[quirky3]

My little orange tree - this year's harvest. 45 full-sized oranges! Traditionally I pick them New Year's Day. The tree is less than 6 feet tall! Yum!

[Mr Hanky]

Wow that's super cool for sure.

[mgjim]

Not being a Floridian (yet) is that normal for a tree this size? Either way, that's a great harvest.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Yum looks like you will be making some fresh OJ soon

[Cisco Kid]

That's great
How old is your little tree?
How much cold can a OJ tree take ?

[quirky3]

The tree is a hybrid which doesn't grow as large, but produces sweet, full-sized oranges. I bought it about 6 years ago, and I think it was maybe 3 years old.

initially I had it indoors in a pot. Soon it was obvious it responded better to direct sunlight and fresh air, and I moved it to the lanai. About 3 years ago it was big and stable enough to plant in the ground.

But it produced oranges even when it was in the pot (Just between 3 and 8 oranges each year). I do fertilize it twice a year with Miracle Gro citrus fertilizer stakes.

I cover it with cheesecloth type material and wrap the tree trunk if a freeze is expected (32 degrees or under overnight). If there is prolonged freezing weather expected, it is better to harvest the oranges because they can become mealy-textured after too much exposure to freezing temps.

The orange blossoms for the next year's harvest appear in March, and they smell sweet and wonderful!

[tainsley]

Thanks for the info. I want to purchase an orange and a lemon tree and debating whether to plant in the ground or put in a large container. The oranges on your tree look good! Enjoy them!

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by tainsley

Thanks for the info. I want to purchase an orange and a lemon tree and debating whether to plant in the ground or put in a large container. The oranges on your tree look good! Enjoy them!

I have 3 citrus trees in my yard at The Villages. One is a Key Lime, one is a Myers Lemon, and one is a Verigated Pink Lemon. All produced good crops this year.

Mrs. Buggy makes a wonderful low fat, no sugar cheesecake out of the lemons and out of the limes. So good you would forget it is almost health food.

[Happinow]

I also have an orange tree and a grapefruit tree planted in my yard. This is the first year for both. They are small trees as yet but the orange tree produced about 15 oranges and the grapefruit tree did not produce this year. We are waiting to harvest the oranges until mid January, as we have never had a orange tree before and we think that January is the time to harvest. I sure hope they are good!!!

[duffysmom]

Quirky we planted a myer lemon tree this Fall and would like to know when we should fertilize it. I admire your green thumb.

Buggy PLEASE ask Mrs. Buggy to post her receipe it sounds wonderful.

[casita37]

You might want to go ahead and pick one orange and try it. I say that because I was at the big fruit stand at 466/301 recently, and they told me some of the citrus is coming in early this year. Just a thought...

[quirky3]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Quirky we planted a myer lemon tree this Fall and would like to know when we should fertilize it. I admire your green thumb.

Buggy PLEASE ask Mrs. Buggy to post her receipe it sounds wonderful.

I think the Miracle Gro fertilizer sticks may have the directions on the package, but I believe you do it twice a year - once a few of weeks after harvesting (as soon as you start to see new growth in the leaves), then again around September.

[buggyone]

I use a brand of fertilizer called "Rite-Green" and it is a 4-6-8 compound. I get it at Wal-Mart. It is a dry granular fertilizer made especially for citrus, mangoes, and avocados. The directions say NOT to fertilize from November through February. You do not want any growth to be starting during those months in Florida or it will damage the tree. That is the dormant stage.

I fertilize my trees about every 6 weeks beginning the 1st week of March. It really makes them grow and bear fruit.

[aljetmet]

How far from the property line can you plant a citrus tree? Also how can I save this post? Some great info. Three Citrus trees and a Japanese eggplant. that's all I want for Christmas!

[aljetmet]

How far from the property line can you plant a citrus tree? Also how can I save this post? Some great info. Three Citrus trees and a Japanese eggplant and some herbs. That's all I want for Christmas!