How to grow citrus at home Citrus cultivation and planting techniques

If you want to eat fresh fruits, you can drive to the orchard to pick them. But if you want to eat fresh and pollution-free fruits, it seems more secure to grow them yourself. Today I will introduce Learn about citrus cultivation techniques and teach you how to grow citrus at home. As long as the climate is warm enough, citrus trees are actually easy to grow. Follow the steps below and you may be able to eat sweet and delicious citrus grown by yourself.

Method/Steps

1. 1Choose a location to plant trees. A warm, sunny, south or west facing location is best. If cooling is a concern, having some shade is also great. Choose or get yourself a piece of land with good drainage, and never plant the tree on a lawn. A somewhat reflective wall, fence or even patio can provide both shade and extra warmth.
2. 2Select a tree.
   • Choose a type of citrus tree you want to grow (orange, lemon, grapefruit, etc.).
   • Ask the nursery person what climate the tree you selected is best suited for.
   • Ask or check when the fruit you want is ripe. Generally citrus trees bear fruit in winter, but different species can bear fruit at various times of the year.
   • If you live in a climate that is colder than a typical Mediterranean climate, look for some cold-hardy varieties.
   • If you have the chance, taste the fruit first. Not all citrus tastes the same. Its better to taste the fruit in or near your area.
   • Find out whether the fruit is multi-seeded.
   • Remember to ask for a health assessment of the tree, or ask someone who has grown citrus trees to look at it for you. See warning section for details.
3. 3Choose a tree that is the right size for your environment. Ask someone at the nursery or go online to find out how big the tree will be when it grows.
   • If you have a small space, plant small citrus trees. You can even grow them in large clay pots, and perhaps cover the entire fragile tree over the winter or move it directly into the house. Although small, miniature citrus trees can produce quite a lot of fruit.
   • In contrast, some large lemon trees make good shrubby hedges. How you choose depends entirely on how much fruit you want.
4. 4Dig a big hole. Before digging, you need to know where to plant the tree, and then dig a hole about 1 meter in diameter and the same depth. Do not bury the root crown (the transition area between the trunk and roots) as this can cause problems for the road surface. Planting the tree slightly higher than the surrounding soil will make it more stable. The soil where most citrus trees are grown contains a lot of organic matter that will decompose. If the tree is not planted higher, it will easily cause the root crown to sink.
   • If you are concerned about drainage problems, such as in clay soil, fill the hole with water first and see how long it takes to drain. If there are drainage problems (i.e. the water has not drained out by the next morning), dig the hole deeper and plant the tree higher.
   • Choose a large clay pot for your small citrus tree. It should be at least 60cm in diameter or as big as half a bucket.
5. 5Refill part of the pit with well-drained soil. Depending on the quality of the soil you took out of the pit, you can try to mix a one-to-one soil mix with new loose soil. Make a mound of soil in the middle of the hole to support the root ball with the root crown (the bottom of the trunk where the roots begin).
   • If you like, mix a little citrus fertilizer into the soil.
   • If you have small or medium-sized citrus in a jar, place the clay directly in it at about the same height as the jar. Place the jar on the bricks, making sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Do not place jars directly on dishes or sinks.
6. 6Take the tree out of the jar you bought and remove the cloth from the roots. Place the tree on the mound. Add or remove a little soil below to adjust the height, ensuring that the root crown is level with the soil or slightly higher.
7. 7Use compost or a mixture of clay and yard soil to remove leftovers Fill the pit below.
   • If you grow in a pot, just fill it with clay. Leave at least five centimeters at the top to ensure water penetration.
8. 8Be sure to use mulch.
   • Do not use organic mulch as it can easily lead to root rot.
   • It is best to make the root system as wide as the branches and leaves, so the mulch should be at least the same size. You can even put a border around the mulch to help with watering.
   • Do not protect the roots of tree trunks. Leave a little space so the root crown can breathe and not get too wet when watered.
9. 9Water once a week until the tree is fully alive, unless there is sufficient rain during this period. Water mature trees regularly. Citrus trees have shallow and wide root systems. Once fully alive, the tree can grow slightly drier, but will not fruit normally.
10. 10Choose appropriate fertilizer for fertilization. Citrus or citrus avocado fertilizers can be used. Use according to the instructions on the bag. Fertilizers that evaporate slowly are generally used for one year.Three to four times.
11. 11Occasionally prune citrus trees. Don't prune excessively or too often.
    • Remove any "straws" or shoots growing from the roots. Citrus trees are grafted, which means that the fruit-bearing tree is cut down and grafted onto a trunk with strong roots. So there is no need for the roots to be too developed.
    • Remove any wild shoots that protrude from the overall tree shape. They are usually very long and straight and grow very quickly and do not keep up with the overall shape of the tree.
    • Properly prune the branches and leaves if they grow too densely, so that they can better provide oxygen and light.
    • Typically, prune citrus trees as you would a shrub or hedge. If you don't want to remove the bottom branches and want the tree to look more lush, thats fine, but don't overdo it.
12. 12Pick the fruit after it is fully mature. Oranges, lemons, and grapefruits must be fully ripe to the point where there is no hint of green at all. The fruit will not fall when ripe. Lime harvests are generally still green, so judge whether it’s time to harvest based on size and season. About Lyme, click on the link to learn more.

Tips

• Don't forget about the rare citrus fruits.Growing your own is a great way to grow rare fruits. If you like, try growing kumquats, blood oranges, mandarins, oranges or grapefruits.
  • Some specific citrus varieties require special care. Lemons, limes, grapefruits, and oranges are bred into many varieties, so you'll likely find some that suit your environment and needs. As with other species, it is useful to know more about the particular species of interest. Try using a search engine to find out what kind you need and how to grow them.
  • Don’t put off planting other trees because of this, be sure to learn some relevant knowledge before planting.
• Most citrus flowers begin in early winter and continue in spring, then produce small green fruits that grow through summer and fall, but some all-season varieties, especially lemons, are available. They may not bear fruit all year round, but at least the fruiting season will be longer.
• Don’t not plant a citrus tree just because you think it will take a long time to bear fruit. Theres absolutely no need to do this. You may even find trees in nurseries that bear very little fruit. If you don’t have a crop the first two years, don’t give up.
• To give your newly planted citrus tree a fresh start, you may want to remove the first years fruit (i.e. pick some as they begin to grow). This allows the tree to invest its first years nutrients in strengthening roots and leaf growth rather than in fruiting, making it more likely to produce more fruit in the future.
• Look for a "Fruit Salad Tree" or if you're adventurous, create a new one yourself. It is possible to graft citrus trees onto many other types of citrus trees. Its possible to get a more fragile and less productive tree, but you can also get oranges, lemons, and limes from the same tree if you really want to.
• You can try growing some sweet lemons, such as guava.

Notes

• Defoliation in winter is a phenomenon in which roots and leaves grow out of sync. Especially in colder places, root growth will be slower because of the low soil temperature, but the leaves will still grow normally under sunlight. Evidence that your tree is beginning to suffer from winter defoliation is when the leaves begin to fade.
• Be careful when picking fruits because the acidity can irritate your eyes.
• A fully grown lemon tree will produce lots of fruit. Think about what to do with the fruit before planting.
• In citrus-rich areas and other places in the United States, if any infectious disease or insect infestation occurs, the agricultural department will confiscate your trees, dig them up, pull them out, and burn them. That’s why it’s important to make sure your tree is healthy before buying one.
• Watch out for thorns. Some citrus trees have long, sharp thorns that can be painful when you pick the fruit with your bare hands. Watch carefully and wear gloves or use a long-handled fruit picker.
• Too many nutrients, including fertilizers, are often not a good thing. Fertilize according to directions and don't use too much. Excessive fertilizer (either too much or too often) can cause plants to grow too quickly, weakening the plant and loosing nutrients.
• Don’t plant the tree near dead wood or you will eventually get root problems due to clogging.

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