I'm having a bit of an odd issue. My 1 year old satsuma survived with some protection this past winter with 18 degree weather but lost its leaves and pretty much all of the limbs died back. It's put out new growth this spring but something odd has happened. The new growth towards the top of the plant has died back suddenly. It went from new and green one day to a dull (dead) green color the next and the leaves are all dead. The new growth at the bottom of the tree (closer to the ground), however, is still lush and green and it is the variety, not the rootstock.

We did have a night in the low 50s the other night from a high probably in the mid to upper 80s. Would this slight chill have been enough to kill the new growth? Or could some lingering frost damage from winter just now be catching up and taking out the new growth?

I have heard of a similar issue where the trunk is actually dead, so it wants to grow then dies back.

So did mine

Franck

There are satsuma trees here that had very little damage to no damage at all from the January 2010 freeze. I am surprised your plant suffered so much damage.

That does not look like freeze damage. My sister's satsumas survived this winter in Baldwin Co AL with no protection at all--lows had to be 18
F or below.

Did it need more water?

I doubt mine was water-related. They're on a drip system and are watered regularly. I'd imagine it's freeze-related. My satsuma was relatively young and small so I imagine that's part of what did it in. We just happened to have an unlucky year in that it was the satsuma's first winter in the ground.

Do any of you in more moderate zones allow your citrus to mature in pots before putting them in the ground? I'm thinking I may do this from now on.

I can't answer your question for Satsumas, sorry. I only own 1 atm.

You still have to protect the citrus in containers during winter. I nearly lost two in containers this last year from the Dec 2009 freezes (I tossed them anyway), and 3 others lost about 75% leaves once the warmth hit (they looked fine during the entire winter) but in stable condition.

But those of us in moderate winter zones (z9) are almost always better off planting citrus in-ground either in very early Spring and protecting from the heat in summer with mulch + shade cloth, or planting the end of summer/1st start of fall and risking the cold of winter (or cover + warm during the short drops into the 20's).

Having said that, IMO it seems Satsuma's put out so little (bushy) growth compared to lemons/oranges and even other mandarins that it's possible going through the extra effort of aging the tree for two years in a container might be worth it to establish a stronger root and foliage base.

I'm eager to hear what others think.