As we pass through springtime toward the summer months, I am frequently greeted with a scene very similar to the one shown here as I look out through our screen door after waking up. There is the usual layer of haze hovering over the ground reminding us that because we are so close to the Gulf, the humidity down here is typically at 100% until the sun climbs above the horizon a ways. Our citrus trees have already bloomed, and are now loaded with tiny fruit approaching the size of marbles. They will be ready to pick in the late fall. The three larger trees in the front are satsumas (a type of mandarin orange that was developed in Japan). The smaller tree in the left rear is a newly planted key lime tree (so we can make key lime pies), and the smaller tree in the right rear is a newly planted grapefruit tree. Louisiana has a small citrus industry that will likely remain small for two main reasons. While citrus trees can handle a mild freeze, they cannot handle a hard freeze. In 1989, the industry literally had to start over because night temperatures that year dipped below 20 degrees Farenheit. The other main threat is hurricanes. Most of the commercial citrus orchards in Louisiana are in Plaquemines parish, which follows the Mississippi River SE of New Orleans all the way to the mouth of the River. This is where Katrina came out of the Gulf and did its initial massive wind and water damage, severely impacting citrus orchards as well. Plaquemines Parish may never fully recover to its former strength as a parish, population wise or production wise. Citrus trees tolerate the heavy soils we have down here surprisingly well. We have tried other fruit trees and bushes down here, like nectarines and blueberries, and realize that while they can be grown, the requirements to successfully grow them have thus far been beyond our means and/or ability.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Our citrus trees at sunrise
As we pass through springtime toward the summer months, I am frequently greeted with a scene very similar to the one shown here as I look out through our screen door after waking up. There is the usual layer of haze hovering over the ground reminding us that because we are so close to the Gulf, the humidity down here is typically at 100% until the sun climbs above the horizon a ways. Our citrus trees have already bloomed, and are now loaded with tiny fruit approaching the size of marbles. They will be ready to pick in the late fall. The three larger trees in the front are satsumas (a type of mandarin orange that was developed in Japan). The smaller tree in the left rear is a newly planted key lime tree (so we can make key lime pies), and the smaller tree in the right rear is a newly planted grapefruit tree. Louisiana has a small citrus industry that will likely remain small for two main reasons. While citrus trees can handle a mild freeze, they cannot handle a hard freeze. In 1989, the industry literally had to start over because night temperatures that year dipped below 20 degrees Farenheit. The other main threat is hurricanes. Most of the commercial citrus orchards in Louisiana are in Plaquemines parish, which follows the Mississippi River SE of New Orleans all the way to the mouth of the River. This is where Katrina came out of the Gulf and did its initial massive wind and water damage, severely impacting citrus orchards as well. Plaquemines Parish may never fully recover to its former strength as a parish, population wise or production wise. Citrus trees tolerate the heavy soils we have down here surprisingly well. We have tried other fruit trees and bushes down here, like nectarines and blueberries, and realize that while they can be grown, the requirements to successfully grow them have thus far been beyond our means and/or ability.
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I love that early morning haze. I got to see some of that the first time we visited Louisiana. It's so cool that you can grow so much food down there, even if it wouldn't survive on a large scale.
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