From start to fruit production up north

[poncirusguy]

Growing citrus trees up north is like running a hydrogen fueled fusion electric powerplant. The trees are always just 5 years away from unlimited fruit production.

[Vlad]

How true. I sometimes wonder if it is worth the effort if I only get a few fruit per tree. (I am in Massachusetts and have to over winter my trees indoors.) I can get more than 50 figs in a 5 gal container tree but prefer citrus to figs.

[poncirusguy]

2 Years ago I got 74 sweet lemons off my tree then the tree died. I will get a final 1 quart total Meiwa kumquats. If I had known how hard it was growing citrus I would have never started.

[jibro]

In our cold climate, it probably doesn't make much sense to grow the regular mandarins and oranges that are commonly available in stores, but growing Kumquats, Yuzu, NZ Lemonade, Sudachi and other rare varieties may be the only way to taste them and it makes even sense economically as they don't sell in Europe or are extremely expensive, for example 1 Yuzu fruit for 8 Euro...

[poncirusguy]

The only citrus I grow are those that are unavailable at the market or stores.  I also grow peaches, Pears, and sour cherries.  Store bought peaches and pears are lousy and sour cherries are unavailable.

[adriano]

I saw in the News severe cold blast Hit US Last week. How did Citrus survive the cold weather. I am Always surprised how deep south IT goes

[poncirusguy]

For my self  My inground citrus behind 4 layers of glass there was no damage.  We went as low as 1 degree F and several nights of 5F.  See my heating system.  It appears to have about a 30F temperature rise.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a_3xFv_OFA

My other citrus trees are inside.  This cold blast was in the normal range and was typical of our polar vortexes that we get every few years.  There was little damage to most of us.  Zone pusherslost a good amount if they did not protect there trees.  I am zone 6B, that = -5F

[adriano]

You even moved some inside. Are you moving them Out as soon as the cold wawe is over or are you waiting for the spring?

[poncirusguy]

I will have to wait till spring.  We still can have extreme cold here.



Rank Temperature Date

1 -25 °F January 18, 1977

2 -24 °F January 19, 1994

2 -24 °F January 17, 1977

4 -21 °F January 20, 1985

4 -21 °F January 21, 1984

4 -21 °F January 16, 1977

7 -20 °F January 18, 1994

7 -20 °F December 22, 1989

9 -19 °F January 17, 1982

9 -19 °F January 24, 1963

11 -18 °F January 28, 1963

12 -16 °F January 23, 1963

12 -16 °F January 23, 1936

12 -16 °F January 12, 1918

15 -15 °F January 14, 1964

15 -15 °F February 2, 1951

15 -15 °F January 22, 1936

18 -14 °F December 21, 1989

18 -14 °F January 21, 1985

18 -14 °F January 10, 1982

[jibro]

It seems that after 2000 you no longer have such extremes as -24°F (-31°C)...I wonder if Trifoliate can survive without protection in your area...

[poncirusguy]

PT can grow around here with out any freeze damage.  The tops will die off some at -25F