Before growers in the cold-hardy citrus region plant their first trees, they need to ensure the planting site is viable for production.
Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, talked about the importance of site selection at the recent Citrus Health Forum held in Quincy, Florida.
“You have to think about the site,” Shahid said. “What is the nutrition level of your site? What’s your water source? In North Florida, you’re not just thinking about irrigation; you’re thinking about orchard freeze protection. What is the topography? What is the aphid and phytophthora history? Is there any nematode history? If there is some history, you have to do the mitigation techniques.”
According to Shahid, a key point to remember is that trees could be potentially compromised if planted in low-lying areas. He said these areas are susceptible to excess water that might accompany a heavy rainfall, which is a common occurrence in Florida. Trees planted uphill also experience less freeze damage because air moves to the low-lying areas.
“We have seen a clear difference between groves in low-lying areas. They are more damaged versus uphill,” Shahid said. “Citrus is sensitive to hypoxia. When your soil is not well drained and you are running freeze protection, you are flooding your soil. You are going to kill the beneficial microbes in the soil.”
Planting season is just around the corner for citrus growers. Shahid said it is usually done from April through July. This allows time for the trees to become well established ahead of any potential freeze event the following winter. “We have to give the plants time to establish their roots. If you were planting in August or September, and winter was coming, the plants would not be able to establish, and a freeze would harm them more,” Shahid said.
By Clint Thompson