Unusual Citrus
Recently on ‘Burke’s Backyard’ Don showed a photograph of a very strange rose growing out of the centre of another rose! Don invited any viewers with interesting or unusual things happening in their gardens to drop him a line, and several people responded enthusiastically. One viewer sent in a photograph of a lemon growing out of a lemon, and another actually sent us a box containing a lemon growing out of a lemon!
Citrus bud mite
Those lemons are distorted because they have developed from buds infested with Citrus bud mite (Eriophyes sheldoni). These mites are so tiny they cannot be seen with the naked eye. They feed in the unopened flower and leaf buds, which may blacken and fall off, or they may develop into deformed leaves and fruit. Badly distorted fruit is often dropped before it matures. ‘Eureka’ lemons and ‘Washington Navel’ oranges are the most common hosts for the mite, but all citrus may be attacked. Only a few lemons or oranges are usually affected, and the fruit is still quite edible, so spraying is not necessary. However, if you are worried, Don suggested spraying with white oil or Pest Oil when plants are coming into flower or during flushes of new growth.
Massive mandarin tree
We also received a letter with an enclosed photograph of an extraordinary mandarin tree. In fact, at about 10m (30′) tall it could possibly be the biggest in Australia. If you think your mandarin tree is bigger, Don would love to hear from you. Send your letter to:
Burke’s Backyard, PO Box 929, Willoughby, NSW, 2068.
If you’d like your photographs returned, don’t forget to include a stamped self addressed envelope.
Further reading
To find out more about pests and diseases on citrus or plants in general, you may like to refer to Judy McMaugh’s book ‘What Garden Pest or Disease is That?’ (Lansdowne Press, $50). It is available from book stores or from Floriligeum, 145 St Johns Road, Glebe, NSW, 2037. Phone: (02) 9571 8222.
