened fruits after fruit set because it penalizes next year crop.
I have read in another forum from a home citrus grower of Santa Cruz Mountains (Climate Zone: sunset 15) that he left Lane Late orange even until October, which was in the sweetest point, it was delicious according his words.
I have a similar climate to Santa Cruz, so probably I will have to leave my late navels several months after fruit set.
Currently I have one young Chislett tree but I'm thinking in plant two Chislett orange trees and assume and alternate bearing for them.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
9 years ago
What a handsome tree that will give and give for many years!

Is that leaf miner damage toward the top?

I hear Cara Cara makes just great juice!
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
9 years ago
Yes, Axier, in the cooler areas it helps to leave navels on a little longer. I am zone 23, and get just enough coastal influence to moderate my warm summer temps. So, sometimes certain things don't ripen quite as fast as warmer zones. Especially my grapefruits, so I tend to leave them on a bit longer. Valentine pummelo is a really good example. They are supposed to be ready in February, but mine are much better a month later. Rio Red grapefruit as well, and to some degree, my Cara Caras. This weekend I'm going to go back up to my Cara Cara and look harder. The tree is so dense, there could be some fruit hiding that I can't see because they haven't colored up, yet. That happened with my Red Smith Valencia, which I've had in the yard for 4 years, now, with no fruit. Large, super super robust tree, but no fruit. I thought. As I was walking back down my front slope, I happened to glance back at the tree and caught 3 or 4 ripening fruits down at the base of the tree. So, first Red Smith valencias this year from this tree. Looking forward to see how pigmented they are compared to my Moros, Sanguinelli and Taroccos.

Patty S.

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