| I have a 2-year old semi-dwarf lemon tree called "Pink Lemonade". It has never borne fruit. I have fed, watered and sprayed it, but no luck. It is otherwise very healthy looking, but I do have trouble with ants and aphids on it. What am I doing wrong or shall I give up on every having a crop of lemons? |
| If you tree is not flowering, it might be too young to produce fruit. If this is the case, continue the good care you're providing and wait patiently for it to mature. If your citrus tree is producing flowers but not fruit, the growing conditions are not quite right. They require all day sunshine and moist, but not soggy wet soil. When you water, so apply slowly and deeply to thoroughly soak the root mass. How often to water depends on your soil characteristics, rainfall and weather. Use a soil probe to help determine how often to apply water (such as a pointed stick or metal rod) and poke it into the soil. It will move easily through moist soil and stop at dry soil. As trees mature, be sure to water out to their canopy or drip line, where new roots are growing. To keep water from evaporating too quickly, mulch over the root area. This will also help suppress weeds. Citrus are also heavy "feeders." Apply fertilizer three times per year, using 1/3 of their total annual nitrogen requirements. Apply in Jan/Feb, April/May, and Aug/Sept. The amount to apply depends on their age and size. Follow package instructions and water thoroughly before and after fertilizing. Good luck with your citrus! |
