From our Garden to Yours
May 13, 2010
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From our Garden to Yours |
May 13, 2010 |
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Mmmm . . citrus are always delicious, but they are even better when they are picked from your own backyard tree. Come out this Saturday at 10am for our Citrus Workshop to learn how easy it is to have your own little grove.
Happy Gardening, |
In This Issue |
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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. Don't miss this weekend's workshop on Citrus Care to really jumpstart
your citrus know-how.
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 in the root system. On most of our 5 Gallon citrus trees, 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.
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Kerby's Nursery 2311 S. Parsons Ave. Seffner, FL 33584 (813) 685-3265 www.kerbysnursery.com |
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