As with many things in life, chances for long-term success with citrus are increased with knowledge and planning. Even the size of the plant put in the ground has an impact on long-term growth and return on investment. Ventura County UCCE Farm Advisor, Ben Faber shares his knowledge with us.
What size plant should I buy?
The longer the plant has been in the container, the longer it takes for the plant to adjust to the soil after it has been planted. The smaller the plant, the more rapid the growth once it is put in the ground and survives -- a 5 gallon container- grown lemon will have outgrown the 15 gallon container in 3 years. This has been shown consistently with all manner of container grown plants……..and they are cheaper.
One vital consideration is the type of variety to plant. Please remember to use only rootstocks that are California-grown certified trees that are known to be free of disease. It is illegal to bring in citrus trees or cuttings into California from other states or countries because they may be infected with disease or insects.
Rootstocks
There are many different rootstocks available to growers. Choose rootstock based on characteristics that are important to the growing site, such as greater nematode resistance, salt resistance, disease resistance, etc. The retail nursery typically sells whatever rootstock the wholesale nursery propagates. Wholesale nurseries do not all use the same rootstocks, but use those that they feel grow best for them. In some cases, a retail nursery may be able to special order a rootstock for a special situation. You can always ask.
There is one choice that the buyer can make, though – whether the rootstock is dwarfing or not. The ‘Flying Dragon’ rootstock creates small tree, under 6 feet and it is very slow growing. It especially lends itself to container culture.
For home growers, another important consideration is where to plant the trees. Irrigation needs are an important piece of this puzzle. Keep the following in mind while looking for a planting location:
Growing citrus in a lawn
Trees don’t belong in lawns. In California, we irrigate. Do you irrigate to the needs of the lawn or to the tree? Frequently, lawns are irrigated by timers, putting a short burst of water on. Trees like a deep watering. Shallow watering leads to an accumulation of salts in the tree’s root zone and salt burn results. If possible, keep a 6-foot turf-free area around the trunk. And best of all, irrigate the tree separately from the turf and ensure the lawn sprinklers do not wet the trunk, which can lead to crown rot in the tree.
Citrus can be grown in containers. Ben offers the following suggestions for the best results:
Container grown citrus
Citrus grows well in containers, especially if you choose varieties like ‘Meyer’ lemon which is a less aggressive tree or use ‘Flying Dragon’ dwarfing rootstock on one of the other citrus varieties. There is a long history of orangeries in Europe, where full sized trees were grown outside in containers in the warm weather and then moved into large greenhouses when it got cold. Half barrels and terra cotta pots can be used, but if a large container is used and you want to be able move it, put the container on some wheels first. Fill the container with a good quality potting mix and plant your tree. Containers dry out much faster the soil grown trees, so stay on top of the irrigation. When irrigating, make sure water comes out of the bottom of the pot to avoid salt accumulation in the root zone. Prune as necessary to keep the canopy in balance with the pot or pot up to the next size.
Additional information can be found on the Ventura County UCCE website.
Healthy citrus