Did you know that citrus fruits are berries botanically? Or that citrus is native to Southeast Asia? In fact, in many languages, they are known as Chinese Apples. Here are some more citrus fun facts!
From Color Changes to Record-Breaking Lemons
Christopher Columbus Brings Oranges to the New World
Oranges first reached the New World in 1493, carried aboard ships commanded by Christopher Columbus. Soon afterward, the Spanish brought more citrus to Florida. Citrus loved the tropical climate.
Citrus Fun Facts
- Even though most are cold-sensitive, citrus turns colors because of temperature. If they don’t get cooler air, which denotes fall, they may stay green. Many citrus grown in tropical areas stay green. Quite often, the ones we buy at the grocery store have had color added.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest lemon ever was grown in Israel and weighed eleven pounds and 9.7 ounces! Its diameter was 29 inches!
- Citrus are rich in vitamin C and fiber and are a good source of antioxidants, making them heart-healthy.
How to Grow Citrus
Best of all, citrus is not difficult to grow—if you’ve got the sun.
Being native to an area closer to the equator, citrus is a sun lover. Indoors for the winter, when days are short and sunlight is weak, supplemental lighting may be necessary. I have a Meyer lemon, a key lime, and two kumquats that winter indoors in a full south-facing window. I get the best results if I augment with a grow light on cloudy days.
Choose the Right Soil
Citrus must be potted in soil consisting of peat moss, perlite, and sand. I use Espoma Organic’s Cactus Soil (it says you can use it for citrus, and mine do fine). Feed with a fertilizer that is specifically for citrus. Allow the soil to dry to touch about halfway down, but do not go so dry that the leaves droop or curl.
How to Pollinate Citrus
Citrus is self-pollinating, so outdoors, you don’t need to worry about fruit set. Indoors for the winter, however, we don’t have fresh breezes moving pollen around, so you’ll get a better fruit set if you take a Q-tip and gently go from flower to flower. By the way, remember that citrus trees tend to set more fruit than they can realistically support, so plants tend to abort about a third of what they set.
Plant, Grow, and Enjoy!
If you’ve got a sunny spot, come on in and try it. Nothing beats a cold glass of iced tea with your OWN lemon squeeze to liven up the taste.