Fruit trees?
 

I just moved into a new house on Lake Deaton and am enjoying landscaping my yard. I was quite surprised here that there are so few citrus trees in The Villages. I understand that this used to be a huge citrus growing area (the name "Fruitland" is an obvious indicator). So I have planted several orange trees to see what happens. I realize the occasional freezes pose a risk, but what other reasons keep the number of citrus trees so low? Advice needed please.

Once they start producing fruit, you better be prepared to pick that fruit fast. The vermin, especially rats love the citrus. Of course, you can always put up signs for free fruit and watch how quickly it will disappear. Good luck.

Planted a lime tree, Three limes in siv months. My rum and coke is ready for some more.

Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk

Brown rot disease here at my neighbors. Trees need lots of fertilizer 3 times a year when they're mature. Takes a few years before they produce much.

Hoping you are a full timer here in The Villages so you can pick your fruit as it ripens. It could attract rats and other rodents. Thinking you are new to Florida.

Good point. The fruit also falls some before it ripens in Sept/Oct too. Try it if full-timer.

citrus greening
 

You should look into citrus greening disease. The citrus crop in florida is in serious trouble because of it. I took out all my citrus as they were affected.

Thanks.
 

All good advice - building my info database, so thanks. I bought certified disease-free/treated plants with official labels from certified dealers, 10 gal. size, applied highly recommended Bayer systemic pest control and correct systemic fertilizer (from Amazon). Mixed the right kind of soil (not much work, kinda fun), planted in an area with plenty of sun with appropriate sprinkler irrigation. Each plant took about three hours to buy, plant, fertilize, etc. started one month ago and already have three navel oranges. Trees are still small enough to cover with an old bedspread if it frosts. What the hell, we're in FLORIDA, pm me if you want to talk.

We have a grafted tree called a fruit cocktail tree. It has limes, lemons, grapefruit, naval orange, honeybell tangelos. It is a dwarf tree. We have had it for 4 years now and it really produces just enough for us and a few of our friends. Never have we seen a rat.

First of all....the area used to be a huge citrus area til a big frost in the 80's that nearly wiped out the industry. There are still some farmers in the area but they're battling some sort of disease. That said...what others have stated is true. The trees do draw rats and other vermine. We'd have planted at least one citrus tree but didn't (goes for palm trees too) because of hearing about the rats.

My regular lime (Persian Lime) is struggling - no blossoms yet in the 6 months it has been in, but my Key Lime is prolific in its second year. It only produced a handful last year. Key limes are fine in Gin and tonics!

Your trees may have been treated before they were sold to you but tell the psyllid that lays the first egg in a leaf that causes citrus greening or citrus canker. Fertilizer is required and that is 1 pound per year of age of the tree, 3 times per year. Seems like a lot of fertilizer until you remind yourself that our sand has no nutrients in it. Sprinkle the fertilizer around the base of the tree to the drip line. Don't pile it up around the trunk.

If your tree is very young, you should remove the fruit.
Citrus prefers not as much water as the rest of your yard.
No mulch! Leave the area bare and as the tree grows, widen the bare area (no grass).

Good luck. You should have decent fruit within a couple of years.

Thanks so much for all the advice. Out of the the three trees I planted about 6 months ago, one has three ripe tangelos, the "cocktail tree" under my birdcage has a lot of blooms, and my orange tree is struggling. I am baby sitting all of them, using the perhaps misguided logic that having a home in Florida obligates one to embrace backyard citrus! Thanks again to all posters.

The cocktail tree under your birdcage will need bees to pollinate the blossoms in order for fruit to form. There is a possibility it is self pollinating but to be sure, set it outside.

My Myers Lemon, Pink Lemon, and Key Lime all did great this year. Mrs. Trap makes an excellent low fat, no sugar added Key Lime Cheesecake.