Citrus Growers Forum

Millet · Posted: Wed 12 Feb, 2014 7:10 pm

I have a large (11-Ft. tall X 11-Ft. wide) Cara Cara navel tree growing inside my greenhouse in Colorado. We have been eating and giving away fruit from the tree since the first of the year, and now have only about 15 or 20 oranges left on the tree. Four days ago my wife was in the supermarket and noticed that California Cara Cara fruit has just arrived for sale. So Colorado greenhouse harvest is about two months ahead of warm California. The greenhouse also has had mature grapefruit hanging for a month, but I decided to take Dr. Manners advice and leave them on the tree until March, as Dr. Manners says if left until March the fruit obtains the optimum taste. - Millet

j3u5a8n · Posted: Wed 12 Feb, 2014 8:08 pm

Tis true. My one cara cara fruit still has green on top. And it has been a warm winter here in Imperial, California.

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Okay, I don't need any more trees. Look! Another tree for sale!!!

elsedgwick · Posted: Thu 13 Feb, 2014 10:31 am

We started seeing Cara cara's from South and Central Fla. here a number of weeks ago - more in line with your greenhouse tree's schedule, Millet. My tree is too young to bear, so I can't speak as to Northern Fla.

fruitnut · Joined: 14 Feb 2013 Posts: 13

I've been sampling mine since mid Dec and last I tried Cara Cara was still too acidic. I thought it was supposed to be earlier than Washington. But the later has been good for a month already.

I may run a colder winter than Millet to get chilling for everything else. Ran 69 days at 39-57F for chilling.

Since I prefer the stone fruit over citrus, the greenhouse favors other fruits. The citrus is good though. Just can't compete with nectarines, apricots, and several others.

Millet · Posted: Sat 15 Feb, 2014 2:30 am

Fruitnut, I kept my night time temperatures at 55F throughout this winter. - Millet

fruitnut · Joined: 14 Feb 2013 Posts: 13

California winters average 45-48F, ~37/55 night/day. So you are running 15-20F warmer than California.

I guess warmer winters mature citrus earlier, which makes sense.

Looks like my heating bill this winter will run ~$300 much like last year even though it's been pretty cold and I ran 5F warmer at night.

I think my new woven poly covering is going to reduce heating and cooling cost. I think it transfers less heat in by day and less out at night. But I don't have a good way to put a number on how much.

Don't think I've posted my latest writeup about greenhouse fruit production in west Texas. So for anyone interested it follows.

http://www.davewilson.com/home-gardens/growing-fruits-and-nuts/cultural-practices/greenhouse-fruit-growing/greenhouse-fruit-production-in-west-texas