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Grow Organic Citrus

© Geoffrey Ian Miller

Limes, oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruit and kumquats are a rich source of vitamin C juice and are easy to grow. They will stay on the tree for a long time until used. They also provide an ornamental foliage display and fragrant spring blossoms.

Citrus prefers subtropical, tropical or hot, dry climates. They will tolerate only mild frosts and temperatures above -2 degrees C. Some varieties are more cold tolerant, being able to be grown in Northern Florida, north of the commercial citrus growing belt.

Trifoliate orange (an inedible type) is the most cold tolerant of all. Use trifoliate as a rootstock to graft good varieties onto or sour orange rootstock if trifoliate not available. Grow (Citrus sinenesis (L.) Osbeck), navel sweet oranges such as Hamlin and Parson Brown.

Mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and mandarin hybrids include Dancy tangerine, Orlando tangelo, Robinson tangerine, and Sunburst. Use trifoliate, sour orange or Cleopatra for cold tolerance.

Kumquats are the most cold tolerate of all when dormant. They only grow during the warmest weather and go dormant earlier than other citrus contributing to their cold tolerance. Once again use trifoliate for cold tolerance.

Choose an elevated site if possible as cold air drains down hill. Planting on a slope offers some protection, but a normal house block prevents this. Plant on the south side of a house in the northern hemisphere and on the north side in the southern hemisphere for warmth. The house radiates heat to aid the plants.

Remove weeds from around the base of the tree and put mulch down which will act as a heat insulator. Moist soil will also hold more heat than dry, so thoroughly wet soil prior to a predicted freeze. Provide insulation wraps around young tree trunks. Cover young trees with hessian, blankets, paper or other material for frost protection for the first few years.

Citrus prefers sandy well-drained soil to heavy clays. If drainage is poor, build a raised bed up by 25-30cm. Improve clay soils by adding sand and organic matter. Once again trifoliate rootstock is more tolerant of wet feet than other species. Provide wind protection.

Advanced two years old citrus plants are available from most nurseries in their growing areas. Make sure the tree is not root bound and yellow unhealthy. Planting is not so crucial as with bare-rooted plants, but early autumn to spring is the best time. The young plants then avoid the coldest and hottest weather.

The copyright of the article Grow Organic Citrus in Organic Gardens is owned by Geoffrey Ian Miller. Permission to republish Grow Organic Citrus in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.