Maintaining Citrus During Winter
                                           (3 July 2014)
 
I have written about the merits of these popular wonder plants in the past, particularly in relation to lemons and their plethora of uses (I still have the fondest memories of my very first sip of homemade lemonade). Here’s how to lavish much-deserved attention upon this versatile crop over the winter chill:

 
  • Protect citrus plants from excessive cold frosty weather, especially younger plants that aren’t as established to local growing conditions. Move potted specimens to a warm, sunny position out of the wind wherever possible, avoiding easterly aspects as early morning light is harsh on frozen foliage. The ideal is for plant foliage to thaw at a more leisurely pace in the shade beforehand. For young in-ground citrus, erecting a frost cloche or building sun a trap, and applying a good covering of fluffy mulch such as straw, all help provide added warmth. Applying mulch to established plants is also beneficial. 

  • Applying soil and foliar conditioners when watering such as comfrey tea or Seasol help thicken plant cell walls and also increase a plant’s resilience to cold.  Comfrey contains much-needed nutrients including potassium, nitrogen, protein, calcium, magnesium, iron and silica – all in high demand when citrus are flowering and fruiting. 

  • When watering cold-sensitive plants, the safest time to do so is during the morning once the frost has thawed – doing so allows the soil’s surface to warm and dry as much as possible before the cool of the evening descends. I have been known to water my precious babies with lukewarm water to keep the soil and plant roots as cosy as possible (I certainly don’t appreciate a douse of sub-zero water being thrown my way in the middle of winter, and nor, can I imagine, do my plants.). 

  •  Apply organic matter as a slow-release fertiliser; natural forms of fertiliser such as compost or well-rotted manure release nutrients gradually, which is better-suited for this time of year when growth has slowed. Organic matter helps build healthy soils and is beneficial to soil life as well as our plants – and it’s free! 

  •  Avoid leaving ripe fruit on bushes for prolonged periods as this draws much-needed nutrients from the plant, making them more susceptible to the effects of cold. A bumper crop is also heavy and could cause branches to drop in wet or windy weather. 

 
For more information about sun traps, check out Bill Mollison’s Introduction to Permaculture (2011: Tagari Publications); or his in-depth, all-encompassing Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual (2004: Tagari Publications).

 
For a simple yet equally divine lemonade recipe follow this link:
http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/lemon-cordial-20130506 -2j2ag.html