Everybody knows the great and tasty citrus fruits: orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerine, and clementine, and maybe even the rarer bergamot, pomelo, tangelo, kumquat, and yuzu. Since ancient times these plants have been cultivated, domesticated, and used by humans.
The genus Citrus spp. L is native to Southeast Asia. These plants are large shrubs or small to moderate-sized trees, reaching 5 to 15 m (16 to 49 ft) tall, with spiny shoots and alternately arranged evergreen leaves. The large citrus fruit of today evolved originally from small, edible berries over millions of years. Citrus trees are not generally frost hardy. The trees thrive in a consistently sunny, humid environment with fertile soil and adequate rainfall or irrigation.
At any age, citrus trees grow well enough with infrequent irrigation in partial shade, but the fruit crop is smaller. They do not drop leaves except when stressed. The trees flower in spring, and fruit is set shortly afterward. Fruit begins to ripen in fall or early winter, depending on cultivar, and develops increasing sweetness afterward.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, world production of all citrus fruits is around 120 million tons per year, with about half of this production as oranges – production led by Brazil, China, the United States, the European Union, Egypt, South Africa, Mexico and Morocco.
FertiGlobal: supporting citrus cultivation management through every growing stage, strengthening the plants and increasing productivity with plant nutrition and bio-activating technologies.