Growing Citrus in Containers

When you start growing your own food, more varieties of fruit and vegetables become available to you beyond the selection you find in grocery stores. The produce section may offer one or maybe two varieties of each fruit or vegetable, especially when it comes to citrus. You have many more choices at the nursery, where you can choose from multiple types of oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, lemons and limes.

Growing citrus at home can be fun and delicious. Choosing exactly which varieties to grow might be the hardest part of the endeavor. Keep in mind that, whichever type you choose, most citrus trees require the same conditions to grow and thrive. Think about the kind of citrus you and your family would enjoy most often, and start there.

If your space is limited and you can’t plant citrus in the ground, here’s good news: Citrus trees can be grown in any adequately sized container with a few basic requirements.

Follow these pointers to grow citrus successfully in Northeast Florida. Watering citrus properly is very important. Citrus do not like to remain wet or moist. Make sure that the soil dries out thoroughly before watering. With that in mind, citrus are not cactus and cannot go for weeks without being watered either. Citrus will flower in the spring, followed by fruit which matures in about 10 months and, depending on the variety, can be harvested early winter when ripe.

SEVEN TIPS FOR POTTED CITRUS

1. A pot of at least 30 by 30 inches is recommended.
2. Add 3 inches of gravel at the bottom of the pot to ensure proper drainage.
3. Premium potting soil found at a locally owned garden center is best.
4. Choose an organic citrus fertilizer and follow instructions on package.
5. Make sure that your tree receives at least 4–6 hours of direct sunlight every day.
6. Be prepared to protect/cover during hard frosts.
7. The tree should be pruned for shape as it grows.