Citrus Growers Forum

Darkman · Posted: Sat 30 Jul, 2011 5:21 pm

My trees were planted this year in spring and for the most part are looking good. I have noticed that many of them seem to be off cycle with many of them putting out blooms now near the middle of summer. They are not lemons and I think these should only be a spring blooming tree. I have no expectation that these fruit would survive Winter and don't really want them to develop preferring the tree to spend its energy on growth. My question is this. If I remove the blooms now I fear that the tree will try to set more however if I wait the tree will loose the fruit to the coming winter and that hopefully will reset the clock and put it back on schedule. What to do? Extra info I will be fertilizing next week and the trees are watered as needed. Winter for me is mid December or later.

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Charles in Pensacola

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

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Hershell · Posted: Sat 30 Jul, 2011 6:46 pm

I wouldn't fertilize after July the trees need to slow down on growing and harden off as much as possible. I am just north of Valdosta Ga. and have over 100 trees outside. If you are interested I can explain what I do for winter protection.

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Hershell
Nothing in the world takes the place of growing citrus.

Darkman · Posted: Sat 30 Jul, 2011 8:00 pm

Hershell wrote:

I wouldn't fertilize after July the trees need to slow down on growing and harden off as much as possible. I am just north of Valdosta Ga. and have over 100 trees outside. If you are interested I can explain what I do for winter protection.

Hershell any advice you can offer will be appreciated. If I figured right you average frost date since 1997 is December 5th which is about a week before mine. The date year to year though varied greatly from a late of Dec 26 and an early of Nov 17. You and I certainly can not count on a late or average first frost. I was going to only apply a 1/2 load since I have nearly all my trees in top growth now. Also for the last two weeks I have had rain two to three times a day which in my sandy soil washes away anything I have put down so far.

My current plans are a soil bank at least 18" tall. If possible I hope to wrap my tops with Christmmas lights inside the wrap. I'll do all I can afford. I hope to have a well next year and be able to use micro sprays. The money just wasn't here this year.

Tell me your methods please.

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Charles in Pensacola

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

TRI · Posted: Sat 30 Jul, 2011 8:05 pm

Darkmen, after a prolonged period of drought stress followed by rain citrus trees may flower even in mid summer. One of my plants that I did not water much in the spring and early summer had some new blossoms and small fruit and growth flush when it finally rained. I would remove the fruit but you can wait until the winter.

This is very unusual and rare though.

Hershell · Posted: Sat 30 Jul, 2011 11:54 pm

Darkman, I do everything as low tech as possible though being a greenhouse contractor I do have a few leftovers that I use. I run a 3/4 tubing under the trees and put a small hole in it so the water sprays up. this is for irrigation as well as freeze protection. There is no sprayers to buy or tubing to freeze if you forget to turn it on in time. If you dont have a well you will only need to use it a few nights when the temp. drops very low or if you have a early freeze. Also just water isn't enough, It is better to put a few post around the tree and rap it in plastic to hold in the heat. I use several methods, from twinwall boxes to single layer 6 mill poly.

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Hershell
Nothing in the world takes the place of growing citrus.

Millet · Posted: Sun 31 Jul, 2011 1:37 am

Late season blooms, called "off blooms" very frequently produce fruit of inferior quality - Millet (536-)

Darkman · Posted: Sun 31 Jul, 2011 1:42 am

Millet wrote:

Late season blooms, called "off blooms" always produce fruit of inferior quality - Millet (536-)

But what will reset my trees' clock

or

will it be reset by winter

or

are late season blooms normal and nothing to worry about?

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Charles in Pensacola

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Millet · Posted: Sun 31 Jul, 2011 11:50 am

Late bloom is nothing to worry about, they are very common. The tree's normal cycle of blooming is not effected in any manner. Next spring your trees should produce a nice crop of flowers and fruit right on time. - Millet (534-)

Darkman · Posted: Mon 01 Aug, 2011 9:14 pm

Thank you Millet,

I can now find something else to worry about. I don't expect I'll have to look far. LOL

_________________
Charles in Pensacola

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!