[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

Robert, I have a three foot long brass rod (probe) with a piece of broomstick on one end and a dull point filed on the other. I have not experienced dry Navals since practicing deep irrigation that I have presumed stopped the problem Dryness is, however, endemic in the Naval species that really prefers a humid climate like Florida and perhaps South Texas and San Diego. Navals picked as soon as ready seem, in my experience, to be okay. Left on the tree too long appears to dry them out.

I irrigate only in a shallow trench--splitting the drip line, 24 to 36 inches wide depending on the age and size of the tree. I put a hose end in the trench opened enough to maintain no more than a quarter to a half inch head if water. I let it run until I can easily sink the probe straight down all the way to the hilt several places around the drip line.  Then, shut the water off but repeat at a later day when the soil in the trench is quite dry at least three inches deep regardiess of how long it takes to dry out. I never irrigate under the tree inside of the trench where there are no feeder roots anyway.  I have four healthy citrus varieties that have been in the ground about 40 years. All have been irrigated the same way. The proper feeding at the right time is also important but less critical, in my opinion, than irrigation. Most nutrients needed by citrus, except for nitrogen are, I understand, abundant in a typical Arizona soil.

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

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <omrob at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 4:12 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Robert
> 85209
> omrob at cox.net
> 
> Is there a way to stop the granulation or pithy oranges on our Navel orange tree it is 7 years old we water 1 a week for an Hour to fill the tree well up, and fertilize 3 times a year, also has curled outer leaves, Thank You Robert
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
> All contents copyright 2007. Arizona Board of Regents/University of Arizona
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://CALS.arizona.edu/pipermail/arid_gardener/attachments/20080122/78fb19cb/attachment.html