The orange tree plant, Citrus sinensis, is one of the most favored of the citrus fruits grown in the world. It is a fruit of the citrus family. Orange trees are considered a subtropical plant because they can withstand colder temperatures during their dormancy periods. Mature orange trees can withstand below freezing weather for short periods of time. Orange trees have rounded crowns and slender branches.
Gardening in the warmer climates would be complimented with an orange tree. But if gardening is done in cooler climates, orange trees can be grown in containers and moved inside during cold weather months. Some orange trees can get quite large, so if the landscape is not suited for a larger tree, use a dwarf orange tree. Dwarf orange trees can quite easily be kept to 8 or 10 feet tall. Gardening with an orange tree in a landscape will provide the grower with an evergreen tree that is long leafed, attractively shaped, has sweet orange blossoms, and wonderful fresh fruit.
Orange juice has been used and promoted as a breakfast juice for a long time. Navel oranges have been carried in lunch boxes by school children for a century or so. Orange juice is sweet and tangy, and it delivers a healthy, refreshing drink at any time during the day. Naval oranges are easy to peel so, therefore, are favored by children with small hands, or even older folks, because of the ease of orange peel removal.
Oranges have long been a citrus fruit of choice. Portuguese sailors packed oranges for their long sea voyages to help prevent scurvy, which was caused by lack of vitamins. Orange trees were planted along trade routes of mariners so access to fresh oranges was available to sailors.
The orange and its juice contains large amounts of vitamins and minerals. Oranges contain high amounts of vitamin C. They are also high in dietary fiber, folate, vitamin B1, potassium, vitamin A, and oranges are low in calories. Being sweet and tangy, high in vitamins, and having lovely white blossoms, what is not to like about the production of these great citrus trees? Recent publications have also touted the orange as containing healing phytonutrients such as citrus flavanones, which have been reported to have antioxidant qualities.
Growing citrus trees, such as the orange, depend on several factors. Water, soil quality, and pH levels are three of the most important. Ideally, soils for orange trees should be loose, rich in organic material, and well drained; sandy loam soil is ideal. Water can filtrate through loose organic soil and reach roots at all levels. Excess water can easily drain away from these types of soil.
Orange trees are heavy water users. Water deeply every 7 to 10 days in the summer and water less often if it rains or the weather is cool. Allow the soil to dry out between water applications. Orange trees prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. When choosing fertilizer, add compost or manure to maintain a good pH level for the sweet orange tree. When placing a tree in a landscape, where all the ground has been moved or filled, consider amending the soils before trying to grow citrus trees.
Pruning orange trees should be accomplished before the orange blossom arrives. Prune out dead or diseased branches and remove any suckers in the lower trunk area. Cut any branches crossing over the center in order to open up the center of the tree for light and air circulation. The orange tree is an asset to a property. With little effort, it offers lovely fragrant blossoms and produces a healthy fruit that is juicy and flavorful.
My fascination with fruit trees and what I learn along the way.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Apricots
Latin, apricot means "precious," a label earned because it ripens earlier than other summer fruits. A relative of the peach, the apricot is smaller and has a smooth, oval pit that falls out easily when the fruit is halved.
Apricots originally came from China. This golden fruit has been around for more than 4,000 years. Apricots progressively made their way through the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean where they were fondly adopted. Spanish explorers introduced the apricot to the New World, and they were planted in the gardens of Spanish missions all over California. The first recorded major production of apricots in America was in 1792 south of San Francisco.
In the United States, 95% of apricots grow in the San Joaquin Valley and other parts of northern California. More than 400 growers produce many varieties of apricots, the most common of which are featured in the table below. Growers continually experiment with new varieties that deliver sweet flavor and ship or process well.
Apricots originally came from China. This golden fruit has been around for more than 4,000 years. Apricots progressively made their way through the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean where they were fondly adopted. Spanish explorers introduced the apricot to the New World, and they were planted in the gardens of Spanish missions all over California. The first recorded major production of apricots in America was in 1792 south of San Francisco.
Apricots Today
In the United States, 95% of apricots grow in the San Joaquin Valley and other parts of northern California. More than 400 growers produce many varieties of apricots, the most common of which are featured in the table below. Growers continually experiment with new varieties that deliver sweet flavor and ship or process well.
Monday, October 10, 2011
History of Guava
The early Spanish explorers of the 1500’s found Strawberry Guava, ‘Acca sellowiana O.,’ growing as a native tree in America, where they were firmly established from Mexico southward to Peru. History records that Seminole Indians were growing guava trees in Northern Florida in 1816.
Strawberry Guava, ‘Acca sellowiana O.,’ can grow into trees 25 feet tall and frequently they are planted by homeowners as a privacy hedge that is easily trimmed or grown as an untrimmed windbreak. The guava tree can be trained to single or multiple trunks by pruning and will grow into an excellent specimen plant that is covered with exotic flowers during late spring. The wood is gray in color, and the grain is very hard and dense. The leaves are small, distinctly colored flat green, making the plants easily recognized at a distance.
The guava tree or shrub is slow growing and requires the planting of two plants for cross-pollination. The tree is cold hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and is salt water tolerant. Bees and hummingbirds visit the red and yellow flowers, and the pollination visits result in a heavy fruit set.
The guava fruit is classified as a berry by most botanists, and it occurs in clusters with individual berries in sizes just under one inch. Each guava berry is covered by a rough rind and the pulp inside occurs in colors of white, pink, or red.
The guava tree grows best in partial shade in acidic soils. The plants are virtually disease free, and the fruit is usually harvested by shaking off the mature guavas when the color change occurs, then, they are collected onto sheets or tarps. The fruit will keep well in a refrigerator up to a week and can be peeled and eaten as fresh fruit, as a dessert, or in salads. If the fruit is dipped into diluted lemon juice, the color of the pulp will remain bright.
The fruit is commercially made into puddings, pies, juices, and jellies, and is a rich source of Vitamin A and C, as well as many beneficial minerals. The guava is grown commercially in Florida and California, and in many southern forests the shrub has become naturalized and mistaken as a native historical plant
“Guavaween” is a traditional central Florida event and fund raiser that is held every year to celebrate the advent of the guava corresponding to parades and festivals that are scheduled near Halloween at holidays Ybor City, Florida, an outskirt of Tampa, Florida. This “Guavaween” event is celebrated during the last of October each year.
There are many kinds of guavas; one tropical guava, ‘Psidium guajava L.,’ is an important crop in Hawaii, with fruit production exceeding 15 million pounds per year.
These guava fruits are technically considered to be berries, and the trees grow in the wild on the island of Kuawai as a native plant. Before harvesting, the plants are vigorously pruned, fertilized, and irrigated. Fresh vigorous shoots grow in response to the pruning, and the delicious fruit forms within the flowers that mature on the new wood to form guavas and require about seven months to fully develop.
Most travelers to Florida last century will remember the many tourist stops on U.S. Highway #1 and U.S. 41 that have now been transformed into interstate highways I-1 and I-75. Tourist shops such as “Stuckeys” were loaded with souvenirs such as pecan logs. One of the most memorable items displayed for sale was guava jelly, jam, paste, or any other conceivable product that involved the use of the magical fruit of the guava tree. All these little jars of jelly and other guava products were visually stunning to the eye, revealing their contents in colors of mint green, red, yellow, and blue.
Strawberry Guava, ‘Acca sellowiana O.,’ can grow into trees 25 feet tall and frequently they are planted by homeowners as a privacy hedge that is easily trimmed or grown as an untrimmed windbreak. The guava tree can be trained to single or multiple trunks by pruning and will grow into an excellent specimen plant that is covered with exotic flowers during late spring. The wood is gray in color, and the grain is very hard and dense. The leaves are small, distinctly colored flat green, making the plants easily recognized at a distance.
The guava tree or shrub is slow growing and requires the planting of two plants for cross-pollination. The tree is cold hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and is salt water tolerant. Bees and hummingbirds visit the red and yellow flowers, and the pollination visits result in a heavy fruit set.
The guava fruit is classified as a berry by most botanists, and it occurs in clusters with individual berries in sizes just under one inch. Each guava berry is covered by a rough rind and the pulp inside occurs in colors of white, pink, or red.
The guava tree grows best in partial shade in acidic soils. The plants are virtually disease free, and the fruit is usually harvested by shaking off the mature guavas when the color change occurs, then, they are collected onto sheets or tarps. The fruit will keep well in a refrigerator up to a week and can be peeled and eaten as fresh fruit, as a dessert, or in salads. If the fruit is dipped into diluted lemon juice, the color of the pulp will remain bright.
The fruit is commercially made into puddings, pies, juices, and jellies, and is a rich source of Vitamin A and C, as well as many beneficial minerals. The guava is grown commercially in Florida and California, and in many southern forests the shrub has become naturalized and mistaken as a native historical plant
“Guavaween” is a traditional central Florida event and fund raiser that is held every year to celebrate the advent of the guava corresponding to parades and festivals that are scheduled near Halloween at holidays Ybor City, Florida, an outskirt of Tampa, Florida. This “Guavaween” event is celebrated during the last of October each year.
There are many kinds of guavas; one tropical guava, ‘Psidium guajava L.,’ is an important crop in Hawaii, with fruit production exceeding 15 million pounds per year.
These guava fruits are technically considered to be berries, and the trees grow in the wild on the island of Kuawai as a native plant. Before harvesting, the plants are vigorously pruned, fertilized, and irrigated. Fresh vigorous shoots grow in response to the pruning, and the delicious fruit forms within the flowers that mature on the new wood to form guavas and require about seven months to fully develop.
Most travelers to Florida last century will remember the many tourist stops on U.S. Highway #1 and U.S. 41 that have now been transformed into interstate highways I-1 and I-75. Tourist shops such as “Stuckeys” were loaded with souvenirs such as pecan logs. One of the most memorable items displayed for sale was guava jelly, jam, paste, or any other conceivable product that involved the use of the magical fruit of the guava tree. All these little jars of jelly and other guava products were visually stunning to the eye, revealing their contents in colors of mint green, red, yellow, and blue.
Apricot Trees
Apricot trees have a long history of cultivation. Apricots seemed to have originated in China and from there they were spread throughout central Asia. From there the Romans spread them into Europe. Apricot fruit is very tasty and they are now widely grown and consumed in the United States. Apricot trees flowers are white or pink and the trees produce a stone-fruit with soft flesh. It ripens to an orange-yellow color. Apricots contain good amounts of vitamin A and kalium. It is also an excellent source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and traces of sodium, sulphur. Manganese, cobalt and bromine. Apricots do not store well and so they are eaten fresh, dried, or frozen. Apricots are a staple of the jam industry.
Apricot tree need well drained soils for optimum health and production. The soil should be moderately fertile. It is best to thin the fruit early in the season to maximize size and quality. Thin the fruits enough so each individual fruit has about 3 to 5 inches of room. Apricot trees are quite handsome trees in the summer displaying the furrowed bark and heart shaped glossy leaves. A number of apricot-plum hybrids, such as plum-cot, Pluot, and Aprium, have been developed and are gaining popularity.
Apricot tree need well drained soils for optimum health and production. The soil should be moderately fertile. It is best to thin the fruit early in the season to maximize size and quality. Thin the fruits enough so each individual fruit has about 3 to 5 inches of room. Apricot trees are quite handsome trees in the summer displaying the furrowed bark and heart shaped glossy leaves. A number of apricot-plum hybrids, such as plum-cot, Pluot, and Aprium, have been developed and are gaining popularity.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Olive Trees
The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean region and dates back to the beginning of mankind. The olive tree has played a role in human history, even mentioned in the Genesis story of Noah. The olive is an attractive evergreen tree that can grow 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide. However, it usually grows short and stubby (20' x 20'). The leaves are a grayish-green with a silvery underside that makes an interesting landscape accent. The tree is easy to grow and will tolerate many soil types, but prefers the soil to be well drained. It is cold tolerant to around 10*F. The olive fruit is green, on all varieties, and ripens to a blackish-purple color. The different varieties are harvested for different purposes, usually for oil or preparing for eating. Some varieties are harvested when green for one purpose or allowed to turn brown-black for another purpose. Olive trees have been in cultivation since 2,500 B.C. so there are hundreds of varieties.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Nectarine Trees
Nectarines were grown in China 2000 years ago and made their way to the United States via the Spanish in the 17th century. Nectarine trees produce sweet fruit that is not only delicious but it is a nutritious source of antioxidant vitamins such as A and C, and they are a good source for potassium. Nectarines can be used in the same way as peaches. Genetically, the only difference between peaches and nectarines is the lack of fuzz on the skin of nectarines. Nectarines are usually a littler smaller than peaches, have more aroma, and have more red color on the skin.
Nectarines are mostly self-pollinating trees, which mean that a single nectarine tree can pollinate itself. Nectarine trees are fast growing and most will begin to produce fruit in 3 to 5 years after planting. The leaves and buds of nectarine trees look similar to peaches. The leaves are long, glossy, and bright green in color. The leaves reach a length of 4 to 9 inches and are lightly serrated. The trees are pretty enough to be very decorative in the landscape. The colorful spring flowers, the dangling fruits in the summer, and the red yellow foliage in the autumn are very pleasing to the eye.
There are more than 100 varieties of nectarines, in freestone and clingstone varieties. Freestone describes the ease of pit separation from the fruit, while clingstone types cling to the fruit and are more difficult to separate. Nectarines will keep for 5 days if stored in a plastic bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Nectarines do not have to be peeled because they do not have the fuzz on the skin. Leave the skin on when making pies, cobblers and fruit salads.
Nectarines are mostly self-pollinating trees, which mean that a single nectarine tree can pollinate itself. Nectarine trees are fast growing and most will begin to produce fruit in 3 to 5 years after planting. The leaves and buds of nectarine trees look similar to peaches. The leaves are long, glossy, and bright green in color. The leaves reach a length of 4 to 9 inches and are lightly serrated. The trees are pretty enough to be very decorative in the landscape. The colorful spring flowers, the dangling fruits in the summer, and the red yellow foliage in the autumn are very pleasing to the eye.
There are more than 100 varieties of nectarines, in freestone and clingstone varieties. Freestone describes the ease of pit separation from the fruit, while clingstone types cling to the fruit and are more difficult to separate. Nectarines will keep for 5 days if stored in a plastic bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Nectarines do not have to be peeled because they do not have the fuzz on the skin. Leave the skin on when making pies, cobblers and fruit salads.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Multi-Budded Fruit Trees
Multi-budded trees are the answer for space limitations. Multi-budded trees offer fruit variety of tree ripened fruit from a single fruit tree. Enjoy fruit combinations such as Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, and Mutsu all from one tree. Multi-budded trees are created by grafting several species of fruits on a single stem or rootstock. Some special considerations should be taken into account when planting. Multi-budded trees are grown close together in nursery rows and thus some of the budded selections do not get equal amounts of sunlight so always plant the smallest limb to the south/southwest to insure that it gests plenty of sun.
Pruning multi-budded trees is best done by following these instructions. Cut back the strongest growing varieties by 2/3rds. Cut back the smallest variety by ½ or not at all. During the summer, watch the growth-rate of the smaller limbs to determine if pruning is needed. If the smallest variety is ½ the size of the others, do not prune. Take care to not let one variety take over or some of the smaller varieties may fail. Prune back the more aggressive limbs. Equal amounts of sunlight needs to be received by all varieties in order to develop fruiting. After the third season, maintain the multi-budded tree so that each fruit type grows in balance with the others.
Pruning multi-budded trees is best done by following these instructions. Cut back the strongest growing varieties by 2/3rds. Cut back the smallest variety by ½ or not at all. During the summer, watch the growth-rate of the smaller limbs to determine if pruning is needed. If the smallest variety is ½ the size of the others, do not prune. Take care to not let one variety take over or some of the smaller varieties may fail. Prune back the more aggressive limbs. Equal amounts of sunlight needs to be received by all varieties in order to develop fruiting. After the third season, maintain the multi-budded tree so that each fruit type grows in balance with the others.
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