- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Citrus
Think of it as a zesty bonus to surviving a very dry year.
Throughout the Sacramento area, citrus trees, particularly lemons and oranges, are bearing heavy harvests this month. This unexpected bounty can be a challenge to home cooks to keep up with all those backyard Meyers and juicy Valencias.
But one look around town is enough to convince even those without a tree of their own: Citrus grows very well here.
Even if you don't have space (or ground), you can still have your own little lemon tree or lime bush. Most dwarf citrus will grow well in pots and still bear fruit.
Growing citrus in containers allows gardeners to move their sensitive trees to warmer spots on particularly cold nights. For trees planted in the ground, chose a location that has some protection and added warmth, such as along a south-facing wall or near the house (which tends to radiate a little heat at night).
Citrus ripens only on the tree, a process that takes many months. The only way to tell if citrus is ripe? Pick one and taste it. If it's really sour or lacks juice, it likely needs more hang time.
The best place to “store” your backyard bonanza is on the tree. Pick your fruit as you need it.
When harvesting, don't pull off the fruit; it will rip the skin. Instead, gently twist until the fruit comes free, or snip the stem with scissors or garden shears.
The above are exerts from the Sacramento Bee's Garden section. Click here to see the entire article.
Colusa County has a lot of citrus! It's so bright and cheery during the winter months. When you bite into an orange section you think of the tropics and not the dreary fog or lack of rain.
/h1>