9/28/2009. University of Arizona Maricopa County Extension Service. Where will the trees be planted? Where will the trees be planted?

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1 Ultimate goal is growing citrus YOU desire University of Arizona Maricopa County Extension Service Master Gardener Citrus Session James Truman Where will the trees be planted? Locating the trees Where will the trees be planted? Give the tree room to grow Give tree full sun, but avoid western sun for oranges and grapefruit Most citrus require 12 x 12 area Grapefruit and Pummelo s 16 x 16 area Dwarf citrus require 9 x9 area Determine individual citrus tree adult size before buying or planting Conduct percolation test before digging hole(s) Soil & Water Penetration Soil & Water Penetration 1

2 Citrus Tree Varieties Grapefruit Lemon Lime Kumquat Navel (eating) Washington Navel: Atwood Fisher Newhall Robertson Spring Thompson Cara Cara (pigmented pink) Sweet Variety Size Seeds Type Diller S & M Few J & E Hamlin M 0 6 J & E Marrs M & L 7 10 J Pineapple M J Trovita M & L 6 10 J & E J = Juice E = Eating S = Small M = Medium L = Large Sweet Pigmented or Blood Valencia Size Seeds Type Campbell M 0-6 J & E Olinda M 0 6 J & E Delta (new) Seedless Midknight (new) Seedless Trovita M & L 6 10 J & E Variety Moro Ruby Sanguinella Tarroco Characteristics Mail fail to develop color in AZ heat Same Same Same J = Juice E = Eating S = Small M = Medium L = Large 2

3 Mandarines Tangerines Algerian Size Seeds Type Clementine S & S Few E Dancy* M 6 20 E Fairchild* M Few E Kinnow& M Many J *Trees tend to be alternate bearing J = Juice E = Eating S = Small M = Medium L = Large Tangelos Variety Size Seeds Type Mineola* L 7 12 J & E Orlando** M 0 35 J *Cross pollination is recommended for regular production. Use Dancy, Mandarin ot Kinnow **Cross pollination is recommended for regular production Use Algerian, Dancy or Kinnow J = Juice E = Eating S = Small M = Medium L = Large Grapefruit Variety Color Size Seeds Taste Duncan Yellow L Very good Marsh Yellow L 0 6 Very good Ruby Red Pink L 0 6 Very good Rio Red Med Red L 0 6 Very ygood Texas Star Ruby Red* Dk Red L 0 6 Very good *Not recommended in this AZ area due to sensitivity to heat NOTE: all grapefruit varieties become sweeter if picked later in the ripening season L = Large Lemons Eureka: thornless, more frost sensitive, generally ridged rind surface Lisbon: medium size, prominent nipple, smoother rind Ponderosa: large size, thick peel, often grown as an ornamental Meyer: natural cross between Lemon and orange or mandarin, thin skin, smaller tree Limes Kumquats Mexican Lime (Key Lime): small fruit, excellent flavor for culinary purposes Tahiti (Bearss or Persian): larger than Key lime Palestine Sweet Lime: very low in acid, insipid taste Nagami: bright orange color, more acid taste than Meiwa Meiwa: round fruit with spicy sweet peel. Used for preserves and canned fruit. Kumquats are very frost tolerant 3

4 How to Pick a Citrus Tree Know what you are buying Buy only certified trees that state what the tree variety is exactly. Get the fruit that you want and pay for Look for healthy looking stock that is not dried-out, without t broken branches and excessive pruning. Don t buy topped trees Get certified rootstock Full Size Trees: Troyer Citrange, Carrizo Citrange. C-35 Citrange, Sour Orange, Volkameriana, Rough Lemon. Dwarf Trees: Flying Dragon or Cuban Shaddock Where will the trees be planted? Where will the trees be planted? Planting the tree Water Percolation Test Dig a hole about in diameter Make the hole deep Fill the hole with water Allow water to soak into the ground Refill the hole with water Time to see how long before level drops 12 Good/adequate drainage: 3-12 hours If water does not recede, select another location and repeat test Where will the trees be planted? Planting the tree 4

5 Preventing Sunburn Wrap or paint the truck Soil & Water Penetration Watering & Fertilizing New Trees Watering/Irrigation Micro Sprinkler Flood/Basin Mature Sour Orange on Bubbler in Sun City West Young Citrus on drip system in Sun City West 5

6 Frost Protection Trees should be healthy and not dry Cover with natural material during cold times (not plastic) Provide heat source (water, lights, candles) Pray, if you want, cause you re at the mercy of another power Fertilizing Citrus Publications/videos Guide to Common Nutrient Deficiency and Herbicide Injury Symptoms in Citrus z1007/ Talking Leaves Citrus Maintenance Fertilizer Bag Labels The label tells how much of a nutrient is contained in the fertilizer The analysis (N-P-K) tells how much Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium are in the bag A 5 lb. bag of fertilizer contains 5% Nitrogen (.25 lbs), 10% Phosphate (a form of Phosphorus) and 10% Potash 9a form of Potassium) 6

7 Nitrogen: major nutrient most necessary for citrus Phosphorus & Potassium Nitrogen (N) stimulates leafy growth Excess nitrogen can result in leaf burn, defoliation, thick and tough rinds Apply 3 times each year in February, May and August Fertilizers with the words ammonium, nitrate or urea all contain nitrogen Organics like compost and manure have nitrogen Phosphorus is needed for root growth, blossom and fruit development Potassium promotes flowering and fruit development Both are plentiful in Arizona soils Micronutrients Needed in small amounts for optimal growth Iron Iron chlorosis occurs most commonly during winter or in trees planted in lawns To correct apply iron chelates April-September Zinc Deficiency symptoms mimic iron chlorosis To correct apply zinc salts to soil or foliar zinc chelates to leaves Manganese Deficiency symptoms mimic iron chlorosis To correct apply manganese sulfate to leaves Types of Fertilizers Dry: soluble and slow release Soluble fertilizers are cheap and quick acting but may burn the tree Slow release fertilizers release nutrients slowly in small amounts over time Liquid Preferred for container trees Organic: includes manures & composts May also be used as a mulch May contain salts, best to use as amendment & water well Pest Problems Humans Thrips Woodpeckers Rats Nematodes Mites Orange Dog Caterpillar California Red Scale White Flies Cottony Cushion Scale Citrus Peel Miner 7

8 Citrus Thrip Gila Woodpecker Damage Woodpecker Damage Rattus Rattus Roof Rat Citrus Peel Miner California Red Scale 8

9 Orange Dog Caterpillar Giant Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly Larvae Citrus Diseases Phytophthora Symptoms Phytophtora: soil fungus Alternaria: air-borne fungus Stubborn Disease Wood Rots: Antrodia & Coniophra Citrus Tristeza Virus Mesophyll Collapse Alterniaria citri 9

10 Young Healthy Unpruned Grapefruit Ultimate Pruning Plant and Prune as You Wish 10

11 Container Selection Pots must have drainage holes 15 gallon plastic, clay, stone or ceramic containers are fine (plastic is most lightweight) Placing conainer on a small dolly help mobility Do not fill bottom of pot with rocks or garvel 11