Propagation
Sow fresh seed during spring in containers and keep moist.

Take cuttings during the growing period.
Graft onto rootstocks.


Botanic information
Leaf: The dark green leaves are ovate to lanceolate with an acute apex and a short petiole. The texture is leathery and the leaf tends to fold upwards.

Flower: The white cyathiform flowers are highly perfumed and are arranged in a short raceme that appears throughout summer.

Fruit: The small spherical berry is juicy and appears on the tree from autumn to spring. The seeds are viable but the plant may be reproduced vegetatively in order to maintain true to type.

Culture
Climate
Citrus prefers a warm climatewith mild winters and grows well in a hot dry climate if adequately watered. Mature trees may also tolerate cooler areas and even some frost when they are dormant.
Frost will damage any new growth and if the soil is too cold the tree will suffer a nitrogen deficiency causing the leaves to become yellowish.

Aspect
Citrus prefer a north facing sunny position that is protected from strong winds. They will tolerate some shade but must have half a day of direct light to be successful.

Soil
A sandy loam soil type is best suited and it may be slightly acid to alkaline with a low salt content. They dislikeclay or clay based soil types, which are not well drained, so these soils need to be improved by adding sand and organic matter.
To improve the drainage the plants may be planted in raised beds. Some species are grafted on to rootstocks that are root rot resistant and tolerates wet soils.

Planting
Planting normally occurs during earlyautumn or early springand a one-year-old plant from budding. When buying the plant check that the plant has not been in the pot too long and become root bound as these trees arepoorgrowers.
Prepare a shallow hole that is one third bigger than the pot, then tip the pot on its side and remove or cut plastic bag then fold it down over the root ball.
Tease any root bound roots out and place the plant in the hole never covering the union bud with soil and maintained the same level as it was in the pot. Fill in around the root ball with friable moist soil and firmly press it in. Thoroughly water the plant in but do not over water, a new plant once a weekis sufficient.

Fertilising
When the plant is young do not use powdered fertiliser for the first five to six weeks. Apply slow release fertiliser or blood and bone and water in well.
Liquid fertiliser may be applied every two to three weeks during the growing period and is placed at the drip line of the tree not at the trunk.
When feeding during winter to early spring use a pre-mixed citrus fertiliser containing 10% nitrogen and water well before and after fertilising.

Pruning
Citrus trees have a compact habit and require little pruning. Oranges and grapefruit trees should not be thinned out but the other citrus trees may tolerate a thinning of the branches. If cut back hard it may take up to two years to recover and remove any shoots that appear below the grafted union.