Soil Type
Good soil for citrus is mixed soil (between sand and clay) with a depth of at least 2 metres, away from ground water.
Temperatures
Citrus are able to grow in temperatures from -2C to +38C. They can tolerant up to -6C overnight if the trees are dormant (i.e. in winter), but during spring or autumn, frost of around three hours is enough to severely damage trees. Trees are also tolerant high temperatures of up to +51C.
Water Requirements
Citrus trees are need a permanent source of irrigation. Whatever the source of irrigation water, it must be free of harmful salts (eg. is sodium chloride salts and oxides of the magnesium-boron salts) and the proportion of these salts in irrigation water must be no more than 0.5 g/l for sodium chloride and 0.05 g/l the magnesium oxide and 0.25 mg/l salts boron.
Heavy irrigation during flowering must be avoided or there is a risk of premature flower fall. Irrigation during fruit formation must be fast, light and frequent until the fruit gains the size of a chickpea.
Nutrition Requirements
Citrus may be grown in a range of soils, ranging from sandy land through the light land, medium and heavy clay soils and each has its positive and negative properties. Fertilization is very important for citrus trees to grow and especially for fruit setting, Organic fertilization is important as are mineral fertilizers, but soil analysis is required to confirm needs.
Harvesting Period
Citrus fruit is harvested according to the requirements of size of variety, color and taste.
Harvesting Methods
Harvesting is by hand, the fruits being cut using sterile scissors. Fruit is boxed and after may be cleaned, washed, dried, sorted and waxed, especially if it is destined for export..
