Pruning Citrus

Rookie Gardener

I have a Tango tree I planted in June. It is about 4 feet tall now. It had fruit when I planted it and it seems to be doing wonderful in the soil I put it in. I have feed it montly but will hold off now until Feb to feed it again. I think I am doing everything right but I wonder if I should prune some of the bottom branches off now or after winter. I live in S. California. This is my first citrus tree. Should I just let it grow in whatever shape it wants.

Jeffrey Lovstrom

I would not prune it for the first 3 years. Branch attachment encourages trunk girth and a prune cut is a wound cut. Just wait.
Jeff

Rookie Gardener

Thanks Jeff. I didn't think I should but nice to to I was right.

Jeffrey Lovstrom

You got it. At times you will get tempted, then it's your call.
Jeff

Bowani Siam

I usually remove fruit before planting, especially if it is semi-developed. In my experience, it doesn't usually ripen and you find you have green fruit for months and months and months, even though the tree itself looks healthy. Taking the fruit off allows for better plant development, leading a healthier tree in future.

Sacrifice them!!!! SACRIFIIIIICE!!!!!

Cheers!

Bowani Siam

.......Also, don't be tempted to heavily fertilise the tree when the fruits are developing. This can cause an influx of foliar growth which can lead to fruit drop. Main fertilising should be done monthly during the growing season, not once fruit has set. Regular watering should suffice once fruiting has begun. Cheerio!

Brent Ferris

Why do you suppose this is? Fruit development got interrupted with stress of transplant, and the plan is aborted?

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Bowani Siam

Pretty much! I suspect it is caused by the tree having to suddenly divert energy to root formation and moisture retention, thus taking it away from fruit development, and consequently (as you said) the plan is aborted. This occurs with flowers as well.

Another theory of mine is that most garden programs promote the use of Seasol and other liquid, high-nitrogen fertilisers during planting to 'minimise transplant shock'. The nitrogen content at fruiting time is unwelcome as it just promotes foliage when the plant is concentrating on other things. I shall investigate further...

Anyway, just by observation I have noticed that about 95% of the time when semi-mature to near mature fruits are retained during planting, they never ripen. This is mostly Citrus varieties by the way. A while ago we went to look at a garden that had been planted out 4 months prior, and there were still green oranges sitting on the tree that were apparently 'that size' when the tree was planted. 4 months!!! Over the following years I have noticed this time and time again. I think people buy plants when they are flowering and fruiting because they are the desirable features (ornamental, culinary whatever) but that the is THE WORST time to plant them out.

I was talking to a friend of mine from Singapore BG, he reckons they have observed similar results with their tropical spp, even if all the care is taken in the world to minimise transplant shock. They also always remove fruit from trees if they have to be planted during fruit set, but they prefer to plant during other times of the year.

Anyway, look out for this! I am sure it can't possibly happen every time but in my experience it is almost invariably the outcome.

Sorry bout the mega rant!