Question:
I have a five-year-old healthy lemon bush that only produces lemons on the lower branches. There are no flowers or fruit in the upper two-thirds of the lemon tree. How do I get lemons on the upper portion of this plant?Answer:
- Most citrus is budded or grafted onto a rootstock, which is a different type of citrus.
- The rootstock is an aggressive grower, producing rapidly growing shoots or suckers throughout the canopy of the desired variety. The shoots originate from below the ground or off the main trunk or stem, below the point from where bud or graft union is located.
- The area is visible to the naked eye and is a diagonal line on the trunk. The desirable portion is a vivid green color, while the rootstock is a dull tan or brown. Extremely long, nasty-looking thorns characterize this growth with leaves in three groups. Also, it produces no flowers or fruit.
- The desirable shoots decline over time and are pruned off, leaving the rogue growth to dominate.
- This is what I believe has happened with your lemon. Here is what I’d do. First, examine the plant closely and divide the fruiting section from the non-bearing part. Then, prune off the fruitless area after St. Patrick’s Day. With monthly feedings of an organic Citrus Food, you’ll encourage the new growth that increases the fruit-bearing portion of the lemon bush. Be on the lookout for more rogue growth during the growing season and prune off as soon you see it.
Question:
Three years ago, I grew some beautiful lettuce. But then, I had problems. First, the seeds would sprout, but they would not grow. Then, someone told me that I needed to disinfect the plastic containers. So, I washed them with soapy, bleach water. I’m now growing Lettuce again. Did the container have bacteria, toxins, or something? Would I have the same problem with ceramic, terracotta, or wood containers?Answer:
- The advice you received is correct. It’s advisable to disinfect any container that you are recycling. Damping Off (Rhizoctonia solani) and Pythium are problems with seedlings.
- Before sowing your seeds, disinfect the containers with a mixture of nine parts of water to one part of bleach and let them air dry. Also, be sure to watch the watering while the seeds are germinating.
- The problems mentioned above can still be a problem from keeping the soil too wet. I’d suggest that you pre-moisten the soil first and then sow the seed. It also helps to use a heating mat for bottom heat. The heating mat increases the soil temperature speeding up germination. Be careful not to splash water around the plant as the splashing water spreads the disease to healthy seedlings. Heating mats are available at many garden centers or online.