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Edible Gardens
Citrus 101: Start Your Own Backyard Orchard
This Earth Day Weekend, Add Some Green, Style and Deliciousness to Your Landscape
When it comes to functional decoration, fruit trees take the cake. Decor that you can eat and is easy on the eyes? I don't think it gets much better. Citrus trees in particular are a popular choice, mostly due to the endless culinary and decorating options for the fruit itself. But as beautiful and useful as these plants are, many of them have a fragile side. Before going to the nursery and picking out your favorite hybrid, figure out exactly what conditions are best for these fragrant and delicious fruits.
Most citrus trees are location-sensitive creatures, so choosing the spot where you want to plant your tree will determine the citrus that's best for you. Sun and warmth are of the utmost importance — which means that a southern or western exposure is usually best. If you live in an area that gets freezing temperatures during the winter, you'll need a place where your tree can be sheltered in colder months. Or plant it in a pot for easy transport at the threat of frost.
The Dwarf Redblush grapefruit works well potted or planted in the ground. While the size of the tree itself is smaller, the fruit is the size of a regular grapefruit, and comes in a large harvest. Since grapefruits (which were originally a hybrid between oranges and pummelos) have a low to medium cold resistance, it might be a good idea to pot this plant so it can be moved indoors in the winter.
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
While temperature and sunlight are certainly vital, many first-time gardeners forget about drainage, another important consideration when deciding if a citrus should be potted or planted. What kind of soil do you have in your backyard? If your backyard has a heavy clay content, you may want to test its drainage capabilities by pouring a good amount of water into the hole for your tree. If there's still some water left the next day, you should consider digging the hole deeper, mixing organic amendments into the soil, and planting the tree higher to keep water from pooling around the base.
Even though it's not a true orange, the Calamondin orange is just as pretty, and is much more tolerant of the cold than your average citrus. Because it's one of the tougher varieties, it's often suggested for beginning citrus growers. It produces a highly acidic and juicy fruit with very few seeds —perfect for marmalade!
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Acidic citrus fruits generally have a lower heat requirement than sweet citrus fruits. So if you're concerned about finding a place in your yard that will be warm or sunny enough, try gearing towards a tree that will produce a more acidic fruit.
The Nagami kumquat (also known as an Oval or Fortunella kumquat), is another good example of a citrus that can bear with chillier climates. Although it's classified as a small tree, it can grow up to 12 feet high. Its improved frost-hardiness is partly due to its shorter growth period. It produces summer fruit and is usually dormant by autumn.
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
If you're looking for a smaller kumquat that's a bit more manageable, the Fukushu (or Kiangsu) kumquat is not as frost hardy as its oval-shaped relative, and so it's best suited for potted, indoor growth.
After planting, water your citrus tree at least once a week until it has established roots. After this, water potted plants only when the top two inches are slightly dry — but make sure to water extremely thoroughly (with water filling the saucer at the bottom of the pot) when you do.
The hybrid Improved Meyer lemon is a favorite among citrus growers. Not only does it have that wonderful sweet taste, but it's fairly hardy for a lemon tree, has almost thornless branches, frequently blooms with incredibly fragrant blossoms, and has a plentiful harvest. It's a smaller tree, usually not growing higher than 10 feet, making it a favorite choice for garden borders or even a large pot.
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
A potted dwarf citrus tree is a great alternative if you know you don't have the correct space, drainage, temperature, or sunlight exposure for a regular sized citrus. Like the Dwarf Redblush grapefruit, most of these trees are smaller in plant size, but produce normal-sized fruit.
The Dwarf Bearss lime grows quickly and produces medium to small acidic, juicy fruit. It can bear with cooler climates, but flourishes indoors.
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Do you grow citrus? Share your favorite varieties and photos below!
Next: Unexpected Edible Gardens
Photo courtesy of Monrovia
Do you grow citrus? Share your favorite varieties and photos below!
Next: Unexpected Edible Gardens
