Monday, January 6

SU Ag Center: Protect your citrus plants from freezing temperatures

Baton Rouge, La Southern University Ag Center is concerned about your young citrus plants as the projected temperatures drop into the teens tonight.  You may take the following steps to protect your plants from freezing to death.

Whenever the temperature goes below 20 degrees for 4 hours, covering your young citrus plants is recommended. To cover plants, use a sheet or light blanket, then put plastic over the sheet or blanket.  This method will keep the plastic from burning the tip of the leaves if the plastic is kept on too long.  Remember, newly planted trees take 4 to 5 years for production, so be patient.
The best citrus rootstock for Louisiana home citrus orchards production in cold-hardy areas is trifoliate orange.
The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. The map is available as an interactive GIS-based map at http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#. Simply type in a ZIP Code and find the hardiness zone for that area.
Information provided by Ahmad R. Robertson, Assistant Area Agriculture & Natural Resource Agent, Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. For more information, contact the LSU/Southern University Ag Center Research & Extension at (225)222-4136 or email arobertson@agcenter.lsu.edu; or (985) 748-5462 or email tangipahoa@agcenter.lsu.edu ahmad_robertson@suagcenter.com

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714


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