Call us for availability or to place an order 352-394-4377

Citrus Trees

Fruit Cocktail Trees

Three or Four varieties on one tree!
(Call for availability.)

10 Gallon pot $120.00 ea.

not available for shipping.

*Granular Citrus Fertilizer*

Ask about our blend of fertilizers when you order.

Suggestions

All weeds and grass should be kept from beneath the leaf canopy for the tree. If there is a risk that the tree might be hit with a mower or especially a weed-eater style line trimmer, a loose fitting protective plastic shield should be made or purchased and put around the tree as a precaution! Avoid using mulch within 3 feet of the trunk.

	Planting in the ground (Florida and southern coastal regions only) 1) Clear a site 4 feet square (preferably on the South or Southeast side of a building for maximum sunlight and protection from cold Northwestern winds. Citrus trees like sandy, well-drained soil. 2) Dig a hole in the middle of the site a little bigger than the container. Don't add peat, cow manure, or any organics to the soil unless it is extremely sandy and has a history of poor quality. 3) Remove the tree from the container. Position the root ball at its original depth, thus ensuring that the graft union is well above the ground level. Planting in a pot or container (mandatory in northern climates) Large Home & Garden Centers sell large, attractive pots with matching plant dollies. This combination makes a convenient container which can easily be wheeled in for the winter and outside after the risk of frost has passed. The bigger the pot the bigger the tree will grow. Use a natural potting soil which will drain easily. Sand or synthetic additives may be added to make the soil drain better. Citrus Blossoms are both a beautiful and very fragrant addition to any room or landscape!
	Fertilizer and general care Your tree should be fertilized about every 6-8 weeks for the first three years with approximately 1 level cup of fertilizer for every inch of trunk diameter. We ship citrus fertilizer (see back of brochure). Sprinkle fertilizer evenly beneath the canopy of the tree. Older trees should be fertilized in February, June, and October never exceeding 20 cups of fertilizer per application. Watering The tree should be watered during the dry season (especially in the spring). Wet the soil at least 10-12 inches deep each, watering until sufficient rain comes. Cold protection For trees planted in the ground, (Florida and Southern Coastal Regions) we sell a ""homemade" Sprinkler/Cold Protection system which can be attached to a garden hose and used on freezing nights. The tiny sprinkler should be placed within the scaffold limbs of the tree and turned on before the temperature drops below freezing. LEAVE RUNNING UNTIL FREEZING TEMPERATURES HAVE PASSED! It is important not to turn the sprinkler off until the temperature is above freezing or further damage may result. Potted trees should be taken in before the risk of frost and reintroduced gradually to direct sunlight in the spring if the tree was kept indoors all winter. Trees can be left indoors year round if sufficient sunlight is available. Trimming, sprouts & early fruit
	Trimming, sprouts & early fruit Any and all sprouts below the main branches (scaffold limbs) should be cut off flush with the tree with clean, sharp clippers. Any low hanging branches which touch the ground should be trimmed back to a height of about 18 inches above soil level. Fruit cocktail trees (see back panel) should be trimmed to keep each competing varieties foliage equal to the others. For example: Grapefruit will overgrow and shade out Oranges and many other varieties growing on the same tree. Pests The occasional pests such as caterpillars and grasshoppers, especially on young trees should be removed by hand. Usually pests do not pose a large enough problem to the homeowner to worry with expensive pesticides. A few insects here and there are natural. Learn to live with them. If there is a significant problem (for example with Aphids curling the leaves,) and insect control is an issue, we recommend using a broad spectrum insecticide such as Malathion, Seven Dust, or an organic Soap spray. All are available at your nearest garden center or hardware store. When to pick All fruit in the first two years should be pulled off when it's green. Although this fruit will eventually be sweet & edible, it is a fact that early fruit slows the growth of the tree. Citrus will not continue to ripen after it is picked. Use the color of the peel as an indicator of ripeness. Once the fruit is sweet there is usually about 2-3 months of harvest time before the fruit begins to loose quality. However Grapefruit are known to last up to 9 months on the tree!