![]() |
|
Spring is the Time, |
April 17, 2013 |
Fresh picked oranges, juiced just minutes after you harvest them from the trees in your backyard. Now that's delicious and it is easier than you think. Kerby's has lots of citrus trees in stock now, waiting to make your backyard grove a reality. If you think your yard is too small, Kerby's has a solution to that: dwarf citrus trees. These trees produce full-sized fruits, but only grow five to six feet tall. Perfect for small yards, patios or even apartments. So whether you like a grapefruit with breakfast or make the best key lime pie in town, Kerby's has a citrus tree for you. Come check them out on the Fruit Walk, along with all of the other yummy fruit trees. It will definitely tantalize your taste buds. See below for information on growing and caring for citrus trees, and don't miss this Saturday's Citrus Workshop.
|
In This Issue
While Supplies Last Waterlilies & Venus Fly Traps are in
| |||||||
Avocados Persea americana
|
||||||||
Growing Delicious Citrus
Below are some simple tips for growing great citrus. They really are
one of the easiest fruits to grow in this area and offer you great nutrition,
too.
Planting - Citrus trees don't mind our sandy soil because it
keeps them from getting too wet, but they do need some rich material that
can hold some water and nutrients close to the root system. For a 5 Gallon citrus tree, we recommend using one
bag of our Kerby's Planting soil when installing new trees. See our planting instructions for more
detailed information. Citrus must be planted in an area that drains
well; they will not tolerate wet soil or standing water.
Watering
- Fruit split, fruit drying, blossom drop and other problems with citrus
are often caused by poor watering practices. Newly planted trees should be watered
daily for the first month, every other day in the second month and twice
weekly in the third month. Thereafter trees should receive at least an inch
of water per week over the entire root system. Did you know that a mature
citrus tree can use up to 90 gallons of water per week! If mother nature is
not supplying the water in the form of rain, make sure you are watering your
trees to keep them healthy and the fruit juicy.
What goes underneath a citrus tree? The short answer is nothing!
Citrus have shallow root systems, with up to 90% of their roots being in the
top two feet of soil. This means that any flowers or even grass will compete
with the tree for nutrients. The healthiest trees are kept free of weeds,
grass and mulch underneath.
Fertilizing
- Just like us, citrus trees need their nutrients. For the first year,
fertilize monthly with a complete, balanced fertilizer such as Kerby's
8-4-8. This fertilizer contains all of the important micronutrients, such as
iron, manganese and zinc, which are all important for plant health and fruit
development. In the second year and beyond, fertilize three times per year
(spring, summer and fall). Spread the fertilizer evenly from the trunk
of the tree out to the drip line.
|
||||||||
Upcoming Events
Workshop:
Growing Delicious Citrus
Citrus are a staple fruit tree in Florida. From oranges to
tangerines, and lemons to limes there is a wide variety of
citrus to suit everyone's tastes. At this workshop, we'll
discuss planting and care of citrus trees and what you can
do to get the best harvests.
Workshop:
Container Gardening
A beautiful pot adds
amazing color to any porch, patio or pool area. Now fill it with amazing
flowers and you've really got something to be proud of! Come out to this
workshop and learn how to create lovely combinations and how to plant
containers properly for the happiest, healthiest flowers. What a great
workshop to bring mom out to . . . don't forget mother's day is just around
the corner and a container garden might just be the perfect gift.
|
||||||||
|
Kerby's Nursery 2311 S. Parsons Ave. Seffner, FL 33584 (813) 685-3265 www.kerbysnursery.com |
|