Benedict T. Palen, Jr - Tips For Growing Citrus Fruits In Pots

 Homegrown, fresh-picked, citrus is not magnificence reserved for gardeners in tropical, sunny zones. You can grow up citrus trees in containers and enjoy their smell and stimulating fruit even in cold northern homes. Even if you are short on garden space or you are in any climatic condition, pot citrus can bring your freshness fix. All it takes is some effortless citrus basics, and you are on your way to growing your very own.

1. Citrus trees require 8 hours of sun and a wind-free, sunny location is best. Citrus trees are also very chill-sensitive and must be moved inside or protected to a covered area in freezing weather. If your winter nighttime temperatures are below 35 degrees F consistently, you will need to shift the citrus indoors for the winter to guard them from frost and offer additional grow lights for the tree. If you only have infrequent cold temperatures, cover the tree with frost cloth or use incandescent lights to warm the air just about the tree.

• The container should be bigger than a nursery pot to offer the roots room to develop. Use a large durable pot. Wine barrel, non-porous ceramic pots work well. If you stay in an area that gets cold in the winter, think about how you will move the pot. The pot should have quite a few drain holes spaced around the perimeter of the pot evenly, not just one in the middle, to make sure good drainage. Drill extra holes if needed. It is best to have the pot off ground on pot feet instead of sitting in a tray.
• Citrus roots like damp but not mushy conditions. The watering requirements of citrus will be diverse when they are in containers as roots will dry out faster. A moisture meter can assist you find out when it is time to water. The top of soil may feel dehydrated, so test it out by putting meter down deeper by roots. Water until water starts to drain out of drain holes. When the temperature is very hot, containers dry out very fast — you might need to water a few times a week. In cooler weather, you will require to water much less. Focus on the foliage. Leaves that are drooped and then perk up after watering are a symbol of roots that have been enabled to dry out too much. Water more frequently. Curled or yellowed leaves that do not develop after watering may indicate they are getting too much water so water less often.
• Lightweight potting blend that drains well with inorganic ingredients such as vermiculite, perlite, coconut coir or peat moss added in is best. A soil that is all organic matter will decay very quickly and become compacted, reducing aeration for roots. Stay away from soils that contain chemical-wetting agents as these retain too much moisture. Native soil is also too compacted and will not offer the roots the air they need.   

Benedict T. Palen, Jr., has three decades of knowledge working in management, operations, and agricultural investments. Right now, Benedict T.Palen, Jr., serves as co-proprietor and manager for Great Plains Farms, LLC, administering all from the appraisal of farmland to offering proposal on operator training and irrigation development.