Q. We have a question about our 5- 6 year old naval
orange tree. For the past 2 to 3 years we left the fruit on the tree until the
weather man said freezing temperatures were coming. But with just cold nights,
the fruit seems to dry out. Can we pick the fruit early and let the oranges
ripen in the house?
orange tree. For the past 2 to 3 years we left the fruit on the tree until the
weather man said freezing temperatures were coming. But with just cold nights,
the fruit seems to dry out. Can we pick the fruit early and let the oranges
ripen in the house?
A. Just a note. Navel oranges are real tricky here in
southern Nevada. They have to be planted in just the right microclimate or they
will freeze. I forwarded this question to my counterpart in Phoenix, Terry
Mikel, for a response.
southern Nevada. They have to be planted in just the right microclimate or they
will freeze. I forwarded this question to my counterpart in Phoenix, Terry
Mikel, for a response.
Navel
Oranges tend to be a bit persnickety especially when they are young, no matter
the cold, heat or whatever. If you are
seeing lots of leaves and small branch damage, then frost will be an issue.
Oranges tend to be a bit persnickety especially when they are young, no matter
the cold, heat or whatever. If you are
seeing lots of leaves and small branch damage, then frost will be an issue.
Freezing
nights will dry out any citrus fruits. The juice inside freezes and crystals
rupture cell walls and the juice simply drains out. The problem with citrus, if
the fruits aren’t ripe on the tree, they won’t ripen any more off the tree.
Sorry.
nights will dry out any citrus fruits. The juice inside freezes and crystals
rupture cell walls and the juice simply drains out. The problem with citrus, if
the fruits aren’t ripe on the tree, they won’t ripen any more off the tree.
Sorry.
There is
another possibility and I am hoping that the ‘damage’ is due more to being
juvenile and not as much due to freezing damage. If the leaves aren’t hurt by
the freeze, then the fruits wouldn’t be either. As the plant gets more mature,
there will be more “metabolism” going on and thus better fruits.
another possibility and I am hoping that the ‘damage’ is due more to being
juvenile and not as much due to freezing damage. If the leaves aren’t hurt by
the freeze, then the fruits wouldn’t be either. As the plant gets more mature,
there will be more “metabolism” going on and thus better fruits.