January 2006

Frequently Asked Questions

   How can I protect my citrus from frost?

A:  Believe it or not, your best defense against frost is to water the tree. Fill the well with water between 8pm and 10pm the night of the frost advisory. The roots will absorb the water which acts as a sort of antifreeze, helping to minimize any damage to your citrus. For a newly planted citrus, a second defense which should be used along with watering is to cover the canopy with a sheet. A newly planted citrus lacks the established root system of a mature citrus and for that reason it is unable to absorb the water as efficiently..

  How do I know when my fruit is ripe?

A: It's all a matter of personal preference when it comes to the perfect time to pick and eat your fruit, so we've got a few tips on how to find that perfect time. On the Greenfield Citrus homepage, click on Ripening Season and you'll find our own chart displaying harvest seasons for the varieties we carry. Keep in mind that the flavor of each fruit will become richer as its season goes on. For example, Washington navels can be enjoyed the first week of December but if you prefer a sweeter, juicier piece of fruit wait just a few more weeks to sample another. Also each piece of fruit harvested from the same tree may have a slightly different flavor!

  I found the Ripening Chart, but I'm not sure what kind of fruit I have. How can I find out?

A:  Though it will be easy to tell a grapefruit from an orange, a lemon from a tangerine and a kumquat from a pummelo, it's distinguishing an Arizona Sweet from a Washington Navel that may require a little more attention. Here are some characteristics that will help you tell one orange from another early on in this harvest season. Navel Oranges: a small hole or navel at the base of the fruit, usually seedless Arizona Sweet: smaller fruit with no hole at the base, some seeds Valencia Orange: 5 to 6 seeds, remains relatively sour until mid February For characteristics of other types of citrus, just click on the corresponding variety at the top of our website!