How to Purchase Citrus Tree Seeds
Knowing what kind of citrus tree to buy is vital to having success growing citrus. If you plant a regular citrus tree in a climate that tends to frost over, there is a good chance that the tree will not survive. At the very least, the fruit will be damaged. Hardy citrus trees are capable of growing in a colder climate, while citrus trees like the valencia orange tree thrive in warm, tropical climates. You can buy seeds, but you also can use seed from citrus you buy to eat; each fruit has two to six seeds inside. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Decide if you need a more hardy citrus tree like the yuzu tree and the ten degree tangerine tree, or a citrus tree like the valencia orange tree that needs to be in a frost-free environment. Navel oranges, often from Florida, cannot survive if frosted over. You cannot put a regular citrus tree into a climate that frosts regularly; the tree will die or the fruit will be destroyed. The hardy citrus trees can be put into any climate, because their fruit is not nearly as weakened by the frost. In general, if the first frost of the season in your area is not until November or December, citrus trees will be able to grow.
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Prepare the soil for the tree by mixing in a high nitrogen mix fertilizer with phosphorus. You need to do this about two weeks prior to planting to make sure the soil is ready for the tree. The high phosphorus level in the fertilizer helps the tree survive if there is a frost. It also helps the roots take much faster.
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Purchase your citrus tree seeds from an online resource or from your local gardening center. Citrus seeds generally cost between $15-$25 per package, so avoid seeds that cost much more than that. There are places that sell seeds at about $2.50 for 10 seeds, so if you are paying about $15 per package, you can expect to have roughly 60 seeds per package. That is more than enough to successfully germinate 10-30 seeds for planting.
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Use your own seeds by cutting open your fruit and removing the seeds. Wash them off and place them into a glass of water. Discard the ones that float to the top; these will not grow. Place the usable seeds in the refrigerator to begin the germination process. Use them as you would the purchased seeds.
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