See recommendations from UF/IFAS on improving citrus irrigation during the spring flush for trees affected by freezing temperatures.
“We are in this drought, but at the same time, we are seeing a lot of new growth happening … And there is a lot of fruit set or flowering happening … We should be thinking about what we can do to help these leaves flush … Irrigation is going to be very important,” shared Tripti Vashisth, during an All In For Citrus podcast; Vashisth is the assistant director at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center. A Citrus Industry article reported Vashisth’s recommendations for citrus irrigation. See those recommendations below.
Citrus Irrigation Recommendations
The article shared these recommendations for citrus irrigation from Vashisth:
- “…increasing the frequency of irrigation is critical during this period to replenish water lost to new growth. She recommends daily irrigation where possible.”
- “If you cannot do every day, do your best. But make sure the trees are not experiencing any water deficit because the fruit set is going to determine how much fruit you will eventually have…”
- “The fruit that experiences more water deficit are going to have developmental defects, and these fruit will be the ones that will eventually drop. So, it’s really important that we focus on the irrigation as frequent as possible — not more water, the same amount of water, but more frequently applied.”
- “…compost can help Florida’s sandy soils retain moisture and nutrients.”
- “A cytokinin-type product like seaweed applied during the flush and fruit set period also is beneficial.”
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