Citrus Tree Farming for Beginners

Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit are popular and rich in important nutrients like vitamin C.

They are also extremely valuable in cooking and making other products like jellies, candies and marmalades. However, if you're looking to start your own citrus fruit farming operation, there are only certain climates where you can be successful.

Citrus thrives in states like Florida, where it is warm and humid with a lot of rainfall year-round.

Citrus growers in states like Arizona and California can also have a successful operation and normally only have to add nitrogen. Those in other areas that are non-humid and go through long dry-spells will need heavy irrigation to grow quality crop. So, if you live in those types of areas, be prepared for a larger cash investment.

Other important things to know:

The growing season is from February through October.

Citrus trees aren't actually trees, they are considered shrubs because they never go dormant and they need hedging year-round. They are also the opposite of other crops, getting sweeter the longer they stay on the tree as opposed to ripening once picked.

Be prepared for constant maintenance as citrus trees require water regularly and nutrients that need to be added if they aren't getting enough depending on the soil type.

Those nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, calcium and potassium. They will need fertilized at a minimum of two times per year as well as pruning regularly. They also need to be protected from frost at all times if you live in a colder climate.

While the time and effort might be a lot at times in order to produce high-quality citrus fruit, they have the highest value when it comes to international trade. Worldwide production is estimated at over 70 million tons annually with no signs of slowing down.

If you're looking for land to start your own citrus farm, or add to your operation, contact our experts at United Country Real Estate. Find a farm land professional near you at www.UnitedCountry.com.

Sources:

https://www.farms.com/farming/citrus-tree-farms.aspx

https://www.farms.com/farming/citrus-tree-farms.aspx