How To Grow More Fruit On Citrus Trees

Traditional citrus orchards space trees a distance apart in linear rows. Rowed trees are susceptible to crop damaging frosts due to wide thoroughfares that provide access for spray and harvest equipment. Trees are watered from above with pole mounted spray nozzles or from below using drip line emitters. In both systems, an extraordinary amount of water is used particularly with spray nozzle irrigation.

Citrus Trees Growing More Fruit Per Tree

Designing orchards to grow citrus trees that grow more fruit per tree involves several factors such as irrigation, soil type, and spacing between citrus trees and rows. Here are some considerations for each aspect:

• Irrigation: More than any other orchard tree, citrus trees require consistent moisture throughout the growing season. The irrigation system should be designed to provide adequate water to the trees and minimize water loss due to runoff or evaporation during the summer months in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Drip irrigation is commonly used to grow citrus trees as it delivers water directly to the roots, reduces water usage, and minimizes the risk of disease.
• Soil type: Citrus trees prefer well-draining soils that are rich in organic matter. Before planting, soil should be tested to determine its nutrient content and pH level. If the soil is deficient in any nutrients, they should be added before planting. Citrus trees are often planted on sandy loam soils as they provide good drainage and are easy to work with.
• Spacing between citrus trees and rows: The spacing between rows of citrus trees depends on several factors, including the type of citrus tree, the rootstock, and the orchard's management practices. Generally, trees should be spaced between 15 and 20 feet apart in rows that are 20 to 25 feet apart. This provides sufficient room for the trees to grow and allows for efficient management practices such as pruning, harvesting, and pest control.

In summary, when designing a citrus tree orchard, it's important to consider irrigation, soil type, and spacing between trees and rows to ensure the best possible growing conditions for the trees and maximize productivity.

Archimedean Citrus Trees, Growing Citrus Trees In Spirals

Unlike a traditional orchard, which is planted in parallel rows, citrus trees are planted in Archimedean spirals that are geometrically shaped to lower water use, defend against seasonal fluctuations in temperature, disease, and improve production per acre. Two types of Archimedeancan be utilized: open space spirals and closed space spirals.

Open Space Spirals

Open space spirals space trees about 30 feet on center and are allowed to branch and cover a 20 x 20 foot area in a Crop Circle Citrus Orchard planted with 280 trees on 4 acres. The 4 acre orchard features two double spirals that mirror each another, that is to say, adjacent to one another. Prune, spray and harvest equipment have ample room to crisscross throughout the orchard. The open planting pattern encourages each tree to grow long lateral branches and set more fruit.

Closed Space Spirals

Closed space spirals space trees much closer together, about 10 feet apart. A vertical support structure is erected along the length of each irrigation line in each spiral. Tree branches are trained to grow horizontally from each side of the vertical trunk tied to horizontal supports mounted on the vertical support structure to grow a fruit bearing hedge.

After a few years of trial and error, these high yield orchardists figured out how to increase production from these fruit trees where they eventually surpassed the production of a low-density orchard, sometimes by as much as 2 to 1. Fruit trees were planted 2 feet apart and pruned to create “long parallel hedges” just 2 to 3 feet wide in full leaf. Tree rows set 10 feet apart allow passage of equipment.

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Citrus Trees That Grow More Fruit Per Tree

Crop Circle Orchards support all varieties of temperate climate fruit trees including Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine and Kumquat trees.

Initially, citrus trees were grown for their flowers rather than their fruit, which was considered inedible because heirloom fruit tasted bitter and sour – not sweet at all. As the use of fragrant flowers of citrus trees spread from India (where most citrus trees originate) to the Mediterranean, farmers began to experiment with the fruits, gradually cross breeding citrus trees until they started to produce sweeter fruit. Today, there are literally millions of acres of citrus trees growing in over 50 countries producing many varieties of citrus including new varieties of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerine and kumquat.

Orange Tree Varieties

A Crop Circle Citrus Orchard will produce between 40,000 and 60,000 oranges on average. Types of orange trees that are ideally suited for this system include Valencia oranges used for juicing, Navel oranges for eating and Blood oranges that look more like a grapefruit than an orange. Diseases common to conventional orange groves can be significantly diminished if not entirely eradicated growing oranges with the Archimedean spiral system. Some of these include spotting, cankers, and root rot. Some of insects repelled by the energy created within the Archimedean spiral include aphids, snails, scale and mealybugs.

There are many orange tree varieties, each with its unique characteristics in terms of fruit size, shape, color, flavor, and tree growth habits. Here are some of the most common orange tree varieties:

• Valencia Orange: This is one of the most popular orange tree varieties, commonly used for juice production. It has a thin skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that is highly productive.
• Navel Orange: A large, seedless orange with a thick, easy-to-peel skin and a distinctive navel-shaped formation at one end of the fruit. It has a sweet, juicy flesh and is a popular eating orange. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that produces fruit in the winter and early spring. Valencia oranges are an ideal variety to grow in an Archimedean spiral citrus orchard.
• Blood Orange: A medium-sized orange with a distinctive red flesh that ranges from light pink to deep burgundy. It has a sweet, slightly tart flavor and is often used in salads and desserts. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that produces fruit in the southwest in the winter.
• Cara Cara Orange: A medium-sized orange with a pinkish-red flesh and a sweet, slightly tangy flavor. It's a cross between a navel orange and a grapefruit, and its flesh has a low acid content. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that produces fruit in the winter.
• Hamlin Orange: A medium-sized, seedless orange with a thin skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. It's commonly used for juice production and is harvested in the fall. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that is highly productive.

Other orange tree varieties include Seville, Pineapple, Trovita, and Jaffa oranges. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and is suited to different growing conditions and climates.

Lemon Tree Varieties

An Archimedean spiral will produce between 50,000 and 200,000 lemons depending on the lineal length of the spiral. All types of lemon trees are suitable for the Archimedean spiral orchard including Lisbon lemon, Meyer lemon and the unusual Pink Eureka lemon. Diseases common to lemon orchards like citrus scab, anthracnose, root rot and several types of fungus are a rarity in an Archimedean spiral orchard. Energy fields created by the spirals repel some of the insects that afflict traditional row orchards including spiders, fruit flies, aphids and mites.

Here are some of the most common lemon tree varieties:

• Eureka Lemon: This is the most commonly grown lemon variety in California and has a high yield of medium-sized, seedless fruit with a thick, bumpy skin. It's a strong, vigorous tree with thorns, ideal to grow in an Archimedean spiral.
• Lisbon Lemon: Similar to Eureka Lemon in size, shape, and flavor, but has a thinner skin and a tendency to produce a few seeds. It is also a thorny tree.
• Meyer Lemon: A hybrid between a lemon and an orange, this variety is sweeter than other lemons, with a thin, smooth skin and a bright, juicy pulp. It's a smaller, more compact tree that is also less thorny than other lemon varieties.
• Ponderosa Lemon: A large, thick-skinned lemon variety that can grow up to the size of a grapefruit. It has a tangy, sour flavor and a thick rind. The tree is a slow grower and has long thorns.
• Variegated Pink Lemon: This is a unique variety with a yellow and green striped rind and a pink flesh inside. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and is relatively rare.

Other lemon tree varieties include Genoa, Femminello, Villafranca, and Verna lemons. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and is suited to different growing conditions and climates. When selecting a lemon tree variety, it's important to consider factors such as climate, soil type, and disease resistance to ensure the best possible growing conditions for the tree.

Lime Tree Varieties

Generally, more productive than lemon trees, lime trees produce about 300 limes per tree. A 4 acre open space Archimedean spiral produces approximately 85,000 limes, while a closed space Archimedean spiral yields over 340,000 limes per acre. Bearss lime, Kaffir lime and Key lime trees benefit from this system. As with Archimedean lemon production, many diseases are avoided and insects like spiders, fruit flies, aphids and mites may be repelled.

Here are some of the most common lime tree varieties:

• Persian Lime: This is the most commonly grown lime variety in the world and is known for its large, seedless, and juicy fruit. It has a thin, smooth, greenish-yellow skin and a tangy, acidic flavor. The tree is thornless and relatively cold-sensitive.
• Key Lime: Also known as Mexican Lime, this variety is smaller than the Persian lime and has a thin, smooth, yellow-green skin. The fruit is highly aromatic, with a strong, acidic flavor, and is commonly used in desserts, cocktails, and marinades. The tree is thorny and can tolerate cooler temperatures than the Persian lime. Persian key lime is considered to be the perfect lime to grow in An Archimedean spiral citrus orchard
• Bearss Lime: This variety is larger than the Key lime and has a thick, bumpy, greenish-yellow skin. It has a less acidic flavor than other lime varieties and is commonly used in cooking and as a garnish. The tree is thornless and can produce fruit year-round.
• Kaffir Lime: This variety is known for its fragrant leaves, which are used in many Southeast Asian dishes. The fruit is small, with a bumpy, greenish-yellow skin and a tart, acidic flavor. The tree is thorny and can tolerate cooler temperatures than other lime varieties.

Other lime tree varieties include Tahitian Lime, Rangpur Lime, and Australian Finger Lime. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and is suited to different growing conditions and climates.

Grapefruit Tree Varieties

Grapefruit is best grown in an open space Archimedean spiral. Grapefruit is large, setting heavy fruit intermittently throughout the tree. Tree branches need to be robust and quite large to support the weight. All types of grapefruit benefit from this growing system including Thompson grapefruit, Pink Grapefruit and Ruby Red grapefruit. Diseases common to row groves such as tristeza virus, psorosis, sooty canker, Rio Grande gummosis and yellow dragon disease can be greatly diminished or eliminated altogether. Some pests and insects can be eliminated as well, including citrus leaf miner, leaf scales and thrips.

Here are some of the most common grapefruit tree varieties:

• Ruby Red Grapefruit: This is the most popular variety of grapefruit, known for its sweet, juicy, and seedless fruit. It has a thin, reddish-pink skin and a bright pink flesh. The tree is a vigorous grower with large, glossy leaves and is highly productive, perfect to grow in an Archimedean spiral citrus orchard.
• White Grapefruit: A large, juicy, and slightly acidic fruit with a thick, yellow skin. It has a yellow or pink flesh and is commonly used for juice production. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree with a spreading growth habit.
• Oro Blanco Grapefruit: A cross between a pomelo and a white grapefruit, this variety has a thick, yellow skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. It's a seedless fruit with a mild, slightly tart flavor. The tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that is highly productive.
• Duncan Grapefruit: This variety has a thick, yellow skin and a juicy, acidic flesh. It's a seedless fruit with a slightly bitter flavor and is commonly used for juice production. The tree is a large, evergreen tree with a dense growth habit.

Other grapefruit tree varieties include Marsh, Flame, and Thompson Pink. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and is suited to different growing conditions and climates.

Kumquat Tree Varieties

Kumquat trees produce fewer fruit per tree than other variety of citrus tree including lemons and limes. Growing Kumquat in an Archimedean spiral would increase production and improve profits for a citrus orchardist. A fruit bearing tree will produce about 50 Kumquats averaging between 14,000 and 56,000 Kumquats per acre. Many types of Kumquats are suitable for these growing methods including Florida Kumquat, California Kumquats, Texas Kumquats and Australian Kumquats. Diseases common to Kumquats such as scab, algal leaf spot, greasy spot, anthracnose, melanose, fruit rot, stem-end rot and gummosis are minimized if not eliminated using the Archimedean spiral orchard system.

More about kumquat tree varieties:

• Nagami Kumquat: This is the most popular variety of kumquat, known for its oval-shaped fruit with a bright orange skin and tart, juicy flesh. The fruit is commonly used for making preserves, marmalades, and sauces. The tree is a small, slow-growing evergreen tree with a dense, bushy habit and can be grown in a closed Archimedean spiral.
• Marumi Kumquat: This variety has round-shaped fruit with a thin, sweet skin and a slightly acidic flesh. The fruit is commonly used in salads, cocktails, and garnishes. The tree is a small, evergreen tree with a spreading habit.
• Meiwa Kumquat: A large, round-shaped fruit with a thick, sweet skin and a juicy, tart flesh. It's commonly used for making preserves, jellies, and candied kumquats. The tree is a slow-growing evergreen tree with a dense, bushy habit.
• Calamondin Kumquat: A hybrid between a kumquat and a mandarin orange, this variety has small, round fruit with a thin, orange skin and a tangy, acidic flesh. It's commonly used for making juices, marmalades, and marinades. The tree is a small, evergreen tree with a dense, bushy habit.

Other kumquat tree varieties include the Jiangsu Kumquat, Fukushu Kumquat, and Centennial Variegated Kumquat. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and is suited to different growing conditions and climates.

Tangerine Tree Varieties

Tangerine varieties like Dancy, Murcott and Clementine tangerines produce well in a an Archimedean spiral orchard. Spacing 1,500 trees along the spiraled irrigation lines of both back-to-back spirals will produce 100,000 tangerines on 4 acres. Damaging pests and disease are minimized by the energy field created within the spiral so an orchardist can grow organically without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides.

There are several types of tangerine trees, each with its unique characteristics in terms of fruit size, shape, color, flavor, and tree growth habits. Here are some of the most common tangerine tree varieties:

• Clementine Tangerine: This is the most popular variety of tangerine, known for its small to medium-sized, sweet and juicy fruit with a thin, easy-to-peel skin. It's a seedless variety and is commonly eaten fresh or used for juice production. The tree is a small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with a dense, bushy habit, ideal for a closed an Archimedean spiral citrus orchard.
• Dancy Tangerine: This variety has a thin, deep orange skin and a sweet, tangy flavor with a slightly seedy flesh. It's commonly used for juice production and is harvested in late fall to early winter. The tree is a small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with a spreading growth habit.
• Honey Tangerine: A small to medium-sized, seedless tangerine with a thin, easy-to-peel skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. It's a late-season variety and is commonly eaten fresh or used for juice production. The tree is a small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with a dense, bushy habit.
• Sunburst Tangerine: A large, seedless tangerine with a deep orange skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. It's a mid-season variety and is commonly eaten fresh or used for juice production. The tree is a small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with a spreading growth habit.

Other tangerine tree varieties include the Murcott, Nova, and Page tangerines. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and is suited to different growing conditions and climates.

Hire Us

Hire us to build a turnkey Archimedean spiral on your land anywhere in the world. Our specialists will travel to your location and layout the Archimedean Spiral Citrus Orchard, marking the spots where trees are planted to make a perfect spiral, which is essential to maximize citrus production. You can plant the trees yourself or hire us to do the planting.

Available As A Kit

Archimedean spirals are also available in kit form. Kits include materials to create a 4-acre citrus tree orchard and include 2,600 Crop Circle Irrigators (100 extra for periodic replacement), 5,000 feet of 2-inch flexible irrigation pipe, 30,000 feet of quarter inch irrigator to pipe connection line, 2,600 irrigator to connection line fittings with interior mounted pressure regulator, assorted washers, 2,000 arch topped galvanized 8-inch staples to hold the irrigation pipe in place, goof plugs, 2,600 connector line to irrigator pipe connectors and step by step instructions to set up your Archimedean orchard.

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