Nutritionists
recommend at least one daily serving of vitamin C, with citrus fruits being
among the richest sources. Imagine growing your very own supply of
vitamin C right here in lower Alabama. By selecting the right trees
and nurturing them properly, you will not only enjoy beautiful plants but
also help to maintain your health.
Coastal Alabama was
once home to thousands of acres of citrus trees. Plantings that began
in the late 1800’s flourished so well that according to the Gulf Shores
Woman’s Club book Once Upon an Island, published in 1984, “At the
time the name Orange Beach was given to that community, it was appropriate.”
Since the early 1900’s, citrus trees have alternated between thriving and
freezing; however, with the 1929 establishment of the Gulf Coast Regional
Research and Extensions Center on Highway 104 near Fairhope, horticulturists
have developed guidelines for plants which offer delicious and healthy fruit
to the homeowner.
Monte Nesbitt of the Gulf Coast Center recommends the satsuma as the fruit
of choice for the coastal area. “Meyer lemons, grapefruit, and sweet
oranges have proven to be mildly successful and are fun to have in the landscape,”
states Nesbitt. “However, they don’t survive extremely cold periods.
We recommend planting kumquats and satsumas because they are the most cold-hardy
and will ripen before cold weather problems arise.”
The kumquat, an
acid-type citrus, is one of the most widely used citrus plants around the
home. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System booklet,
“Citrus for Southern and Coastal Alabama,” the fruit of the kumquat is a
“small orange-like fruit about one inch in diameter.” It can be eaten
fresh, peel and all, or used in jellies or candies. The kumquat is
a shrub type of plant and will grow to heights between six and fifteen feet.
Nesbitt says there are two major varieties of kumquats: Nagami, which has
oval-shaped sour fruit, and Meiwa, which has round-shaped sweet fruit.
The satsuma, a type of mandarin, is similar to a tangerine and appears
to be one of the most popular fruits as it provides “the highest degree
of success and greatest satisfaction in growing citrus in Alabama,” cites
the ACES booklet. “Satsumas withstand colder temperatures than other
forms of edible sweet citrus, produce more consistent crops over a longer
period of time, and require less cold protection.” The trees grow to
a height of ten to twenty feet.
In order to ensure your satsuma will thrive in our area, you need to consider
the two main parts of the tree, the rootstock or lower few inches of the
trunk and the roots, and the scion or upper part of the tree, which produces
the fruit. The scion is grafted to the rootstock at the bud union.
The Southern Living Garden Book states, “Grafted trees begin bearing fruit
in just a few years, contrasted with ten to fifteen years for seedling
trees. Most kinds produce a single crop in fall or winter.”
Most trees purchased at your favorite garden center have already been grafted.
When visiting your local nursery in search of an appropriate satsuma, Nesbitt
recommends finding a cold-hardy rootstock. “You should ask for either
the Flying Dragon or regular trifoliate orange as the rootstock.
Either of these is suitable to the cold weather we have. The dwarf
Flying Dragon will also do well in a container. Be careful to avoid the Swingle
rootstock,” continues Nesbitt, “as we believe it less cold-tolerant.
Retail nurseries should be able to tell you what the rootstock is. If they
don’t know, then look elsewhere.” Some popular satsuma varieties available
in our area include the Owari, Brown’s Select, and Early Armstrong.
Satsumas may be planted in the fall; however, James Miles, County Extension
Agent in Mobile, advises an early spring planting. “Anytime between
March and May is the optimum time for planting as foliage will avoid the
stress of bad weather. Selecting a site on the south side of your
home will give additional protection to your plants from the cold north
winds,” adds Miles.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System states that the most critical
time in the life of a citrus plant is its first growing season. Trees
should be watered every seven to ten days unless rainfall is sufficient.
The area around the trees should be kept free of weeds and grass. Nesbitt
adds, “Pruning is usually not necessary in the early years of development.
As plants continue to grow, some pruning in spring or early summer may
be necessary to maintain a manageable tree.”
“Based on fifty years of weather data, on average, we have about two freezes
a year that can kill a satsuma. If the cold weather arrives gradually,
satsumas can survive temperatures of fifteen to twenty degrees,” explains
Nesbitt. “However, if the temperature drops suddenly or remains in
the teens for several days, then further steps must be taken to ensure the
trees’ survival.”
Banking, the piling of dirt from the base of the tree to several inches
above the graft line, is the minimum amount of protection that you can provide
your trees. It protects the graft and the lower trunk, and if a killing freeze
occurs, the tree will grow a productive canopy over time. Tommy Cook, nursery
pro from the Foley Home Depot, planted six satsumas upon his return to Baldwin
County fifteen years ago. By banking his trees in winter, he has maintained
five of the six and enjoys the fruit every year.
Former nursery owner, Rip Christiansen of Elberta, had a grove of one hundred
twenty five satsumas, which he started about ten years ago. He had
had no problems with the weather until last winter when he lost the majority
of his grove. He banks his trees with about one foot of dirt.
Christiansen, who grafts his own trees, plans to start the grove again next
spring.
Another way to protect your citrus from the below freezing temperatures
is to build a mini-greenhouse to enclose the tree. This type of protection
can be accomplished easily according to James Miles of Mobile. Simply
build a frame of 4x4’s or PVC around the tree and drape plastic over the
frame. “Be careful that the plastic does not touch the plant,” advises
Miles. “If the plastic does touch the plant, damage can ensue.”
Monte Nesbitt agrees with the frame method, but he adds, “If temperatures
are dropping into the teens, you should provide an internal heat source
as well. You can string Christmas tree lights around the tree or place
a floodlight or heat lamp inside the plastic. Otherwise, the air inside
the plastic will eventually become as cold as the outside air.”
Water protection, yet another method of protecting plants during cold weather,
works well whether you have a few trees or a number of trees. Set up sprinklers
so that each plant will receive a constant application of water on the
trunk and largest branches. Start the sprinklers before the air temperature
reaches 32 F so that the water lines will not be frozen. The water
should run all night and keep running until the air temperature gets warm
enough to begin thawing the ice that forms on the plant. Young trees will
do well if the sprinkler puts out around 10 gallons per hour. Older trees
will need more. Both the heated “greenhouse” method and the freezing water
method should be necessary only a few times each winter.
Citrus trees may also be cultivated in large pots. Meyer lemons,
kumquats, Persian or Key limes, or satsumas all do well in containers.
The Southern Living Garden Book advises the planting of citrus in containers
at least one and one half feet in diameter. The soil mix should be
light, well drained, and contain a slow-release fertilizer. Containers can
be left outside during most of the year; however, if a freeze is predicted,
the pot can easily be moved into the garage or storage shed if it is placed
on rollers.
Raising citrus is relatively easy, but it does take a bit of time to ensure
a good crop. Citrus trees provide year-round greenery, delicious
and nutritious fruit, and are a plus in any landscape. With careful selection
and preparation, you can enjoy fresh fruit from your very own yard.
Let’s bring the citrus back to L.A.!
For more information visit
the Alabama Extension System’s website at www.acesag.auburn.edu, contact
the Gulf Coast Regional Research and Extension Center in Fairhope at 334-990-8417,
or consult The Southern Living Garden Book, published by Oxmoor
House.