My Edibles: Citrus Trees WA

Lime - Tahitian

Comments: -

I'm not really sure where this came from (it traveled between rental properties as a friend's mascot), or even if it is a tahitian lime! Unfortunately it never set fruit prior to 2010 and I've not yet had a fruit reach picking stage. This could be because it has been dug up and re-planted roughly every 6 months until now. I've piled about 100 litres of sheep poo around it - I'm hoping this will leach into the soil and improve things a bit ... there are some flower buds so maybe the poo is doing the trick!

This plant suffered badly summer with only a small amount of watering - many of the branches were burnt off. I've sinced discovered that WA citrus need approximately 6 litres of water per day per square metre of canopy and the orange has responded very well to an almost 7-fold increase in water! There are now many new shoots. I've also errected a screen of cardboard boxes around the plant to provide additional shade. Ugly - but it is working.

Hopefully next summer the Jujube will provide some additional shade!

Plant was 'transplanted' in June 2011. I dug the plant up, removed the pale WA sand and replaced with a better quality soil, and re-planted the tree. It seems to have coped with the ordeal OK.

Jan 2012 - it is hard to imagine this is the same plant that struggled last summer. A bit more food and water and it is growing like a champ and covered in fruit. No cardboard this year - just sugarcane mulch.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

ladybugs

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Comments

actual tahitian limes are quite hardy and don't need huge soil improvement. They will establish as long as the rootball settles in. Should be flowering now at that size

Lemonade Tree

Comments: -

Planted in a raised bed and pruned to a standard shape the tree seems to be coping with WA soils and summers. It is flowering like crazy and I am pinching the flowers off because it is very young - but clearly very keen to grow and fruit. The leaves are going yellow - so I have tried epsom salts to provide extra magnesium. I've also added some trace elements (including iron). It is healthy but it just doesn't seem happy or as bushy as the orange tree. Additional water is helping.

I re-dug the plant, replaced the local soil and replanted to provide better nutrition. This has helped, but the tree almost looks as if it is being attached by something as som tips are dying and leaves appear to be trying to grow back ... but no inspection has revealed any pest. It has only grown 50cm since planting.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

none

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Orange - Valencia

Comments: -

Planted in a raised bed and pruned as a standard the older leaves often look a little dull, I've piled poo around it and added specialised fertiliser ... but it just seems a bit lack-luster. Hopefully it will soon obtain the zest for life. It is flowering - but doesn't seem to put on loads of lush new growth.

Approximately 2 months after the poo episode and some extra loving ... this plant is covered in flowers and new growth. I think WA soil (even improved) just does not have the nutrients many plants require and additional compost etc is requried

This plant suffered in summer with only a small amount of watering. I've sinced discovered that WA citrus need approximately 6 litres of water per day per square metre of canopy and the orange has responded very well to an almost 7-fold increase in water! It is still very prone to disease and struggles after a few hot days, but it is going to make it.

In June 2011 I transplanted this tree into better soil. So far the transplant has gone well with no apparent stress.

It hasn't flowered that much in the summer of 2012 - lot of green leaves. Come autumn I think I'll re-improve the soil (pig poo?) I've mulched with sweet straw.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

none

Organic Status:Partially Organic

lime - sublime (Seedling)

Comments: -

A dwarf style lime grown with the hope that it will fruit whilst adding interest to an area close to the house (where plants cannot be put in the ground due to an extended slab). Something is making it very sick, and it lost all its leaves. I added coffee (for nutrient not pH) and the sticks are now covered in healthy looking little leaves. I have sprayed to prevent futher infection, as of Oct 2010 it is bushing up nicely. Now in Jan 2011 it is a solid green bush without any sign of disease. Hopefully next year it will make some limes! By April 2011 I've got a few flowers - but I don't think I'll get any limes as I've not seen a bee for ages. (developers seem to be knocking down trees where wild bees are ... I do need to get my own!)

A decent prune in August 2011 and thinning of the fruit means that I've got about 6 fruit growing to maturity. The plant gets little attention, but seems happy enough over winter.

An attack of scale in November 2011 caused me to resort to chemical relief. Another massive prune to keep the plant compact. In Jan 2012 - now scale free I've set this sublime free into the garden

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

home made sprays (oil dish-washing liquid) to supress the major leaf minor infestation - there doesn't seem to be any leaf minor anymore but I think the infection was so bad that almost all the leaves fell off. The new leaves appear healthy.

C

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question:

Lemon - Eureka (Grafted)

Comments: -

Everyone needs a true lemon in their garden! This little guy should be vigorous, and hopefully thorn free. I'm trying to grow it as part of a citrus hedge. It hasn't enjoyed the transplant despite the good soil.

The Eureka had to get moved in Jan 2012. It was growing faster than I ever anticipated and needed tip pruning every weekend. It has grown over 50cm in less than 6 months despite regular pruning. It has been relocated to where it can grow up taller away from the house. Its width will have to be managed as it is against a fence, but it can still spread and grow up.

Planted: 2011

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Mandarin - Nules (Clementine) (Grafted)

Comments: -

Included as part of a small citrus hedge (along wiht the Eureka lemon - which has since been moved and replaced with the sublime) this should be maintained as a small bush - and hopefully keep me with sufficient tasty mandarins!)
In Jan 2012 I pruned it once again to keep it low (now about 75cm). It is becoming very bushy.

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Finger Lime - Grafted (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

tasted one and loved it, bush food :)

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: dynamic lifter

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control:

none

Organic Status:Organic

Grapefruit - Flame ^9/10

Comments: -

The plant was quick to bear lots of fruit for such a small tree. Easy to look after.

Fruiting Months April, May, June

Planted: 2009

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 14 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

Large green grasshoppers are the only critters I've found eating my tree. Just remove them by hand.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Orange - Washington Navel (Grafted)

Comments: -

The Washington Navel is one of the most widely known (and grown) citrus. It is a navel orange, meaning that it has a small "navel" (actually a tiny secondary fruit) and crops mostly over winter in our climate. The Washington Navel variety is so-named because it was distributed through the US by the Washington office of the Department of Agriculture. It has a rich, "classic" orange taste and is generally seedless due to the tree's inability to produce viable pollen.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Mandarin - Honey Murcott (Grafted)

Comments: -

The Honey Murcott is technically not a mandarin, but rather a tangor - a mandarin/orange hybrid. The exact parentage is unknown, but it is believed to have originated from a US Department of Agriculture breeding program. These are sweet and juicy fruit, very more-ish! The fruit matures late in the Australian mandarin season.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. This particular tree is partially overshadowed by our house, and receives morning sun only. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Lemonade Tree (Grafted)

Comments: -

I have never sampled a lemonade fruit but have wanted one for many years - the power of a name I suspect! From what I understand, this fruit is a hybrid of unknown parentage which has resulted in a sweet tasting lemon. I am hoping the fruit will become valuable for summer drinks and just for the pleasure of novelty in the garden.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. This particular tree is partially overshadowed by our house, and receives morning sun only. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Orange - Cara Cara (Grafted)

Comments: -

The Cara Cara is a mutation of the Washington Navel, similar to this variety but with deep pink flesh. They are purported to be less acidic than the Washington Navel and to have slight berry or cherry tones, which should be interesting. In South Africa they ripen slightly earlier than the Washington Navel, which would be useful for extending our orange season, but I'm not sure if this will be the case here in Perth.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Mandarin - Nules (Clementine) (Grafted)

Comments: -

Mandarins are one of my partner's favourites and a great choice for ensuring a supply of fresh fruit in winter. Apparently the clementine is a mandarin hybrid originating from Algeria, although there are various conflicting stories on this one. The clementine is supposed to taste less acidic than a regular mandarin or orange. The Nules is a Spanish variety of clementine and matures early in the Australian mandarin season.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. This particular tree is partially overshadowed by our house, and receives morning sun only. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Grapefruit - Thompson Pink (Grafted)

Comments: -

This is a sport of the common Marsh grapefruit variety, differentiated from its parent by its pinkish coloured flesh and seedlessness. Apparently the pink colour only develops under ideal growing conditions and I am not sure that it will receive enough heat in our garden. The taste is similar to Marsh.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Orange - Midknight Seedless (Grafted)

Comments: -

The Midknight Seedless is a variety of valencia orange, which is well known for its high quality juice. The Midknight Seedless ripens slightly earlier than a standard valencia but later than our Washington Navel, which will help to extend the season.

This tree is part of our citrus hedge - a row of citrus trees planted along a north-west facing boundary fence at 1m spacing. The plan is for the trees to grow into an effective hedge that will be kept pruned to about 2m high. We prepared the planting area for the citrus hedge by incorporating "fruit & veg" soil mix into our existing sandy soil. Mushroom compost was worked into the bottom of the planting hole which was then backfilled with more "fruit and veg" mix. The area was lightly mulched with mushroom compost, leaving the area about 8cm around the trunk clear.

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Lemon - Eureka

Planted: 2009

Height 1.6 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Orange - Arnold Blood

Lime - Tahitian

Lime - Kaffir

Grapefruit - Rio Red

Australian Round Lime

Mandarin - Imperial

Planted: 2009

Lemon - Meyer (Grafted)

Lemon Grass

Lemon - Meyer

Orange - Valencia

Finger Lime - Emma (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: -

i love the idea of growing food trees that are so everyday in culinary use, that are native. Such an exciting fruit, sure to impress with fantastic taste as well as appearance. Got a small sub tropical rainforest going and want to use as many natives as possible- (hard with quarantine laws as WA doesn't have rainforests). want to landscape with food plants, eat all of the garden.

Height 0.15 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

nope. will be organic, natural and biological control all the way

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

still v small and in pot. Shold I plant this in a native soil mix (low phosphorous) with lots compost?

Australian Round Lime

Bush Lemon Tree ^8/10

Grumichama - Orange (Cutting) ^8/10