help with my satsuma tree

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cajunorange Jeanerette, LA Sep 17, 2009

can someone tell me why my oranges fall off before they are ripe?
also why they never get sweet? my tree is about 3 yrs old.

Post #7075524
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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 18, 2009

Are you growing it indoors or outdoors? Oranges need a fair amount of heat in order to sweeten up so if you're growing it indoors that may be the problem. As far as the fruits falling off--is it forming a ton of fruit? If so then you might try thinning it out a bit by hand and see if that helps the tree hold onto the ones that are left (a tree can only support so many fruit and if it's got too many, it'll sometimes thin itself and drop a lot of them). Also does it generally look healthy or does it have spots, bugs, yellowing leaves, anything like that? If it's stressed by bugs, disease, cultural problems, etc that could also cause it to drop fruit.

Post #7075862
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cajunorange Jeanerette, LA Sep 18, 2009

im growing it outdoors i live in south louisiana. The tree is healthy looking,as for the bugs, yes i had lots of bugs all over it . I just sprayed it 1day ago,the bugs looked like what i call stink bugs. Flat bugs black w/orangeish red looking
stripes. The fruit falls off and when they turn yellow (orange) they still arenot sweet .
Thanks for your input , im new to growing satsumas.

Post #7078762
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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Sep 19, 2009

Cajun, do you fertilize your citrus and how about water? too much or too little will cause fruit drop. All the rain up here has caused some of my native oranges to start splitting.

Here is a link on care for satsumas

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/citrus/mandarins.htm

Post #7079375
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cajunorange Jeanerette, LA Sep 19, 2009

yes i use m-grow.
lots of rain here in the last couple weeks.
my tree is a owari, i bought another this year to help polinate, is this needed?

Post #7079658
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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Sep 19, 2009

It is not required, as Owari is a self pollenator, but it certainly can't hurt to have twice the production. I included a link to LSU Ag center on citrus care/production/harvest info.

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/parishes/Plaquemines/Features/Agriculture/Determing+Citrus+Harvest.htm

Post #7080843
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Metrosideros Keaau, HI Sep 21, 2009

Potassium and Magnesium will help sweeten up the fruit and stop premature fruit drop.

Can you show the leaves on your tree? They can indicate if the plant is deficient.

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