Citrus Need Ample Food

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 6

Citrus Need Ample Food

An important point in growing citrus in the garden is to feed them adequately as they are gross feeders. A lack of nitrogen frequently is indicated by poor foliage colour, weak growth, light bloom, flower and fruit drop and dying branches, wnlle a thicker, rougher rind and looser, more open core of the fruit Is associated with phosphorous deficiency. As a general guide annual applications of blood and bone at the rate of l|lb a tree a year for each year of the tree’s age up to a maximum of 151 b can be given. Alternatively a 5:4:1 sulphate of ammonia: superphosphate: muriate of potash at lib a tree to a maximum of 101 b, or a maximum of 501 b of poultry manure, can be applied instead. Applications spread over the full area over-hung by the foliage should be split up with about two-thirds applied in August and the rest in February.

Both frost damage and dryness at the roots Can cause fruit and flower drop, apart from a lack of nitrogen end possible insect damage. If planting has been done at the right time and in a suitable place there should not be a need to provide frost protection, which through inadequacies of its siting and construction often causes trouble instead of giving protection. Any form of protection provided should be kept well away from the plant. Citrus play host to numerous Insect pests which alone or together can cause rapid decline and subsequent loss or even complete lack of fruit.

Both scales of various kinds and aphides are sap sucking, some of which exude a honeydew which attracts the disfiguring sooty mould fungus. Mites are also sap sucking but are more prevalent in the hotter drier months over summer. All three of these pests

cause a similar sickly look to the foliage and pronounced infestations can cause stunting. Legf roller caterpillars rasp the surface of the fruit, chew the leaves and indicate their presence more profoundly by rolling the leaves tightly together with a fine webbing where they hide when not feeding. Of the diseases brown rot is possibly the most liktly one tc trouble local specimens. This rain-spread fungus causes leaf wilt and fall and fruit develops a spongy grey rot which envelops it completely in a short time. In addition to spraying control can be facilitated by suppressing all weeds and grass in the vicincity of the citrus tree. The following spray schedule if maintained can give relative freedom from pests and diseases, though additional applications may sometimes be needed:

APPLICATION PERIOD MATERIAL RATE: 2 galls. CONTROL December—after main petal fall and again 3 weeks later. Copper oxychloride. D.D.D. Summer oil. IJoz Joz 1} fluid oz Pests. Fungus diseases. Early M»rch. Summer oil. i Pint. Aphides, scales, mites. Increase to i pint if scales present May. Copper oxychloride. Summer oil. lioz ■> i pint. * Fungus diseases, scales.