irrigation

Postfreeze Irrigation and Fertilization for Citrus Trees

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Irrigation, Nutrition

Irrigation and fertilizer applications are important management tools for Florida citrus growers following the recent freeze event in late January/early February. Davie Kadyampakeni, associate professor in soil, water and ecosystem sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), discussed both facets of tree maintenance during a postfreeze webinar hosted by the UF/IFAS Citrus Team. Key …

podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, February 2026

Tacy CalliesAll In For Citrus Podcast, freeze

Florida experienced one of the most damaging freezes in more than a decade this winter. The February episode of the All In For Citrus podcast addresses the impacts the freeze had on citrus. Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, notes that it will take some time …

Postfreeze Recovery Recommendations for Citrus Trees

Tacy Calliesfreeze

Florida citrus growers hoping to expedite the recovery process for trees impacted by the late January/early February freeze event should pump the brakes and wait — at least until spring. That advice is from Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He shared tree recovery recommendations with growers during …

‘Significant’ Melanose Concerns Following Freeze

Tacy CalliesDiseases, freeze

Freeze damage to Florida citrus could lead to a buildup in certain diseases. One, in particular, is a major threat, believes Megan Dewdney, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in plant pathology and Extension specialist. “Our big concern in terms of foliar problems is going to be melanose. Just as a reminder, melanose produces …

Snail Management

Planning Spring Snail Management

Tacy CalliesPests, Tip of the Week

By Lauren M. Diepenbrock Many citrus growers in Florida have been impacted by Bulimulus bonariensis (previously referred to as Bulimulus sporadicus) since the first reports of this pest in groves in 2020. This snail is an ongoing challenge and, with funding from the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has …

program

Remember To Remove Stakes After Tree Establishment

Tacy CalliesProduction

It’s a good practice to support young trees with stakes, but the stakes should be removed once the trees are established. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) multi-county citrus Extension agent Edwin A. Gutierrez-Rodriguez tells why in a slightly-edited article: It is commonly accepted that when establishing a new citrus grove or caring for young trees, …

psyllid

Postfreeze Psyllid Populations Reduced

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Psyllids

Southeast citrus growers hoping that the Feb. 1 freeze would wipe out the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) population are going to be disappointed. “What we do know about freezes is a lot of time they will reduce or delay the buildup of many of the populations of pests that we worry about,” said Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of …

CRDF

CRDF Board Funds Plant Transformation Projects

Daniel CooperCRDF

In January, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors took up several projects aimed at plant transformation to improve HLB disease resistance in plants. MANJUL DUTT The board voted to fund work by Manjul Dutt, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of horticultural sciences, to graft the most promising non-genetically modified …

role

Study Highlights Soil pH Role in Citrus Tree Health

Daniel CooperSoil Health

A new study examines the critical role soil pH plays in determining citrus root development, nutrient absorption and overall tree health. It offers insights for growers facing declining production challenges due to biotic restraints such as HLB disease and abiotic stresses such as low or high soil pH. The study looks at citrus root morphology across a range of soil …

Millennium Block

Millennium Block HLB Findings Expected This Year

Daniel CooperHLB Management, Research

Fruit harvested at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Millennium Block from 2022 to 2026 will help determine the effectiveness of potential solutions to HLB. This season’s fruit will be harvested through early February, and research results are expected later this year.  The Millennium Block was planted in 2019 at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research …

freeze

Survey Seeks to Quantify Florida Freeze Damage

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Survey

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is asking Florida agriculturists to participate in a postfreeze damage assessment survey. The survey seeks information about the cumulative impacts of all freeze events that have impacted an operation in 2026. The survey requests the general location of the operation (county/ZIP code), commodity specific details including total acreage, affected …

flowering

Expected Freeze Effect on Flowering

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Production

Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor of horticultural sciences and citrus Extension specialist, was part of a question-and-answer session that the UF/IFAS Statewide Citrus Team held for growers last week prior to the weekend’s winter storm. She talked about how low temperatures and high winds could impact citrus flowering. She expressed hope …

fruit

Impacts of Freeze on Fruit Quality

Daniel Cooperfreeze

Florida citrus growers are in the middle of harvest season. That means plenty of fruit was still left on the trees prior to last weekend’s winter storm that brought freezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills to the state’s citrus-producing regions. Growers are assessing the negative impacts following the freeze, but they may not know the extent of damage for a …

silicon

When and How To Use Silicon for Freeze Protection and Recovery

Daniel Cooperfreeze, Nutrition, Tip of the Week

By Muhammad A. Shahid and Davie Kadyampakeni Silicon (Si) is getting a lot of attention from citrus growers as a tool to help trees handle stress, especially during cold and freeze conditions. It toughens up plant tissues, strengthens cell walls and helps trees better handle stress when it is applied at the right time. BEFORE FREEZE The most important thing …

Griffin

OLL Orange Varieties Revisited at Griffin’s Grove

Daniel CooperEvents, Rootstocks, Varieties

Last September, Jason Griffin hosted a field day in his citrus grove near Lake Alfred in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The event was well attended, and some growers requested a second field day when the crop was closer to harvest. Griffin and UF/IFAS hosted a second event in late January as …

wait

Florida Citrus Growers Urged to Wait on Postfreeze Tree-Recovery Process

Daniel Cooperfreeze

Florida citrus growers eager to expedite the recovery process for trees impacted by last weekend’s frigid temperatures need to wait. That is the message that Flavia Zambon, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor at the Indian River Research and Education Center, emphasized to the state’s citrus growers. Zambon was part of a virtual question-and-answer …

productive

Growers Can Stay Productive in the Face of HLB

Daniel CooperHLB Management

Despite declaring there will be no silver bullet for HLB, Ozgur Batuman in a Jan. 21 virtual seminar said growers using integrated pest management (IPM) tools “can stay productive.” However, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences associate professor also warned that producing citrus juice in Florida “will not be easy or cheap.” Oranges are by far …

Nutritional Needs of HLB-Affected Trees

Tacy CalliesCitrus, Nutrition, Tip of the Week

By Davie Kadyampakeni, Alisheikh Atta and Edilaine Traspadini Citrus trees require optimal nutrition to be able to maintain high fruit yields, canopy size and good root health. Adequate nutrition supports not only yield and growth, but also tree resilience to disease and environmental stress, which is particularly important in HLB-affected groves. A balanced mix of macronutrients and micronutrients is needed …

podcast

All In For Citrus Podcast, January 2026

Daniel CooperAll In For Citrus Podcast, HLB Management

In the latest All In For Citrus podcast, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center, discussed a statewide citrus workshop hosted at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in January. The event provided a day full of educational presentations covering a wide range of topics. Rogers …