
Citrus Fruit
Have you ever thought about growing your own lemon, lime, orange or
kumquat tree? Even if you haven’t you may want to reconsider as the
excellent selection of plants on offer is hard to beat and is sure to
provide you with the ideal plant which in years to come will provide you
with beautiful fruits and flowers. Ideal for outdoor growing in Summer
and conservatory or greenhouse growing in colder months.
How
to grow
The plants for sale have had the best start possible
and will make successful growing much simpler. When you receive your
plants you should plant them in to a suitable container or other frost
free area as soon as possible, taking care to water them well.
Position
The
essential point when growing Citrus is to ensure they grow in a frost
free area as any frost is likely to have a detrimental effect on your
plants. Grown in greenhouses, conservatories or outdoors in warmer
months is preferable. Position plants in a bright and sheltered
position to maximize growth and minimize ill effects.
Soil
A
rich and well drained soil is best for citrus plants as they are heavy
feeders and require excellent drainage. Add bark, perlite or horticultural grit to compost and test soil with a
soil testing kit to get pH correct.
A pH of 6.5 is ideal. You may wish to add garden lime to soil to help achieve
this.
Care
Ensure plants remain in a frost free
area and water as required. An application of fertiliser is best
applied in spring and winter to ensure lush and healthy growth.
Specific citrus fertilisers are also available.
Pruning is not essential and should be light if required.
Harvesting
When
fruits start to develop you should allow them to ripen fully on the
tree before harvesting them. Remove individual fruits by hand and test
for ripeness. If not fully ripe allow remaining fruits to develop
further.
Top Tip
If you intend to grow plants in a
greenhouse or conservatory consider placing pots on a plant stand with
wheels or purchasing an easy pot mover. This will allow you
to move plants from the indoor environment to outdoors with ease.