Storing My Citrus Collection for Winter
Our annual project of storing all the citrus and tropical plants for the winter is underway.
As many of you know, I have quite a large collection of warm-weather plants at my Bedford, New York farm, including citrus trees and a vast array of other tropical specimens. Because I live in a four-season region, during colder months, it’s vital these plants move indoors, where the temperature and humidity levels can be controlled. Fortunately, I am able to keep them in high-grade greenhouses, where they can continue to thrive all year long. Last week, my outdoor grounds crew and gardeners started with the citrus plants.
Enjoy these photos.
-
- Here is one of two large hoop houses at my farm, and one of five total greenhouses. This year, I decided to store all my citrus plants here. The weather in the Northeast is starting to get chilly, especially at night – temperatures are now in the 40s and 50s, so it is important to get started on this process. In general, there is more room at my Bedford, New York farm to store my warm-weather specimens, so many from Maine and East Hampton are also returned here after the summer.
-
- Here is the inside. Recently, my outdoor grounds crew went through all the shelving and made sure everything was in good order. This greenhouse works by heating and circulating air to create an artificial tropical environment. The entire structure is built using heavy gauge American made, triple-galvanized steel tubing covered with heavy-duty, woven polyethylene. The shelves on both sides of the greenhouse are tiered to make the best use of the shape of the space. The old lumber and stumps are saved materials from the farm.
-
- It also has manual roll-up curtains on both sides for ventilation purposes. We added some bales of hay, which were made here at the farm, to help insulate the space even more.
-
- My citrus collection has grown quite a bit over the years. This summer, I kept my potted citrus specimens outside in my courtyard behind my Winter House kitchen where I could watch over them myself. They have been very productive this year.
-
- All citrus fruits are members of the genus Citrus. Citrus fruits come in various colors, flavors, shapes, and sizes. Among the most recognizable are oranges and lemons. Less known, the smallest member of the citrus family, is the kumquat. I love them all, and am so fortunate to be able to grow delicious citrus fruits here in the Northeast.
-
- The plants were all brought to the hoop house and placed just outside until I could direct where they would be positioned. If storing for the winter, remember that all citrus plants dislike abrupt temperature shifts and need to be protected from chilly drafts and blazing heaters. Consider the needs of the plants when deciding where to store them indoors.
-
- Here is Dawa carrying one of the plants into the hoop house. Avoid prolonged exposure to heat or cold, with temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit or higher than 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, on this day, temperatures were in the mid-60s to low 70s.
-
- During the cold season, the heater is checked a couple times each day to make sure the temperature remains comfortably warm inside. Too cold, plants will freeze – too hot, plants will rot. This greenhouse is always kept above 50-degrees Fahrenheit.
-
- This hoop house also has three large fans positioned up high to provide better air circulation when needed.
-
- These plants grow a little more each year, so the placement of these specimens changes every time they are stored.
-
- Dawa and Pasang move this potted citrus tree next. They move it very carefully, so the branches aren’t damaged, and the fruits don’t fall.
-
- The tall citrus trees are placed on the gravel floor from back to front while smaller specimens fit on the long wooden shelves.
-
- There is just enough room in between the pots to allow for good circulation, someone to get around with a hose for watering, and of course, so they don’t touch.
-
- Dwarf citrus trees require at least eight to 12 hours of full sunshine. The pots in front are from my gardening collection. You can find out more from my shop on Amazon.
-
- Brian assesses each specimen and trims any branches needed. This is a good time to do this before they are put away for the winter.
-
- Among my citrus plants are these Meyer lemons. Citrus × meyeri, the Meyer lemon, is a hybrid citrus fruit native to China. It is a cross between a citron and a mandarin/pomelo hybrid distinct from the common or bitter lemon.
-
- This is a Citrus hystrix ‘Kaffir Lime’. It is sometimes referred to as the makrut lime and is native to tropical Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The leaves of this tree are often used in Thai cooking, for their delicious flavor and fragrance. The wrinkly fruit also provides a unique flavor that just can’t be reproduced by any other citrus.
-
- Here is another citrus tree – Calamondin, Citrus mitis, an acid citrus fruit originating in China. The space in this hoop house fills up quickly.
-
- This is Citrus limon ‘Pink Lemonade’ – it produces fruits with pink flesh, and little to no seeds. The fruit grows year-round, and is heaviest in late winter through early summer.
-
- There are so many fruits this year. Some of them were the inspiration for my new line of CBD wellness gummies, oils and gelcaps. Learn more from the Canopy web site – just click on this highlighted link. I haven’t bought a lemon or lime in years. These are so much more flavorful than store-bought.
-
- Many citrus specimens have thorns on their branches. Some of the most common citrus trees to sport thorns are Meyer lemons, most grapefruits and key limes. Thorns provide protection from predators, specifically hungry animals that want to nibble away at the tender leaves and fruit. In here, they will be very well protected.
-
- These plants actually spend about seven months of the year in their heated shelters – but they definitely thrive. To simulate the best subtropical environment, we try to keep the temperature in this greenhouse between 60 and 80-degrees Fahrenheit with some humidity. These citrus plants are now safely stored for the cold season ahead, but there are so many more plants to put away. Stay tuned, and I will show you in upcoming blogs.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
