Citrus Tree

slaterio

Hi

About 11 years ago I stuck a pip from a tangerine type fruit into a plant pot and it sprouted and started its journey upwards (now about 4/5ft) . It has gone through many trials such as leaf loss, nasty aphid attack and a lack of attention from its owner - me. I have never done anything to it, except water and repot ever now and then but nothing else. I was going to put it into the allotment as it has never done anything but after looking at this week, there are loads of white blossoms on it! Does this mean that it is going to fruit? The flowers are white and where they have died back, what remains is a small green ball at the base. Do I need to do anything with it?

Farway

Lucky you, sounds like your own tangerines for Christmas

I would not put it on allotment, keep it warm & cosy outdoors at home for summer and do let us know as the fruits develop

Still waiting for the grapefruit my son planted years ago, you have given me hope as it has had simialr treatment to your tangerine

Chris25

Several years ago, I grew a few pink grapefruit trees which got far too big for the dining room and I had to donate them to friend's offices. They too blossomed and like yours, small 'fruit' would form but they never completely ripened, unfortunately. Still, they were nice plants and had a lovely scent You may be luckier though!

I didn't lavish a lot of attention on them but I did pinch out the shoots to make them bushier. I also used to give them a water mist in the winter and put them outside for the summer.

slaterio

Thanks Farway and Chris25,
Yes I have decided not to put it on the allotment and it will remain in our conservatory close to a radiator for the time being. What i didn't mention was that as the years have gone by I have placed 3 more pips in the same pot and these have come up too, roughly 12" tall now. I have seperated them now into different pots and they have one main trunk with one limb with leaves on- what do I pinch out?

Chris25

You'll probably find that they don't actually need to be next to the radiator - needs the higher temps to fruit well though, I think.

regarding the pinching out.... I just periodically nipped the new growth but with a tangerine, you may not need to.

**found this regarding care for citrus - may be useful info on here for you http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/citrus_feature.shtml

slaterio

Thanks again Chris25- the web link is fab. I have moved it 12" away from current position so will see how it goes. I did notice that some of the leaves were sticky, does this mean that it is another aphid attack? What is the best/ greenest method (I know that this may be a contradiction in terms) to get rid of these blighters?
Cheers

Chris25

there are a few tips on here - http://www.toptipsforgirls.com/tip/2568/how_to_kill_greenfly_organically/ I use a proprietary brand of soft soap.
Incidentally, spraying with a water mister helps prevent red spider mite;)