I assume you didn't trim the lower branches. My pineapple orange is flowering, but citrus can flower at different times from each other, each tree can be variable. Has the tree never flowered? I'm surprised it could make it in zone 8.

Gary

It has not flowered yet. And should i have trimed the lower branches?

Just making sure you didn't prune the whole tree, and that being the reason it hasn't flowered. Its highly unusual that by now it didn't flower. Can you verify where the graft on the plant is, and that there isn't growth coming from below it? That's the only reason I could think of for it not to flower. That the rootstock (which was grown from seed) has taken over the plant.

Gary

dghays

Now wouldn't that be something? I will have to check it out. If so, it will be 4 years wasted.

Here's an important tidbit. I've never witnessed it to this degree myself:

Citrus Often Inconsistent Bloomers
Posted on Mar 27, 2007 10:25:01 PM
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When it comes to citrus trees, gardeners are often optimists. The trees can grow as old as we do, yet we usually expect them to be producers at a very early age. The truth is citrus trees are often inconsistent bloomers.

Most likely some of the optimism and hope for the very first fruits come from trees that are purchased in containers, often with flowers and citrus present. Then, they are expected to continue the displays when planted in the ground. Most trees, however, do just the opposite and stop producing for several years.

You see, while they are in the containers, their roots are limited, growth is reduced and flowering is encouraged. Some of these blooms just naturally develop into fruits. When the tree is planted in your landscape, it is free to grow and seems to forget about flowering and fruiting for a while. Some new trees can go 5 to 7 years in your yard without a single bloom.

Actually, even if the trees do begin to flower early and set fruits, we suggest you pick these early citrus for the first three years. This is hard for many gardeners to do, but it results in larger trees that can bear a better crop later on. Also, many of the early fruits are atypical, being dry inside or having little flavor.

Now, even though a tree begins flowering and fruiting, it doesn't mean it's going to bear a bumper crop every year. One year might be heavy, and another might have few if any fruits. Don't get discouraged, as your tree is just resting and building up reserves to produce the next great crop. Your job is to continue normal care that includes the following:

Feed citrus trees over three years of age once in March, May, August and early October.
Apply a citrus fertilizer at the rate of 1/4 pound for each inch of tree circumference measured 6 inches above the ground.
Scatter the fertilizer under the spread of the branches and out past the drip line.
Water once or twice a week to maintain a moist soil during hot, dry weather.
Control pests only as needed; many can be tolerated.

dghays
Thank you for that great info.

My tree is approximately 2 years in the ground. It has never flowered or produced fruit. It is approx. 4 to 5 feet tall and about 4 feet wide. It looks healthy. Please let me know when I can expect fruit. Thanks.

My treeis about 13 years old. and this isthe first year that it had produced any oranges. I have 5 oranges as large as golf balls. I was thinking of removing it but now?

ralph31558, dghays has some good advice, but since you are in Zone 8, do you have the tree in the ground. If so, please ammend his advice on fertilizing times. Do not fertilize before the average date of the last freeze in your area, The reason is that you do not want the tree to begin waking up and putting tender growth out and then getting hit with a killing freeze. That will put undo stress on the tree.

Do not fertilize any later that labor day in your area. The reason is that you want any growth on the tree to be well hardened off before winter makes an appearance.

Mets600, don't remove it yet. I've had a pineapple orange in the ground for about 15 years, and even though the cold has damamged it over the last 2 winters, I get a good amount of fruit from it. I'd wait a couple more years before I would think about removing it.

How many oranges does the pineapple orange tree bear

Depending on the size of the tree, and it is a cultivar that does alternate bear, it can bear quite a bit. The tree I have is now ~20 years old, two seasons ago, I brought ~150 pounds of fruit into the office. Last season, it was only about 90 pounds, I am expecting around 100 pounds + or - this coming season. I hope this answers your question.