Citrus Growers Forum

cristofre · Posted: Tue 01 Jun, 2010 6:28 pm

I've seen some earlier threads referring to planting multiple trees per hole or bed to save space.

Seems to me there are other potential benefits of planting trees purposely close together:

Trees tending to smaller more manageable size.
Mutual protection from winds, increased frost hardiness.
(more mass of branches/leaves)
Easier to protect trees in colder zones in winter.
(frost protection cloths / heating shared by multiple trees)
Easier watering, feeding, pruning,etc.
Varieties with different bearing periods together to maximize "fruit season" in small space

The typical planting instructions for citrus seems geared toward commercial production, and not towards the interests and needs of hobbyists or small home production.

David. · Posted: Wed 02 Jun, 2010 10:53 am

Why not make your own combo tree by grafting. There are very good tutorials here.

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South Texas gardener

cristofre · Posted: Wed 02 Jun, 2010 12:33 pm

David. wrote:

Why not make your own combo tree by grafting. There are very good tutorials here.

I guess in my case, its not a variety of fruit that I want, but to make the trees hardier and easier to protect in my zone 7B/8A garden.
I've noticed that plants in general do better in groups rather than standing alone and exposed.

I'm planning on experimenting with this. I started a bunch of kumquat trees / mandarin trees from seed, as soon as they get to be about 1-2 years old I am going to plant 3-6 of them within 18" of each other so that they grow into one big mass. (like a hedge)
My theory is that they will all share the brunt of cold winter winds, frost, drought,etc. Every tree will help protect the others, kind of like pioneers putting the wagons in a big circle to fend off the dangers outside.

Obviously, none of the trees will reach the size or bearing capacity of a tree planted by itself, but the combined capacity of the multi-tree dense planting will make up for it.

Maybe I am completely wrong, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, the trees are free.

David. · Posted: Wed 02 Jun, 2010 12:51 pm

Ok in your case I would say plant seeblings together in the same hole. I read somewhere here that they recognize siblings and don't compete so much as to kill each other by for example over powering for water.

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South Texas gardener

gregn · Posted: Mon 07 Jun, 2010 1:05 am

Well cristofre, I sort of used this theory when I planted my citrus over the last 4 years. I needed a protected site (against my house) where I could get as much winter sunlight as possible, group trees together to share winter protection and heat from Christmas lights etc. In my climate it does not get hot for long periods of time so I also use the house to add reflected heat.
I have 4 in a span of about 8 feet on one side of my house and another 6 trees over 10 feet in the front of my house. to date my best grower is a Meyer lemon at close to 5.5 feet. My dream would be that they all out grow their location and become too big to manage. In reality a few fruit and keep them alive through the winter is the key goal Laughing

Greg

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Gregn, citrus enthusiast. North Vancouver Canada. USDA zone 8. I grow In-ground citrus, Palms and bananas. Also have container citrus

cristofre · Posted: Mon 07 Jun, 2010 2:50 pm

gregn wrote:

....I have 4 in a span of about 8 feet on one side of my house and another 6 trees over 10 feet in the front of my house. to date my best grower is a Meyer lemon at close to 5.5 feet. My dream would be that they all out grow their location and become too big to manage. In reality a few fruit and keep them alive through the winter is the key goal Laughing

Greg

Thanks for responding. I really only got into citrus a little over a year ago so I am still learning and trying things.

I did manage to get two Satsuma Mandarin trees through last winter completely undamaged, despite temps from 10-14F in January, so I am feeling more confident now.

I spent all last winter writing down the temperatures each day and observing where the warm spots were in the yard, where the frost was and was not in the mornings,etc.
As much as I like citrus fruit, I admit much of my interest in this is the challenge (and having people ask "how in the world did you do that?!?!?"...)

gregn · Posted: Mon 07 Jun, 2010 4:54 pm

That's pretty much why most of us outside of the citrus belt try our hand at it.
I wouldn't have anyone asking about that big cedar or that wonderful apple tree. Bananas and citrus that's different Cool

Cheers, G.

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Gregn, citrus enthusiast. North Vancouver Canada. USDA zone 8. I grow In-ground citrus, Palms and bananas. Also have container citrus

Glenn 50 · Posted: Sun 13 Jun, 2010 9:49 am

I have tried high density planting with apple trees and it is starting to show signs of success. Trees 20 inches apart. Need to summer prune regularly though.
I am going to try a hedge of citrus in an area nearby of mandarins and mandarin hybrids. It will be a challenge!

cristofre · Posted: Mon 14 Jun, 2010 10:16 am

Glenn 50 wrote:

I have tried high density planting with apple trees and it is starting to show signs of success. Trees 20 inches apart. Need to summer prune regularly though.
I am going to try a hedge of citrus in an area nearby of mandarins and mandarin hybrids. It will be a challenge!

I don't have the nerve to try ordering trees to do this kind of experimenting with, but I have some mandarins and kumquats started from seed to "play with" once they get big enough.
I'm just so dang impatient though!

The only thing that worries me about planting fruit trees so close is the possibility that it will make it much easier for diseases to spread.

Glenn 50 · Posted: Tue 15 Jun, 2010 2:50 am

It's the pruning that concerns me. I can make mistakes on apple hedges and still get fruit but when it comes to my first pruning of my citrus hedge I will be crossing my fingers a bit. Sort of uncharted territory for me.
But I guess any mistake will eventually cure itself with further growth. And the dang thing hasn't been bought or planted yet.
Seedlings would be the way to go but as one gets older one wants to cut corners Smile

cristofre · Posted: Tue 15 Jun, 2010 10:17 am

Glenn 50 wrote:

It's the pruning that concerns me. I can make mistakes on apple hedges and still get fruit but when it comes to my first pruning of my citrus hedge I will be crossing my fingers a bit. Sort of uncharted territory for me.
But I guess any mistake will eventually cure itself with further growth. And the dang thing hasn't been bought or planted yet.
Seedlings would be the way to go but as one gets older one wants to cut corners Smile

I understand about cutting corners, I suspect I would if I could afford to!

As for pruning "citrus hedges" I know that a citrus tree fruits when it has a sufficient number of leaf nodes, so I guess as you said, it will make new leaves if necessary.