My Citrus Trees
All of my citrus trees are in the ground and from Four Winds growers, so on dwarfing rootstock.
First off, my Washington Navel Orange. This site used to be home of a big liquidambar tree. After removing it, it was repurposed as a housing site for compost while I prepared my side yard for other fruit trees. It got a healthy amount of leftover compost and it has responded in kind. I got it as a 3.4 gallon tree and it has exploded in a year. I pruned the lower branches and tipped of some waterspouts. But the tree keeps producing more shoots.
Comments (8)
bleedingdirt (San Jose, CA Zone 9B)
9 years agoSecond is my Meyer Lemon tree. It was originally in a container for a year where it did really good. I planted it in the ground where it stays in the shade all winter last year. It doesn't seem too happy. One of these days, I'll relocate it to a sunnier spot.
bleedingdirt (San Jose, CA Zone 9B)
9 years agoThird is my Satsuma Mandarin. I bought this as a 7 gallon plant when I knew nothing about growing fruits. I spent a small fortune and this guy has been the worst performer. I planted this tree in the shade too which didn't help. I dug it up last month and it had very little roots. It is obviously in shock but I hope it will do well in a sunnier spot.
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White Washing my citrus trees
Comments (4)I've had sun damage before in New England(MA at the time). I painted my two satsumas because the leaf canopy is limited to the top and the trunk is bare. I just used 50/50 mix of interior latex and water. My lemon tree has far more leaves so I don't bother painting it. Maybe it's overkill but it's a small hassle....See MoreAre my Citrus Trees Terminal?
Comments (7)That just looks like sooty mold on the leaf surface, It is a mold that grows on the honey dew from insects (aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies). The black fungal growth is superficial and can be rub off. You can also first apply a horticultural oil to the leaves then spray it off with a garden hose. The worst thing sooty mold does is block photosynthesis. Insect control is the primary management control....See MoreWhat is wrong with my citrus tree?
Comments (2)That is somewhat reassuring. I was particularly concerned about the leaves in photos 2 and 3. These lighter chlorotic spots on the leaf surface shown in picture 2 have brown spots on the back of them (underside of leaf) like in photo 3. About 25 percent of the foliage is having this problem I would say....See MoreMy citrus trees were infested with spider mites and soil/ fungus gnats
Comments (24)"I don’t open the sliding door as I know citrus trees don’t like a draft, I water when the top inch of soil is dry, I have them in fox farm ocean forest potting soil, and I used neem oil, and hydrogen peroxide. I’ve had two of these trees for four years, they’ve always been okay in this soil, by the door, with the amount of water given, the only change was the pests." don't believe that about drafts...I have some smaller citrus orange and lemon trees out in a greenhouse. It can get to 100 or right now is about 39 with a heater (because its -8 outside) they grow like weeds. Believe me it's a cheap little greenhouse and it's drafty and they are about 5ft tall and have been in there for the last 4-5 years in the winter. I also have one in my garage in the dark for days and days that's about 7 ft..actually I'm going to take a pic..here it is..dang it's cold in there. Probably around 35..looks to need water. I have actually had this one outside a couple times in late January this year during the day when it was mid fifties to grab some sun and forgot to bring it in overnight and it was easily below freezing ..did fine. I have had it in the dark for at least 2 weeks, looks like 53 and 46 next monday & Tuesday so I will give it some sun. Citrus is hardier than you think....See Morebleedingdirt (San Jose, CA Zone 9B)
9 years agoLastly, I bought a Midknight Valencia Orange tree from Home Depot. The tag on the container said FWG, so I'm sure it's a Four Winds Growers' product. I planted it on a mound as that part of the yard drains poorly.
poncirusguy6b452xx
9 years ago
fireballsocal
9 years agobleedingdirt (San Jose, CA Zone 9B)
9 years agoponcirusguy6b452xx
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoI thought 4 winds used Cuban shadock.
bleeding dirt
Don't commend us with to much seriousness. We get very little fruit for the trouble and money spent. I just had such good luck with figs and saw nursery adds and Garden forum threads that emphasized just how easy citrus trees were to grow, that I planted 400 seeds and off I went. 4 sweetlee tangerine trees, 2 poncirus trifoliata and 1 kumquat tree are all that are left. If you want to see how little fruit people get off their northern potted trees, check out the thread.
I can't think of any reason to grow citrus colder than zone 8b. The only reason I keep mine is I can't bear to cut them down. See pics of my 2 year old sweetlee tangerine trees from seed
Sweelee tangerine tree. seed growm
evdesert 9B Indio, CA