Florida’s recent freeze event has UF/IFAS experts advising Florida citrus growers to hold off on the citrus tree recovery process.
The aftermath of the latest freeze event to hit Florida likely has many growers chomping at the bit to jump into recovery mode. However, experts at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are advising citrus growers to wait to start the citrus tree recovery process. See their recommendations below
UF/IFAS Recommendations for Citrus Tree Recovery Process
A virtual question-and-answer session hosted by the UF/IFAS Statewide Citrus Team before the storm, shared in a Citrus Industry article, had recommendations from UF/IFAS assistant professor Flavia Zambon. She shared that:
- There is too much of winter left to go to attempt recovery efforts for citrus trees; attempting recovery efforts now would place too much strain on citrus trees as they try to push out new flush. Then, if another cold snap hits, all of that new flush would be very vulnerable to the cold temperatures. Citrus trees would likely sustain even more damage and stress as the energy used to produce the new flush would be wasted.
- Florida citrus growers should not water trees immediately after a freeze due to the stress created; consequently, growers should wait “until there is a little bit of warm weather and then resume regular irrigation.”
- If citrus growers notice that they are losing canopy after resuming irrigation, then they should consider reducing fertilization.
- Resuming fertilization should wait until the conditions include sustained warmer weather; Zambon advised that it likely won’t be until late February or early March that sustained warmer weather arrives in Florida.
Additional Information
While the numbers being circulating say that 8 to 10 percent of the state’s citrus may be destroyed or severely damaged, UF/IFAS is asking Florida citrus growers and those in other sectors of the agricultural industry to take the ‘Post-Disaster Assessment of the Agricultural Impacts of Winter Freeze Events (2026)’ survey to get more accurate data. Find more information about it here.
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