Citrus fruit update

10

Thursday 18 December, 2014 by Uncle Spike

Most of the fruit is now being harvested, dodging in-between storms. Clementines are our primary crop, and sweet and juicy this year, albeit quite a limited yield compared to previous years

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These 40 year old trees are well-established and healthy. Not massively loaded with fruit this season, but they seem to have no problems.

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Whilst on the other hand, others seem to have suffered badly this year. The tell-tale yellowing and upward-pointing of the leaves points to a zinc imbalance in the soil.

I prefer to use ‘goat poo’ as a fertiliser, but it is very very expensive and so I think I’ll have to resort to ammonium sulphate, and triple mix Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash plus Sulphur, then add some zinc this springtime.

It should have been a ‘no fertiliser year’ this time around (goat poo is applied every other year), but looks like 50% of my profits for this year will be swallowed up by this, but such is life; needs must as they say… Around 40 trees were like these, carrying less than 5kg (11 lbs) of fruit, down 95% on their potential.

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And on others, just one patch of fruit

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On the other hand, the oranges are fine this season – albeit a lower yield than general – but they are a much hardier fruit and are doing well this year.

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Lemons by comparison have been plentiful this season. This is the view from our kitchen window – don’t have to run far to grab some !

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