Question From:
Chuck Sparks in San Juan Cosala, Guadalajara INT
Nature of problem:
off season bloom
Type of Plant (if known):
Washington Navel
Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself):
off season bloom
Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type:
Acid
How often do you water the plant:
three times per week in dry season, less often in rainy season
How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
10 to 12
What type of plant is it:
citrus
How long since you planted it:
14 years. Was 5 years old at planting
Have you fertilised? If so, with what and when:
four tins per year with commercial citrus food
Is the plant indoors or outdoors:
outdoors
What other treatments have you given the plant:
only spray for aphids etc. when needed with Ambush
Upload photo if available:
Other Comments:
I live in a semi tropical area of Mexico. For the first ten years this tree bloomed in the spring, February and March in this area of Mexico, and produced a bounty of fruit. The past few years however, it has been blooming almost constantly and of course the fruit it produces is small, dry and quite tasteless except for the few it now produces from blooms that set in the early spring. My question is: Should I pick off all the blossoms except those that bloom in the early spring? I don’t want to damage the tree as it is still quite healthy and the fruit it produces in November and December is excellent.
Thank you for your advice,
Chuck Sparks
Answer: Hi Chuck, Sounds like you are doing everything right. Modern grafted citrus usually only do well for 15-20 years due to graft incompatibility. That is, over time the tree begins to reject the base that it is grafted onto. My suggestion is to plant a new one nearby and see how things go with both of them. Maybe try a Blood Orange – they are wonderful to eat. Don
