Citrus fruits are not only very popular in the supermarket, the plants are extremely popular among gardeners. The fruits are tasty and refreshing, the flowers are extraordinarily fragrant and the plants themselves are visually pleasing.
Grow Citrus Just About Anywhere
Citrus will grow in almost any climate. Although commercial citrus production stretches from Florida west across the entire Gulf Coast, across Arizona and up into California, gardeners succeed in growing citrus in Manitoba, Maine and all places in between.
Some species have higher cold tolerance than others do. Warm areas, such as a southwestern hillside or the southwestern side of a building, also may provide protection for some of the cold-tolerant varieties. Many gardeners in colder zones plant citrus in containers and move them inside or to protected sites during cold periods.
Citrus Are Evergreen
Citrus are unusual among fruit trees because they may bear flowers and fruit at the same time. They are also evergreen. Most fruit trees store their food in their roots. However, citrus trees store most of their food in the leaves. Any stress that causes them to drop their leaves will severely damage (and probably kill) them.
Temperature Sensitive
Citrus trees go dormant when temperatures drop below 56F. Once they go dormant, they can bear up during short cold periods easier. However, just a short period of warm weather (a few days) can bring them out of dormancy. A cold snap after that can seriously damage the plant.
Site Selection
Plant citrus in a protected site, out of the wind and in a warm, sunny spot. In cooler northern areas, plant citrus against a south wall, and preferably on a slight slope (since cold air is heavier than warm air, colder air will flow down the slope, away from the tree).
Planting Citrus
Citrus trees, like many plants, prefer well-drained soil. Additionally, if soil is too damp, soil-borne fungus diseases may attack and damage the plant.
Dig a hole about the same depth as the nursery container and twice the diameter. Citrus can grow well in most soils except heavy clay or very sandy soil. Adding organic matter to these types of soil will help improve the soil structure and give the plant a much better change of maturing and fruiting.
In areas where the soil is especially wet, create a berm of amended soil, as high as the top of the nursery container and about four times as wide in diameter. Plant the citrus tree in the middle of the berm.
Citrus Care
Citrus trees need water. Water well, but irregularly.
Mulch, and keep the ground around the plant free from debris. Add new mulch regularly. Pine straw works particularly well.
Harvesting
Allow citrus to ripen on the tree. The longer it stays on the tree the sweeter the fruit will be. That doesn’t mean leave it on the tree forever. However, when the citrus fruit begins to look like fruit they’re supposed to look like. That sounds pretty simplistic, but when a navel orange grows to the size, shape and color of a navel orange, then it’s time to pick the fruit. Pick one and taste test the fruit.
There are lots of citrus flavors, from tart lemons to sweet oranges. They work well in jellies, jams and marmalades. They are great for flavoring drinks, can be used to overcome unpleasant odors, and are used in cleaning.
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