Q. Why does your list of recommended
fruit trees have no citrus? I understand the problem with freezing during the
winter but nurseries and garden centers here sell citrus. If I could provide some sort of wind block from cold winter
winds and some frost protection, would lemons or oranges have a chance or are
they just generally doomed?
A. Generally, I do not recommend growing citrus in the Las
Vegas Valley. Is citrus grown here? Yes, it is growing successfully in many
backyards. So why don’t I recommend growing citrus? Because many planted in our
Valley die during freezing winter temperatures. Some don’t.
Vegas Valley. Is citrus grown here? Yes, it is growing successfully in many
backyards. So why don’t I recommend growing citrus? Because many planted in our
Valley die during freezing winter temperatures. Some don’t.
Successfully growing citrus is better than a crapshoot. The
overall climate of the Las Vegas Valley is too cold during the winter to recommend
citrus. However, there are protected nooks and crannies in people’s backyards
that allow for citrus to be grown. These protected nooks and crannies are
called microclimates.
overall climate of the Las Vegas Valley is too cold during the winter to recommend
citrus. However, there are protected nooks and crannies in people’s backyards
that allow for citrus to be grown. These protected nooks and crannies are
called microclimates.
The major limitation for citrus here is cold winter
temperatures. Cold winter temperatures are made more lethal when accompanied by
strong winds. Remove these two obstacles and citrus does well.
temperatures. Cold winter temperatures are made more lethal when accompanied by
strong winds. Remove these two obstacles and citrus does well.
After an ideal microclimate is found, citrus must be healthy
to survive our extremes of heat and cold. Amend the soil with compost at
planting time. Do not apply citrus fertilizers after August 1. For long-term
health of the tree, avoid surrounding it with rock and desert landscaping.
to survive our extremes of heat and cold. Amend the soil with compost at
planting time. Do not apply citrus fertilizers after August 1. For long-term
health of the tree, avoid surrounding it with rock and desert landscaping.
And finally, choose fruit that you want combined with
tolerance to freezing temperatures in your microclimate. Tolerance to winter
temperatures is best with kumquat followed by mandarin orange, Myers lemon
(only Myers) and grapefruit. Least tolerant to cold are the limes, true lemons
like Ponderosa or Eureka and some of the specialty oranges.
tolerance to freezing temperatures in your microclimate. Tolerance to winter
temperatures is best with kumquat followed by mandarin orange, Myers lemon
(only Myers) and grapefruit. Least tolerant to cold are the limes, true lemons
like Ponderosa or Eureka and some of the specialty oranges.
Planting citrus here is
not for everyone. Proceed with caution and look at it as a fun experiment in
gardening.