My Clementine has started it's 3rd growth flush of the year and at the same time is putting out dozens of new flowers. This is a 4 year old tree I got from 4-winds this spring. It put out flowers this spring but did not hold any of the fruit. The tree is healthy and has not been put under any stress as of late. I don't think this is normal is it?




John

Your tree looks very healthy--you obviously do not have leaf miners there.

Sometimes citrus trees have of season blooms, if they set fruit during these off season blooms it is usually not as good as normal season fruit.

It is not all that uncommon for a citrus tree to set some off season blooms. Late season blooms always produce a much smaller amount of flowers. Because this is a late bloom, and your tree is a young tree, if you spray the blooms with a 10 percent Gibberillic Acid spray, the chances would be excellent that the tree will keep the fruit. Four Winds Growers generally always produce very nice, and very healthy trees. Over the years I have purchased many trees from them, and have only received one tree that was questionable. I would rate Four Winds Growers as and excellent company. - Millet

Clementine needs a pollinator or a spray of Gibberellic acid as Millet stated. Clems are one of very few citrus that need a pollinator without one you will have very poor if any fruit set... Satsuma & Navels will not work as a pollinator...

I have a XIE Shan satsuma that if flowering at the present time. It did get stressed out for lack of water so I think that is the reason for the flowers.

Great info, thanks

What can I use as a pollinator plant wise for this Clementine? I have in bloom right now: Kaffer Lime, Meyer Lemon, Key Lime

As for Gibberellic acid, where in the world might I find that?

Thanks, John

If you use a pollinator tree, such as another mandarin, your Clementines will be seedy. If you use Gibberellic acid as your "pollinator", your Clementines will be for the most part seedless. - Millet

Plow - Plant - Fertilize - Repeat

"As for Gibberellic acid, where in the world might I find that? "
Thanks John, was going to ask that too.
I coulda used it on my Meyers earlier. It was loaded with at least HUNDREDS of blooms & I have ONE baby lemon!

Patty, if you whould have sprayed GA3 on your Meyer, approximately 60-90 percent of the blooms would have developed fruit. I purchase GA3 from a Greenhouse supplier in Denver. Companies that sell to the greenhouse industry or the grape industry should stock it. The formula that I purchase only requires 1 gram of GA3 per gallon of water to make a 10 percent solution. If you can't find it send me a PM. You need to go to the 2008 Expo. - Millet

http://www.seedman.com/sstartga.htm

http://www.sciencelab.com/page/S/PVAR/SLG1321?gclid=CLeGhK7IqpUCFRLoxgodDUP3aQ

You can also find it on ebay, just search "Gibberellic acid"

So is this Gibberillic Acid a miracle trick type of thing? Can I and should I use it on all my trees(oranges, grapefruits, lemons)? When should it be used? On the blooms before they open or after? I wonder if i can get it here in Canada.

you could also try here

www.super-grow.biz

GA is a plant hormone. It's effects are very concentration dependent. It is used on plants like strawberries to increase the size of the fruit.

I'm going to try and locate some GA3. I don't know if I can get in time for this flowering but I want to have it and instructions on it's use by next spring for all my citrus.

Millet and others, just a few questions:

Can you tell me at what point in the flowering process should I spray the GA3?

Do I just use a regular old spray bottle?

What strength do I mix it to?

Any more detail on how to use this stuff would really help me and a lot of other members here. Thanks in advance for your help!

John

10 to 20 parts per million PPM