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citrus tree

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From: Laura Reynolds City: Peotone, IL
My Dad has been growing 2 orange trees (from seed) for about 9 years. They are approx. 3 ft tall. The trees are very green and have beautiful leaves. He has a garden room that he keeps them in during the winter. The problem is they never bloom let alone bear fruit. Do you have any suggestions for him about getting the trees to bear fruit.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
Dear Laura: Orange trees will begin to flower and set fruit on their own schedule, that can be anywhere from 5 years on up. Be sure the plants get plenty of sunshine so there is enough food for the plant to grow, flower and set a crop of oranges. If the plants have been fed lots of nitrogen fertilizer, then they will have lots of leaves and no flowers. Hold off on using high nitrogen fertilizers until the plant slows down vegetative growth and then it will begin to think about producing flowers and fruit. Sincerely, Rihard Hentschel
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