My Dad rang last night with a problem with his Mandy tree. He asked me to ask all you guys if you can help with the problem. You did so well with his now thriving lemon tree:D

Mandy tree is

3 years old

Lives in Port Augusta

Soil is sandy

Weather is hot as hell in the summer months

Problem is……

When the fruit gets to the size of a golf ball, the tree drops it’s fruit.

Thoughts would be good as Dad is ringing me tonight.:)

Thanks

I’m hardly an expert, but still..

What’s the irrigation like? ad-hoc or regular?

my thoughts would be water, water, water and mulch, mulch, mulch…

What time of year is it when the fruit drop? Is it at the onset of the hot weather?

bon008 said:

I’m hardly an expert, but still..

What’s the irrigation like? ad-hoc or regular?

Not sure Bon, I am guessing its a hose or bucket job. I’ll ask Dad tonight.

bluegreen said:

my thoughts would be water, water, water and mulch, mulch, mulch…

What time of year is it when the fruit drop? Is it at the onset of the hot weather?

Not sure I’ll ask Dad tonight BG.

I was also wondering if the tree was still a bit young for fruiting. Not sure with citrus how these trees work.

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

my thoughts would be water, water, water and mulch, mulch, mulch…

What time of year is it when the fruit drop? Is it at the onset of the hot weather?

Not sure I’ll ask Dad tonight BG.

I was also wondering if the tree was still a bit young for fruiting. Not sure with citrus how these trees work.

I’d probably be expecting fruit if it’s 3 years old. Maybe if he thins the fruit down to only a few, and makes sure the water is pretty consistent?

My fruit trees used to do stuff like this, but they’re all good now that the irrigation system is in…

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

my thoughts would be water, water, water and mulch, mulch, mulch…

What time of year is it when the fruit drop? Is it at the onset of the hot weather?

Not sure I’ll ask Dad tonight BG.

I was also wondering if the tree was still a bit young for fruiting. Not sure with citrus how these trees work.

how long has it been in the ground? 12 months before allowing fruit to set is what is generally recommended.

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

my thoughts would be water, water, water and mulch, mulch, mulch…

What time of year is it when the fruit drop? Is it at the onset of the hot weather?

Not sure I’ll ask Dad tonight BG.

I was also wondering if the tree was still a bit young for fruiting. Not sure with citrus how these trees work.

how long has it been in the ground? 12 months before allowing fruit to set is what is generally recommended.

Not sure…… made a note of this question too:)

Soil sandy.
When the fruit gets to the size of a golf ball, the tree drops it’s fruit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

G’day Dukwoman.
The soil is not water retentive enough. Requires incoorporation of bulk organic matter.
Heavy mulch and consistent watering after fruit set.

Longy said:

Soil sandy.
When the fruit gets to the size of a golf ball, the tree drops it’s fruit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

G’day Dukwoman.
The soil is not water retentive enough. Requires incoorporation of bulk organic matter.
Heavy mulch and consistent watering after fruit set.

Thanks Longy:)

I am so pleased that my dad asked for our help here. Means he listens to me when I rabbit on over the phone to him…..lol

I am so pleased that my dad asked for our help here. Means he listens to me when I rabbit on over the phone to him…..lol

++++++++++++++
Either that or he is just humouring you………..

Longy said:

I am so pleased that my dad asked for our help here. Means he listens to me when I rabbit on over the phone to him…..lol

++++++++++++++
Either that or he is just humouring you………..

Oh bugger, hadn’t thought of that….lol

If the soil becomes too hot, as will happen for the same reasons, then the fruit will drop. Either way, more organic matter and a good mulch will fix near any problem with citrus except drainage.

Longy said:

If the soil becomes too hot, as will happen for the same reasons, then the fruit will drop. Either way, more organic matter and a good mulch will fix near any problem with citrus except drainage.

We had an orange tree in the house we rented when we first moved to Luckyland. Spent the whole winter months in water as the gutter (landlords idea) had to direct the water onto the tree. Best oranges we ever tasted come August.

g’day lucky.
my mandies dropped about 75% of their little unripe fruit. both are 4 years in the ground and both were setting their first decent crop.
i put it down to inadequate watering – altho’ it could have been pure heat – as in 47C in the shade.

apart from more water and manure you might suggest a piece of shadecloth or old cotton sheet over the tree on scorching days.

Heya Lucky! :) I follow GA Jerry’s citrus instructions and as he says, if you don’t give them the attention they need, they sulk.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2634370.htm

Happy Potter said:

Heya Lucky! :) I follow GA Jerry’s citrus instructions and as he says, if you don’t give them the attention they need, they sulk.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2634370.htm

Thanks HP:) I have printed it off and will post to me dad:D

Lucky1 said:

Happy Potter said:

Heya Lucky! :) I follow GA Jerry’s citrus instructions and as he says, if you don’t give them the attention they need, they sulk.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2634370.htm

Thanks HP:) I have printed it off and will post to me dad:D

Cool :) that advise brought my limes back from the brink. Seems citrus are way heavier feeders and drinkers than even I thought

Happy Potter said:

Heya Lucky! :) I follow GA Jerry’s citrus instructions and as he says, if you don’t give them the attention they need, they sulk.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2634370.htm

Awesome, I’ve never seen instructions written so simply and clearly – love dot points!!

Maybe if I get the GA Diary for Christmas this year, I’ll transcribe these instructions into the appropriate dates..

bon008 said:

Happy Potter said:

Heya Lucky! :) I follow GA Jerry’s citrus instructions and as he says, if you don’t give them the attention they need, they sulk.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2634370.htm

Awesome, I’ve never seen instructions written so simply and clearly – love dot points!!

Maybe if I get the GA Diary for Christmas this year, I’ll transcribe these instructions into the appropriate dates..

I love dot points too, easy clear instructions , and that was the first I’d read about not feeding citrus whilst in flower.

one thing not mentioned on the GA link is how much water a citrus actually needs..I still don’t know lol! but I water mine every sat morn rain hail or shine. Except when we get a big dump of rain as we did fri and sat past.
I stick a thin piece of bamboo in next to each fruit , pull it out to check for dampness, and if it’s dry looking then water’s needed.

I’ve also been told that they will actually thrive on greywater moreso than on ordinary water (obviously not if you have chems in your greywater though!). However it was the greywater installers who told me that, so.. grain of salt.

It wouldn’t surprise me though.. must be lots of goodness in all the dead skin cells and such that go down the shower drain…

bon008 said:

I’ve also been told that they will actually thrive on greywater moreso than on ordinary water (obviously not if you have chems in your greywater though!). However it was the greywater installers who told me that, so.. grain of salt.

It wouldn’t surprise me though.. must be lots of goodness in all the dead skin cells and such that go down the shower drain…

I do use grey water on my large lemon tree, but only washing machine rinse water. and get the males to pee on the dripline of the tree ..that fixed a problem lemon that had light green patches between leaf veins.

Happy Potter said:

I do use grey water on my large lemon tree, but only washing machine rinse water. and get the males to pee on the dripline of the tree ..that fixed a problem lemon that had light green patches between leaf veins.

Can’t talk Mr Bon into that one :(

bon008 said:

Happy Potter said:

I do use grey water on my large lemon tree, but only washing machine rinse water. and get the males to pee on the dripline of the tree ..that fixed a problem lemon that had light green patches between leaf veins.

Can’t talk Mr Bon into that one :(

There’s always the ice cream container for you, fill it up with water after and throw that the tree…

Dinetta said:

bon008 said:

Happy Potter said:

I do use grey water on my large lemon tree, but only washing machine rinse water. and get the males to pee on the dripline of the tree ..that fixed a problem lemon that had light green patches between leaf veins.

Can’t talk Mr Bon into that one :(

There’s always the ice cream container for you, fill it up with water after and throw that the tree…

Probably be easier just to pee in the shower.. since that goes out to the citrus.

bon008 said:

Dinetta said:

bon008 said:

Can’t talk Mr Bon into that one :(

There’s always the ice cream container for you, fill it up with water after and throw that the tree…

Probably be easier just to pee in the shower.. since that goes out to the citrus.

LOL! just as easy!

My dad says thanks for all your input:D

If all else fails Lucky call me as I’m close ….and have a chainsaw

LOL

Dinetta said:

bon008 said:

Dinetta said:

There’s always the ice cream container for you, fill it up with water after and throw that the tree…

Probably be easier just to pee in the shower.. since that goes out to the citrus.

LOL! just as easy!

Nah .. peeing in the shower causes unwanted smells in bathroom

Well done gardnerers.. your advice was all good. True., citrus will drop all the fruit if there isn’t enough water available.

drylander1 said:

If all else fails Lucky call me as I’m close ….and have a chainsaw

LOL

heheehhee

your terrible Muriel

Lucky1 said:

drylander1 said:

If all else fails Lucky call me as I’m close ….and have a chainsaw

LOL

heheehhee

your terrible Muriel

A three year old tree and you need a chainsaw?

A pair of secateurs would almost do it from the description.

Pruning is often the kindest cut though.