Growing citrus trees

Looking for a new challenge? Get the lowdown on growing citrus fruit at home!

If growing lemons, lime, kumquats, grapefruit or oranges in the UK is definitely toward the deep end of the horticultural pool, enthusiastic gardeners should take comfort in the fact that if successful, there can be fantastic yields with a really impressive taste.

Position- Where to plant citrus trees

Citrus trees need plenty of sunlight- they’re designed for Mediterranean climates that provide consistent warm sunlight for many hours per day for much of the year.  To emulate this you’ll need to prioritise sunlight in your positioning of your citrus trees. However, don’t go for too exposed a spot- wind can dry out your moisture-loving trees, so keep it fairly sheltered.

Fertilisers

You will need to provide your citrus plants with fertiliser compost when planting, mulching to reduce moisture loss and prevent cooler temperatures taking a toll. Remember citrus trees (predictably) prefer acidic environments, so choose suitable fertilisers. There are plenty of specialist citrus fertilisers available. Add small amounts of citrus high-nitrogen fertilisers when watering.

Pests & problems

Pests:

Aphids

Scale insects

Mealybugs

Whiteflies

Ants

Citrus thrips

Fungus gnats

Spider Mite

Swallowtail butterfly

Snails

Diseases and conditions:

Root rot

Cold damage

Alternaria brown spot

Greasy spot fungus

Phytophthora

Honeydew, sooty mould & scale (see pests)

Citrus Canker

Melanose

Nitrogen deficiency

Feeding & watering citrus trees

Water

Citrus trees need plenty of water- give them regular watering in summer, preferably with added nutrients. They’ll need less in winter, when the plants do less growing and produce no fruit, though you’ll need to ensure they get plenty of warmth and light in these colder months.

Nutrition

Citrus trees require excellent nutrition. They have complex nutritional requirements which should be catered for to ensure good yields and a healthy plant. The nutrients your citrus tree most requires include nitrogen, iron, zinc, and manganese. Ensure any feed you use favours these minerals, or even better is formulated for citrus.

Growth and development

As your citrus tree develops, control the growth of shoots to prevent heavily overcrowded branches. The plants are fully fertile and should be able to produce fruit themselves. They have small, pretty flowers that makes them an attractive house plant in their own right. The fruit will not need picking immediately, and can last on the tree for some time.