I attended the Citrus Show last night in LaMarque,TX. The speaker was Monte Nesbitt of TAMU. Apparently he worked several years as a researcher for the Alabama citrus industry. He gave an excellent talk on how to grow excellent quality satsuma fruit, very informative.

I have been plagued with poor quality satsuma fruit even on trees as old as 13 years, still haven't got an excellent quality fruit from a 13 year old Seto.

He recommends fertilizing early, before the bloom and reduce water stress. For the Gulf coast area fertilize Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, 60%, 20%, 20%. Water diligently from budbreak through early fruit drop.

You must set lots of blooms to get thin-skinned satsumas.

Best of all his recommendations were from actual field experience and scientific discovery.

I've asked him if he can send me electronic copies of his talk, best talk I've heard on citrus in the Gulf Coast.

I haven't attended the LaMarque citrus show since the early 2000s as it was 2 hour drive from Beaumont were I was living. Back then there were lots of entries for "cold hardy" citrus. Last night, none!

I've posted some slides on my website:

mrtexas

I also have poor quality satsumas,I am going to follow Dr. Nesbiths advise on fertilizing this coming year. If you can I would also like a copy of his talk. Just let me what you need me to do to get a copy. Thanks Joe b.

Monte Nesbitt a previous researcher for the Alabama citrus industry. Sounds much like the same talk that was given in Clanton Alabama at Expo 2013. Fertilize on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day. Perhaps it is the Alabama talk.

Phil, I assume that 60%, 20%, 20% must have something to do with rates. Tell us what exactly does it mean? I'm not particularity clear on it. - Thanks Millet

Monte Nesbitt also did an enormous amount of work with Pecans. I've always thought Texas A&M hired him for both citrus and pecans. He has published his work in both the citrus and pecan industries. Texas has the most organized state pecan association and Monte had lots of articles in their monthly magazine. Like just about every month. Monte's former pecan boss at Auburn is named Bill Goff. Dr. Goff is responsible for exporting the very best pecans to China and there by increasing the price to farmers in USA by at least double. I must add that Dr Goff worked with Dr Powell at Auburn for years. Dr. Powell is a very good pecan man himself. As evidenced by his Petals from the Past, Dr. Powell is pretty good at lots of things fruit related. Tom

Phil,

thank you very much for the info! I would like to have Monte's presentation as well if possible!

I thought that we may have a freeze(s) well after Valentine's day and fertilizing before a freeze may kill citrus. Did Monte comment on early fertilization and freeze?

Thank you again!
Gleb

Millet,

He's suggesting that you should stagger a tree's yearly allotment of soil applied fertilizer into 3 feedings throughout the growing season as opposed to a single one at the beginning of it - If a tree is to receive 10lbs of 10-10-10 per year, then 60% of it (6lbs) should be applied on Valentines day, 20% (2lbs) should be applied on Mother's day, and the other 20% or (2lb) should be applied on Father's day.

I'm confident that this rule of thumb does not apply to a controlled release product...I doubt that an Southern states grower would want to apply a 6mo slow release in June as any fertilizer application after August is a no no given that new growth after August does not have the chance to harden off prior to colder weather. I'm sure also that this is for trees grown in-ground.

Best,

Skinn30

It seems the dates of Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are not the same all around the world. Could you tell us the dates?

I am also very interested by the Monte's presentation.

Sylvain, Valentine's day is February 14, Mothers day is the second Sunday of May, and Father's day is the third Sunday in June. - Millet

It is important to understand that it is the warm winter temperatures , not irrigation of late fertilization, that plays the MAJOR role in stimulating untimely winter flushes of large mature trees. However, when unseasonably warm temperatures occur, young trees may flush more easily than larger mature trees, especially trees planted the previous fall. If such young trees flush during winter months, late fertilization may stimulate ADDITIONAL, tender growth that could make trees even more susceptible. Consider the degree of flush, tree size, time of year and geographic location when making this decision. - Millet

Thank you IlyaC.

Thank you Millet. Here the mother day is two weeks later.

Thank you MrTexas. Yes the dates don't fit everywhere. In 2012 at St Valentine it was -15°C here!

Monte sent me a copy of both presentations. Email me and I will forward a copy.