Pollenating Citrus

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:25 am

I have about 20-30 flowers about ready to bloom on my Valencia. What are some ways to pollinate them for beter fruit numbers???

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:57 pm

They will fertilize themselves. If there are no bee's present use a small fan to just barley hit the tree with a slight breeze. You can also use a small paint brush or q-tip...

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:27 pm

AHHH, I was hoping you had't left Laaz. Had not seen you around in a while.
I think I might use the paint brush method as maybe too much pollen will get stuck in teh Q-Tip fibers???
How do I go about this? I have no clue where to collect pollen from and where to put it when I get it.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:38 pm

You basically just lightly twist it into one flower & do the same to the next & so on... All of my citrus is blooming now. Should have a great year. My variegated Etrog is blooming for the first time as is my variegated Ponderosa lemon. Satsumas, Grapefruit, Lemons, Navels and everything else...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:24 pm

Yours are blooming now? Please post a picture. I've heard folks say that a child's tiny paintbrush is perfect for gently swishing it around each blossom.

Yeah, like I'm an expert...
If anyone picks this ONE orange, I'll kill....

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:29 pm

Barb I will try to get some pics this weekend.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:34 pm

Will look forward to seeing them. The fragrance...there's nothing like it (if I recall

)

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:11 am

Laaz,
Thanks for the info, My orange is sort of buried in the back of the GH. Going to try and clear a path to it

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:32 am

That is one superb orange tree...what kind?
The fragrance from that many blossoms must knock you over!

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:53 am

It was tagged as a Navel Orange, not to sure beyond that-- still learning about citrus. Have 3 Orange varieties and 3 Key Limes that were bought off the discount shelves after they were frosted. ( Think I paid $3.00 for that Orange in a 5 gallon Winter before last) Seems to take them a season or two to fully recover. Would be nice to get some fruit this year but I am happy that it seems healthy. Also have about a dozen various seedlings from seeds found in fruit last year

The fragrance is nice......Starting a lot of Brugmansias this year for the same reason.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:10 am

Fabulous sale prices! That's the best thing...bringing home a neglected, misshapen plant from a corner of a nursery, and giving it a good home. And look how it's responded. I'm convinced that stressing plants (intentionally) really gets them going again after renewed TLC (in which case mine oughta really take off this year, ha ha).

Yrs ago I also got some seedlings growing from store fruit...they were thorny! needless to say, they're gone now.

On another site, someone was ranting and raving about Meyer (lemon? lime? orange?) apparently really hardy. My orange is Calamondin but I'm still learning too. You're way ahead of me! Congrats.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:14 pm

Steve Navels are self fertile. You don't need to do anything for them. Depending on what other varieties you have, you may need another to pollinate. Clementine needs another Mandarin (Satsuma will not work) or Grapefruit for pollination. If you don't have a suitable pollinator you can use GA3 but be careful with it.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:45 pm

Whoa...you folks know a lot!
So I'll have to look for Navels. Thanks
Barb

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:50 pm

Forgot all about this post. I will get some pics this weekend.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:32 pm

It is meyer lemon. I have four trees in my yard. My oldest one has now survived it's fourth winter outside. It is full of lemons right now and with the warmertemps we have been having (+17C) the green ones are starting to turn yellow. Very good tasting in my opinion.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:02 am

Wonderful that you can grow them outside, Wes.
I finally repotted my old neglected Calamondin "bush". There was almost no soil left in the pot, just roots, had to pull them away from the clay pot. These separated "twins" don't look good, but I was really gentle pulling them apart. The second pic is what it used to look like (it hadn't bloomed in years), hence the drastic action.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:04 pm

They should both take root and develop into strong bushes. They will probably flower this year. I find if I spray the leaves and fertilize them with Miracle Gro they do really well.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:39 pm

They DO like being misted, don't they...but that's odd 'coz all the orange trees I saw while visiting California one year were dry as a bone, hotter 'n Haiti, no humidity. Oh well.
I just bought some new Miracle Gro, the new stuff comes with trace elements which ought to work wonders.

I'll fertilize these two separated twins, even have my pollinating brush ready

BTW, where's LAAZ and his pics of his orange tree?

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:09 am

Sorry I will get some pics today, been doing so landscaping...

Best citrus fertilizer I have found is the Vigoro slow release with all the minors. http://www.vigoro.com/ProductCategories ... ocadoFood/ Our local Home Depot sells it for about $3.50 per bag.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:00 am

Wes, they've got roots, I just hope I didn't damage too many of 'em while transplanting.
Will soon see...

Laaz, $3.50 a bag is a great price! We'll look forward to seeing those pics.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:08 pm

Barb ran out of daylight. I will get some pics up asap. I have to go to Myrtle Beach Tues - Wed so it may be near the end of the week. Sorry but my wife has me on a major landscape deal... Have to go pick up $150 worth of pine straw after work tomorrow...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:19 pm

Just hounding you a bit, that's all.
We'll look forward to seeing your pics NEXT weekend.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:46 pm

Mine is past it's peak, but seems to be holding what hopefully will become many oranges

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:22 pm

You'll have to hold up those branches with sticks!
Gorgeous.
Barb

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Thanks for the Info!

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