Growing citrus Trees—Indoors!

 

            Hi everybody and welcome! Almost everybody likes the fresh taste of citrus whether it be oranges, grapefruits or tangerines. Sometimes the sweetest most delicious fruit can come from trees that you raised yourself in your own backyard. Today, I am going to talk about growing citrus in your backyard and indoors!

            When most people pick out their favorite oranges or grapefruit at the grocery store, usually the first think they think about is Florida. This delicious fruit was in introduced to our wonderful state in 1565 by Spanish explorers. To top it off, the Orange Blossom is also our state flower. Most of the fruit that is produced in out state is not in South Florida but is in Central Florida in an area that we refer to as growing Zone 9. The reason for this is that in order for the fruit to get its sugar sweet taste, the fruit must be subject to a period of cool temperatures. While growers welcome cool weather, freezing temperatures for more then 4 hours can cause damage to the fruit.

            There are many varieties of citrus available and it is mainly a selection of your own personal choice that should determine which flavor you should buy. Look for healthy trees that have dark green foliage and no signs of disease or insects. Once you make your purchase, it is time to take your prize home and have some fun.

            Citrus like to be planted in areas that have good drainage and a full day of sun. If the area you have chosen for planting floods during heavy rain, build up the ground with some topsoil to keep the roots as much above the water as possible. When planting your tree use a good quality topsoil and be sure you do not plant in an area that will be affected by your sprinkler system. Citrus trees do not like excess water and this can also lead to dry fruit. Do not be tempted to water your tree too often and also remember to keep the area around the tree clear of any grass or mulch. Any of these circumstances can cause potentially lethal fungus diseases to destroy your tree. You should also keep weeds away from the base of your trees to be sure proper drainage is established.

            Another critical ingredient for good citrus growth is fertilizer. Choose a good quality citrus food that has minor elements. You also should apply a minor element spray that contains such ingredients as iron, boron and manganese.

            One mistake that many citrus trees owners do is try to prune their trees. The truth is that citrus trees should never be pruned. You should just let the trees shed their branches naturally. Thunderstorm winds and tropical systems will naturally prune the tree as it sheds its branches.

            For those of you that have limited yard space or live in an apartment, you can purchase dwarf citrus trees that you can grow in a sunny window or on a balcony. You can purchase these trees in Turnpike gift shops, airport gift shops and at gift shops in many of our tourist areas. You can also buy them online. Once you bring your plant home, plant it immediately so it does not stay in the box for long. You should initially plant it in about an 8-inch diameter pot that has good drainage. Use a good quality potting soil such as Miracle Gro. Once your tree is well established in the pot, you can transplant your tree in a 5 to 25 gallon container. Remember, the larger the container you use, the bigger the plant will get.

            Unlike citrus trees planted in the ground, container trees will need frequent watering and occasional pruning. When your tree is young, if you prune a couple of inches off the top, it will allow the tree to spread out some instead of growing tall and skinny. Do not allow the tree to sit in a saucer filled with water. Be sure to drain the water from your saucer if you use one.

            If you have a balcony, you can put your tree outside to get much needed sunlight. If you keep it indoors, choose a location near a sunny window.

            The fruit that is produced from these small trees will be small and usually is not as sweet as it’s larger counterparts but the fruit is great in jellies and also for adding flavor to drinks.

            Next week I will talk a little about a disease that could potentially wipe out our citrus population. That disease is canker. I will see you next week  with more great garden tips!