[Arid_gardener] RE: Growing Citrus in Buckeye

[Carolyn Hills]

Susie -- In addition to the great info provided by Dick, there are six very
informative publications put out by the Maricopa County Cooperative
Extension regarding growing citrus here. Check out
http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/pubs/pubs.htm.

Actually, citrus was a large industry here in the Valley until housing
developments squeezed out the citrus orchards. You can still see some
orchards in outlying areas.

If you are going to plant an orange tree, I would wait until temps go below
90 degrees in the fall to plant. An established citrus tree should make it
through next summer with regular deep watering. If you plant in the fall,
that will give the tree a good amount of time to develop its root system
before summer blasts us once again!

Also, if the oranges are just for your personal use, get a tree that is
grafted onto dwarf root stock (it should say this on the label). A dwarf
tree will produce PLENTY of fruit for a family, and the fruit will be easier
to harvest. I have a dwarf orange that is 7-8 feet tall mature size, so only
a short ladder or step stool is needed to harvest from top branches. The
regular-sized trees get a lot taller and, in a home garden (in my opinion),
most of the fruit from the higher branches ends up on the ground and
attracts pests.

Hope this helps!

Carolyn Hills
Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer

-----Original Message-----
From: arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu
[mailto:arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu] On Behalf Of Dick
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:24 PM
To: arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu; susieq8380 at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

I believe buckeye has a climate similar to Phoenix but the only extreme you 
need be concerned about is frost. All citrus varieties have to be irrigated 
deeply at the drip line where feeder roots are located. In fact, flooding 
the entire basin is often a measure to minimixe damage. If the area gets 
frosts, some damage could be expected unless protection is taken. There are 
several things that can be done to minimize damage if an event occurs.

If there is a retail plant Nursery around, ask their advice. Cruise the area

see what your neighbors are growing successfully. Just off the top of my 
head, I believe Buckeye will support citrus. You might try dwarf varieties 
that can be rather easy to protect with frost cover if the weather is 
marginal. All parts of Phoenix have ocasional frosts that can damage citrus;

Tucson as well.

I have five mature citrus varieties that I usually have to protect a couple 
times a year. I have flooded but I usually use only an industrial 
oscillating fan to protect them. Fortunately, our freezes are of rather 
short duration. A sustained hard freeze would soak-in and damage tender 
foliage and kill new growth regardless of what one does.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer.
University of Arizona Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <susieq8380 at yahoo.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:49 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Sue
> 85326
> susieq8380 at yahoo.com
>
> I was wondering how hard it is to take care of an orange tree living in 
> Buckeye, AZ? Is there a lot involved or is it just a bad idea because of 
> the dry climate?
> Thank you-
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
> 

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