Growing kumquats in containers is relatively easy. With an especially compact shape and smaller size, kumquat trees make ideal container plants. GardenZeus recommends Nagami, or the Nippon orangequat hybrid as the best kumquat varieties for containers. Kumquats in containers are susceptible to the same palate of pests and diseases as are kumquats planted in the […]

GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. Why Are Leaves Curling on My Orange and Lemon Trees? Curling leaves are common on citrus trees and may result from one or more causes. Here are a five of the most-common: Drought Stress: Insufficient soil water […]

Regardless of the amount of garden space you have available, with thoughtful planting and spacing of orange trees, you can achieve a bountiful harvest of citrus fruits. Gardeners with unlimited or large acreage can easily plant citrus trees in orchard-like rows. Gardeners with less space can consider planting orange trees as espaliers along a fence […]

GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. As shapely, evergreen plants with great fragrance and attractive fruits, lemon trees can make spectacular container plants. Gardeners are more likely to be successful if they select the variety with some care and monitor the special challenges […]

Why are the leaves on your lemon trees turning yellow? Two common causes are chlorosis, or iron deficiency, and nitrogen deficiency. Here is how to tell the difference. Chlorosis. Chlorosis is an iron deficiency that appears as lightening or yellowing between veins on older leaves and/or pale green or yellow new leaves. Affected leaves will […]

The combination of navel and Valencia-type oranges is a sometimes-overlooked but critically important one for year-round urban food production in Southern California and other mild-winter areas of California. Oranges produce abundantly in Southern California during winter and early-spring months when few other crop trees are productive. Planting multiple varieties of orange that mature at different […]

How do you know when your oranges are ripe? Are they ripe when they turn orange? Or is the answer more complicated? In Southern California, the majority of oranges varieties mature from winter through spring. Navel oranges are generally harvested from January to late spring, with blood oranges in the same approximate seasonal range to […]

Suffering from too many lemons from your home garden? What a shame.  Take one of your extra lemon fruits and turn it into a project for a young, budding scientist or undercover agent. Harvest those lemons. Twist the base or cut the stem using hand pruners. For fruits too high to reach, use appropriate, stable […]

Much of coastal and inland California is ideal for growing lemon trees. Gardeners choosing lemon trees should be aware that some are more sensitive to cold than others and that lemons in general are more sensitive to cold temperatures than most other types of citrus. Unlike their sweet citrus counterparts which generally require heat to develop […]