Q: My orange tree has been very productive for 14 years but it put out small fruit last year and this year it is blooming more than a month later than usual. Is something wrong with my tree?
A:Β Both symptoms you described, small fruit and odd bloom time, are associated with lack of water. It is possible that your irrigation system needs adjusting, so that would be the first thing to check. Also we had a relatively dry late winter and early spring this year. If you reduced your irrigation for the winter as recommended and then experienced no rain in February and March, your tree was probably in need of more water. Citrus trees sometimes respond to drought conditions followed by rain with a bloom about a month later, which corresponds to the rain you had in early April.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed toΒ tucsongardensage@gmail.com
