Citrus Growers Forum

Stoddo2k11 · Posted: Sat 14 May, 2011 7:54 pm

[joke]

its 68 degrees in Seattle w some sun and I put my lime tree out on the balcony. I'm worried about sunburn. Should I spray it every hour in this oppressive heat? I'm not even totally sure what happens to that orange fireball in the sky if there are no clouds in the sky for it to hide behind. Should I be worried about my lime tree out naked in that firey death-dealing sun?

[/joke]

igor.fogarasi · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 11:26 am

Stoddo2k11 wrote:

[joke]

its 68 degrees in Seattle w some sun and I put my lime tree out on the balcony. I'm worried about sunburn. Should I spray it every hour in this oppressive heat? I'm not even totally sure what happens to that orange fireball in the sky if there are no clouds in the sky for it to hide behind. Should I be worried about my lime tree out naked in that firey death-dealing sun?

[/joke]

i wouldn't recommend misting leaves while being exposed to any source of light, as that might contribute to sunburn even more... at least do not spray the tree while being exposed to direct sunlight. however your tree could benefit from occasional misting at dawn and/or dusk. don't forget to water it regularly, and you shouldn't be afraid of sunburn, especially not at those temperatures...

cheers! Wink

Evaldas · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 3:43 pm

The "magnifying glass effect" is a myth. You can mist the leaves even in full sun.

Millet · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 4:32 pm

Before we get to serious about Stoddo2k11 post, remember it is a joke ( aka not true). For those outside the USA, Seattle, Washington, where Stoddo2k11 lives, is a region of the country with very high rainfall, and many many cloudy days. I might add that when the weather is good in Seattle, it is one of the prettiest parts of the country. Evaldas is 100 percent correct about a drop of water producing a "magnifying effect" of the sun's power on the surface of a lea, thereby causing damage . It is a common myth , it causes no damage at all. - Millet (610-)

Stoddo2k11 · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 5:22 pm

On a serious note what is the maximum range for most citrus to tolerate? 95F?

Millet · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 7:42 pm

Citrus can tolerate temperatures much higher than 95F (35C). Citrus groves growing in the California desert frequently reach 120F+ (49C) during the summer months. However, citrus do not grow (produce (photosynthates) at temperatures below 55.4F (13C) or above 95F (35C). Millet (610-)

Stoddo2k11 · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 8:05 pm

Thanks for the info as always Millet, so they are heat tolerant but that isn't within optimum growth range.

Well the joke is on me, after a scorching day of 68 its now 55 and raining all day . . .

David. · Posted: Sun 15 May, 2011 11:33 pm

What is chlorosynthates? Millet

_________________
South Texas gardener

Evaldas · Posted: Tue 17 May, 2011 10:15 am

Ok, I checked and Seattle gets about 2,174.0 hours of sunshine a year.
For example:
Vilnius, where I live, gets about 1,588 hours.
Honolulu - 3,042.1 hours.
Sydney - 2,480 hours.
Lisbon - 2,806.3 hours.

So who said what about Seattle having cloudy weather?

Millet · Posted: Tue 17 May, 2011 12:21 pm

Evaldas, exactly---as you found Seattle does not get much sunshine. There are 8,760 hours in a year, and poor dark Seattle has 6,566 hours of clouds. A good reason to move to Phoenix. David I meant to write photosynthates. - Millet (608-)

Evaldas · Posted: Tue 17 May, 2011 12:48 pm

Millet wrote:

Evaldas, exactly---as you found Seattle does not get much sunshine. There are 8,760 hours in a year, and poor dark Seattle has 6,566 hours of clouds. A good reason to move to Phoenix. David I meant to write photosynthates. - Millet (608-)

Yes, a year has 8.760 hours, but half the time is night. So there are 4.380 hours of day a year. So 2.1740 hours of SUNLIGHT is a lot, this means it's half time cloudy and half time (during the day) sunny in Seattle.

Millet · Posted: Tue 17 May, 2011 1:13 pm

Exactly, your correct, not much direct sun in Seattle, even less sunshine in poor dark Vilnius, a good reason to move to Spain. -Millet (608-)

Evaldas · Posted: Tue 17 May, 2011 4:17 pm

Millet wrote:

Exactly, your correct, not much direct sun in Seattle, even less sunshine in poor dark Vilnius, a good reason to move to Spain. -Millet (608-)

I meant that there's a lot of sunshine in Seattle. Madrid has only about 500 hours more sunshine than Seattle, which makes it about 1.5 hours more a day.
If I was to move, I would move to Sydney.

Stoddo2k11 · Posted: Wed 18 May, 2011 12:15 am

Wow it was 67 degrees and sunny today, my lime tree enjoyed some outdoor balcony time. I thought I was gonna roast in my car though but I survived.

I think Phoenix is a tad too far into the side of roasted.