As citrus harvesting begins, many citrus growers are finding fruit smaller and not as sweet. The trend proves true regardless of the amount of citrus greening, that dreaded disease spread by the Asian psyllid, present in the grove.[emember_protected custom_msg=”Click here and register now to read the rest of the article!”]
Make no mistake. Size and sugar ratios CAN be affected by greening, also known as Huanglongbing or HLB. But it appears there’s more to it than that. It’s possible extra summer rains washed away granular fertilizers prematurely, leading to nutritional deficiencies.
Growers are reporting smaller than average Navel oranges with a lower sugar content, which affects fresh fruit prices and quantities needed to fill a “box.” As a result, it’s important to review your caretaking records and look for anything different that may have caused this. Look at the past and learn what works for the future!
We take soil samples on citrus every six months, or even more frequently when there’s a cause for concern. In our case, our caretaking methods have been consistent, except for the addition of more nutritional and canker sprays.
So if you’re finding fruit quality off this year, consult your caretakers and take soil samples. Work with your harvester to sell your crop in the most advantageous manner.
CREDITS
column by BRAD WEIHRAUCH
BIO: Brad Weihrauch is a Polk County native. He grew up around a family business of agriculture and customer service. After Winter Haven High School, he went on to complete his education at Polk Community College and Warner Southern. After serving 17 years in customer service for a large retailer, Weihrauch returned to his agriculture roots and founded RWC, an agri-service and management company, in 2002.[/emember_protected]
