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Index : Citrus and Other Fruits
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- 22. Citrus Trees Fooled Into Blooming Early - Top
- It's not spring, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the citrus trees. Many have begun to bloom at a time they should still be resting. So it is with a number of fruit trees. Peach trees are covered in pink and apple trees have a noticeable white blush of flowers.
All this unexpected flowering is due to an unusual combination of weather conditions that began this fall. In a normally bone-dry October we had lots of rain. In fact, here at the Extension Garden Center, we had just over 4 inches of rain, four times our average amount.
Following the rains of October came a seasonably cool November. In response plants began their normal dormancy. However, December turned out to be unseasonably warm, and plants that were resting began to awaken. With warm temperatures and adequate soil moisture many plants have been fooled into thinking it's spring! That's what all the flowering is about. But cold temperatures are surely ahead, and those flowers, when exposed to freezing temperatures, will die.
If you have citrus trees flowering, don't be concerned. Citus have opened only a small portion of their total flower buds. In fact, citus trees produce many more blossoms than could ever turn into fruit. Loosing some of the flowers to our next freeze will be of little consequence. And there are no practical ways to protect these blossoms from a freeze, they are much too tender.
As for peach, apple, plum and other types of fruit trees now blooming, a freeze will likely take most, if not all, of the flowers. These trees will not produce a second bloom this spring. They need the entire growing season to form new flower buds for the following spring.
Although blossoms cannot be protected from winter freezes, plants in general can. Citrus trees and other cold sensitive plants can be covered during cold spells. This is especially important for young citrus as they are more cold sensitive.
Cover plants with cloth, paper or frost blankets. Do not cover plants with plastic as it will conduct the cold right to the plant. Top on my list of supplies to have are sheets and blankets. Never throw away old sheets. They provide excellent cold protection when draped over frost sensitive flower beds and container plants. Citrus and other cold sensitive varieties of trees, shrubs, cacti, and succulents can be covered as well.
Cloth and paper provide the best insulating qualities to hold in heat. If sheets are not available, consider purchasing frost blankets sold in garden centers and nurseries. These are made of polypropylene that is super light weight and can be left on plants for several days without causing them harm. Burlap is also available and insulates well.
Old newspapers can be saved and used as frost blankets. The newspaper covering should be several sheets thick to maximize cold protection. Paper grocery bags also work well when used as "frost caps" to place over the tops of tender plants.
Straw covers are especially well suited for protecting vegetable, flower and herb beds. Straw bales can be purchased at area feed stores. A layer of straw scattered directly over plants helps to hold in the heat. After the freeze danger has past, the straw can be pulled back and used between plants to serve as a beneficial mulch over the soil. If cold returns the straw can simply be pulled back over the plants. Straw bales can be purchased at local livestock feed stores.
When covering larger plants, such as shrubs or small trees, it may be necessary to place a heat source under the covers. This can be provided with a heat lamp or incandescent light bulb (60-100 watts), contained in a simple utility lamp fixture.
When frost covers of any type are used, it's important that they be secured properly. Cold snaps are usually accompanied by windy conditions. If the plant cover is not secured properly, warm air will escape. Stones are often the most convenient items to use for tacking down covers, but you can also pin covers to the soil with loops made of heavy gauge wire.
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161
Answers to gardening questions may be obtained by phoning 626-5161 in Tucson or 648-0808 in Sahuarita.
Material originally appeared in Arizona Daily Star gardening column, on January 4, 2001
- Updated: August 30, 2001
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