Monday, April 26, 2021

CITRUS DIED IN THE FREEZE NOW A NEW PLAN

 So...after the great freeze of 2021, we lost the citrus.  There was nothing we could do to save them in this type of cold (single digits) short of moving them inside or onto the porch with some lights nearby.

But of course they were in the ground.

Here was the orange tree.  Brown and brittle all the way down to below ground level.

Lemon tree.  It was not coming back either.


Lime tree, also not coming back.

We waited to see if there was any growth coming but this weekend, I did the scratch test at the base and it was brown and brittle on all three.  There was zero growth coming in.  In  fact, the lime tree just fell over at the base on its own.  They've all been removed.

So that got us to thinking.  The whole point of putting the citrus in now is just like that of the other fruit trees that we have planted; we've done it so that by the time we're living out there, we'll have producing fruit trees to enjoy without waiting years.  The other trees are doing great and are on track to be large and producing.  But hey, we'd also really love to have fresh lemons and limes and even some snacking oranges but until we're there, how do we let the trees grow but be able to care for them in these freezes?  Ideally, MOVING them inside the house or barn or even onto the porch for a night or two with freezing temps would be best.  As one of you suggested, an "orangery" would be an option too as would a greenhouse large enough to move them into when cold weather threatens.  Already doing some research on those. 

Image courtesy of wikicommons


How do we move them if they are in the raised beds?  We don't.  But what if they are in large containers?  Well that could be a game changer.

Heck, there have been many times when we've been in the garden centers and saw citrus trees that hadn't been sold but are covered in fruit, still living in their little 5 gallon black plastic containers.  If we put them in large clay pots (we don't like plastic), we could move them around to protect them and then, in a few years, we could still put them in the ground when we're there to protect them at 2am if necessary.

Of course, if they were producing well in containers we could also just leave them in there.


Now we're looking for the right sized citrus trees at the right price and we'll go ahead and get them (lemon, lime, orange) and just leave them in their garden center containers while we figure out the best larger pots.

A plus for us would be that this will open the three former citrus beds to plantings of other fruit trees or bushes (win/win/win!).  We have almost exhausted our list of fruit varieties that will grow here but there are still a few.  We know we can grow asparagus and herbs and such but we'd like to keep this area behind the house as the fruit/sweet plantings and then use the extra raised beds in the big garden for more veggies, herbs or perennial vegetables such as asparagus.

We've got some ideas and we're working on that part of it now...in fact we have already bought one new tree, stay tuned.


19 comments:

  1. Dang, sorry to hear that you lost your citrus trees.
    Sounds like you have a great plan for upcoming years.
    Maybe you could try other fruit trees like the Persimmons; Apricot Trees; Nectarines; Plums; Pomegranates or other variety of apple trees.

    You may want to check and talk to citrus farmers that are in your Houston area and maybe they could give you some suggestions/tips on growing citrus trees and the best variety to grow.

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    1. Yep, Colleen has a great idea Tomato Thymes. I'll definitely ask around about that. And yes, we have three ideas, stay tuned.

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  2. The orangerie still sounds like the least trouble and a sure-fire way to keep them alive. In pots they will need watering often. Sorry for all the loss.

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    1. Thank you, yes, we're thinking of the future now (well we always try to but for citrus we're going to have to plan ahead, ha). It's ok for the loss, we learn from our mistakes.

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  3. Keep them in pots for a year oe so. bury the post an inch or two in the ground so they can draw water from the ground. If the weather turns bad take your dolly and put them inside for a few days. put them back in the little hole they were setting in later.

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    1. Oh that's an interesting idea. I like that. Plus the'll probably sit better than just "on the ground". It would look more permanent. Thank you!

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  4. The Big Freeze killed so much citrus. So sad about your trees. The pots seem the way to go for you now, especially since you are not living there.
    I salivate over the orangery on the TV show “Escape to the Chateau.” The people who bought and renovated the chateau use the orangery for wedding receptions, which are their main source of income. But I would love to see it full of citrus trees!

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    1. So sad. It's stunning how much citrus was lost. I know you lost some too. So sorry for that. OK we've never watched Escape to the Chateau but now I'm curious! Maybe we'll have the only orangery in all of the county, ha.

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  5. I have grown citrus in large pots and moved them indoors during winter cold weather. Word of caution though- plastic pots are best if you plant to move them because these plants can get to be incredibly heavy and clay pots make a move difficult plus they can crack in the cold. I have some gorgeous fake looking clay pots. They were pricey( $150) but have lasted 20 years or more.

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    1. Now see, I always heard plastic was not good for the health of the plants but are wonderful to share this info. I know large clay/ceramic can be very heavy. We would like the look of clay but not the weight. I need to find the right size. Bit enough to produce fruit but not gigantic. Need to research some sizes. Thank you for this info!

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  6. Have you thought of a bed of "Rainbow Swiss Chard"? I have some in a large pot,and it's so pretty..and tasty

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    1. Oooh, we'll have to check that out. I think Swiss Chard grows in this zone. And rainbow sounds like it's pretty to see and well if it's yummy to eat then alright!

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  7. That is so sad! Sounds like you're on to a good plan though. Citrus fruits are a wonderful addition to the diet and one of the things that are worth the extra effort.

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    1. YES, we love it and they are so useful and so healthy. Hoping to figure out something that will work. Not willing to give up on them yet, ha.

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  8. Have you considered figs? My daughter lives in Charleston, SC and a few years ago we had over a week of record busting ice and snow. She had just planted a fig the summer before so it was small and vulnerable. It lost some of the upper branches but came through like a champ and even set fruit the following summer.

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    1. yes, definitely going to do that. That's one of the three we're thinking of. And I LOVE figs. 2nd Man not so thrilled with them but I think I can convert him, ha. Stay tuned!

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  9. I'm sorry the trees didn't make it.

    I dream of having a greenhouse to grw citrus. I use 3-4 lemons per day year round, and this time of year I have 3-4 tangerines a day.

    Over the years I've collected probably 20-25 large double hung windows and 6 patio doors with the intention of building a greenhouse on the South side of one of our buildings here on the farm. We also got the glass from a large sunroom addition - picture the front of a Wendy's restaurant - and we got it for free. It's tinted, so that may not be especially good for growing, and just be an addition to the house. Still in the planning stages.

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    1. Yeah it's a bummer but we'll figure out something. I think a greenhouse would be great but that's going to have to be a bit further down the road. I've seen some of those windows turned into greenhouses. SO cool. Can't wait to hear your progress.

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