Citrus

Muddy Boots

With Elisabeth busy with garden and house renovations this week, we have decided to replay one of our listeners favorite episodes.

Join us to hear Keith’s tips on growing citrus. Follow Keith’s tips for healthy, disease free, fruit producing citrus in your home garden.

• Citrus trees love full sun and free draining soil. Not sure where to put it? Put it in a pot.
• Citrus are grown on different rootstocks - can be important to know what root stock it’s grown on to ensure it’s suited to your conditions and soil. For example “flying dragon” rootstock will tolerate heavier soils and some wetness.
• Citrus have surface-feeding roots which means their roots like first access to feed and they are heavy feeders. Feed citrus monthly as they have no dormant period. Keith suggests Neutrog Gyganics at half recommended rate but applied monthly. Potassium can help with fruit production
• Most citrus don’t like frost! The occasional frost can be tolerated. Keith advises leaving frost burnt leaves on the plant as these can protect undamaged foliage from further frost damage
• Citrus don’t like competition. Avoid planting in the lawn unless you have a large lawn free area under the canopy of the tree.
• pH prefer soil 5 - 5.5 and definitely not over 6.
• Pruning - prune to size where fruit is reachable and ensure centre of tree is nice and open to allow sunlight to all parts of the tree

Pests and diseases are common issues with citrus. Black scale exudes sugary substance that ants feed on and spread and this can cause sooty mould. Regular application of Eco Oil will assist with avoiding pests. Citrus gall wasp originates from Australian native Finger Lime. The gall wasp will create a knobbly growth on the tree that inhibits growth. Prune these off and put straight into rubbish (not compost!).

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