A December 2022 freeze in Georgia significantly reduced the state’s 2023 citrus production, but many growers anticipate a large crop in 2024.
“With less fruit production in 2023, trees added a lot more vegetative growth and increased their canopy volume,” University of Georgia Extension citrus agent Jake Price noted. “The satsuma bloom at the research plot was very large and occurred over a couple of weeks. The peak was probably around March 20, with a few scattered blooms left as of early April. Other satsuma groves I have observed are about a week behind and also have large blooms. The last time I saw a bloom this large with a short duration at the rootstock trial was in 2021. That year, the yield per acre was 61,334 pounds, which was a huge amount of fruit.”
FREEZE IMPACT ON 2023 PRODUCTION
Price estimated only 4.6 million pounds of Georgia fruit were sold through packing plants and other outlets in 2023, down 60% from 11.5 million pounds in 2022. He saw similar results at the Owari rootstock trial in Valdosta, with the 2023 fruit yield per acre at 23,220 pounds, down 52% from 48,240 pounds in 2022.
PRUNING AND FRUIT THINNING
“With large fruit loads expected, growers need to pay close attention to tree health this year,” Price stated. “Make sure to fertilize properly as trees are expected to have a big crop. Prune up lower limbs so fruit will not be touching the ground.”
According to Price, not much is known about fruit thinning satsumas. But he stated that this may be a good year to experiment with fruit thinning to see if it makes a difference in fruit quality. “Thinning large clusters (of fruit) may help fruit turn a better color,” he stated.
“There are many things that we still need to learn about growing satsumas and other citrus in Georgia and northern Florida,” Price concluded.
Source: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension
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