Jeff, I usually put mine in the greenhouse when the nights start staying around 45 degrees. Since I am in the southern part of the country that is usually mid October to early November.

I usually bring mine in when the lows hit 40 (or a little warmer (low-mid 40) if the weather is going to be wet/stormy since I'd rather bring them in a bit early when soil is dry and much lighter). But I like to transition them two weeks to partly shady, so minimize transition light issues. Based on current weather forecast, I'd say early Nov.

I appreciate the recommendation. All three trees have flowers and fruit and I was worried they might die off if I left them out too long. I'll keep an eye on the weather forecasts for a night in the low 40s. Thanks!

I will leave any trees unfruited outside till temps fall below 25F. 1 tree

Jeff, My fruit seem to color up better with a little bit of cold before going in the greenhouse. All of mine have fruit on them now, and I usually knock a few off trying to get them inside. But should have some ready to eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With exception of the Kumquat, they aren't usually ripe until late January.

Magic no is 38 for citrus and 46 for my true tropicals.

Bod I agree. Those are my magic numbers.

Jeff, I loose nothing leaving mine out in cold like that and in fact the only thing that happens is that my trees slow down or loose their rich green coloring. All the growth and color comes back once springs rolls in or they start to get more light and warmth again.

Mike

lots of great feedback. Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it. Sounds like I still have a few weeks at least to leave the trees outside. The bees will surely be happy! They have been swarming the trees these last few weeks!

Jeff, if I had the energy, I would put all my trees outside every day the temps rises above 40! I wish I culd keep them out much longer and I try to unless there is going to be a freeze. Eevn then, I stick them back outside after the temps rises above the freez mark. I have been know to bring them outside in the middle of winter if I get a few days above 40. lol

Mike, putting citrus outside at temperatures of 40-F certainly will not harm the tree, However, it will also not help the tree either, as the metabolism of citrus slows almost completely down, and grow at temperatures below 55-F is stopped. Is the lack of any benefit worth all the effort?

Jodi. That’s a good question. Made me think. I don’t think it’s worth it when you think about it.

Thank you for the advice. )

Citrus need a resting period, a cooling period, they don’t need to go into dormancy for what I understand. When I bring them in they go ln a grow room at a constant of above 62 *degrees, all have fruit. When temps are in the thirties at night, they only expose for a few hours, after that daytimes are back in the sixties, with that they can stay out. Sunshine is important for my trees.

I guess it is possible that citrus might "enjoy" a resting period, but they certainly don't need a resting period. Citrus growing in the tropics continually grow and flower year around, without difficulty.

I bring mine in if night time temps are going to be 45 or lower.

Since I only have two citrus trees, and they are still fairly small, it's no problem for me to bring them in and out as temps fluctuate in the fall.

Hi guys! Jeff, I’ve been MIA lately lol! I check the temps and pretty much follow what Mike and Bob do. If it’s going to go <40 at night, I’ll usually bring them in. It’s hard to tell when that will happen yet. Last year I managed to leave them out till early- mid Nov. I know they don’t grow when it’s that cold like Jodi said, but I look at the cost-benefit and for me I’d rather them slow down than increase the time indoors with potential bugs, etc.

Anyone near me want my NZL? I can’t ship it, but I just don’t love the fruit.

There is this factor that I have to deal with, large containers, many containers, filled growroom. Many figtrees in super large containers, worry about early artic freezes for my inground trees. No time to play around. I have pick out nice temp days to do all that work.

If have my routine people living in different zones do things their way. If you own a greenhouse, that’s totally different again.

I was actually wondering about that. Mine are still out for now, but temps seem to be hanging on to the mud 40s to 50s at night right now, apart from the cold front we just had (and even that didn't go lower than 37 for one night).

So, basically, so far, so good outside for me. I just keep alternating neem soak and neem spray once a week so I'm ready to bring em inside in a pinch if needed.

in ground trees are in incomplete structures.

All mine are still outside and the forecast says safe for 2 more weeks

Mine are all out and will be for next two weeks at least. In Annapolis, the lows are a bit higher than further inland. I see a low of 46 in about 12 days. Hopefully we can drag out this warmer weather for a bit longer.

Let's hope. It's so much more work, inside. I'm also on the MD coast, in Havre de Grace. It's typically a vigile degrees warmer than inland, too.

Mine are all in before this Wednesday. Guess what, some of my trees are already in. Temps in my growroom are steady around 68*, which means they like it better inside.

Housetemps are set at 73*. The trees did very fine last year, hope they do the same this year.

So in my situation it doesn’t matter whether they are in or out. If I don’t have so much to do with other things, I do things a little different, maybe.

You know what? I think many of us like to leave them outside as long as we can, even when it gets cold because I would rather water them freely with a hose, have them pest free for as long as I can, and most of all, give them the best light possible, even better than any light inside we I provide them.

I know full well they would continually grow in warmer conditons and a much more rapid pace than in the cold, but to me light is not something I can't provide like outside.

I guess there comes a point in which having them outside would make no difference, especially when it gets too cold, and that is when I bring mine in. Right to the brink of when they would suffer dramatically. Crazy I think I am.

It would be nice if more members expressed their opinions of how to do things, right or wrong it does not matter, just let us know. You can always adjust. I have notice an increase in new names and old timers bringing their experiences with.

The most I am now interested is, the sorting out of species that should replace with more desirable kinds. For instance Shiranui tree is going to the top of the list. Small ones, even very good tasting ones, are going to be lower on the list.

Give me your take, I am interested.