To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Weird potted citrus problem
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:40:38 -0600
Ginda,
Citrus don't take cold nearly as well when actively growing., 32
degrees can kill them outright whereas they can normally take 28 or even
down to around 25 when completely dormant. When we were in Florida for the
Dec 89 freeze, my parents trees lost their leaves, but we didn't notice the
cracks in the bark till a few weeks later. The next thing that happened was
that the new growth coming out died, and so they cut back the branches, and
more died so they cut back more. If that starts happening, you might do
just as well to pick a point to cut it down to. I'm sure the roots are fine
so if you have to do this, it will come back out but probably won't bloom
this year. Sounds like it'll do fine though. In future, be sure to
consider whether your citrus are quiet and have had some chilly weather, or
are actively growing when frosts approach.
I'll give you an example of what hardening off can do. During the
drought in the 80's we had had warm weather the entire autumn. In early Dec
we got not just our first frost, not just our first freeze, but a really
massive cold front headed our way. I didn't cover the kale, after all it
had survived subzero temps before. It only got down to 17 degrees that Dec
night, and it killed the kale dead. It was a lesson I have not forgotten!
Donna