Polar vortexes, record lows, unseasonably cold – the last two Januarys have sent us some wild weather woes – especially for citrus growers. Personally, I lost 4 out of 8 of my citrus trees. It was especially heartbreaking to lose the 25 plus years-old satsuma trees my grandmother had planted. It was also particularly painful for the pocketbook to lose three trees I’d just planted in the spring of 2025. With winter weather casting worries for would be citrus growers, many are wondering whether planting or replanting citrus trees is wise.
Traditionally, in Livingston Parish and the surrounding areas along the I-12 corridor, citrus trees will survive in typical winter conditions if given proper protection on the coldest nights. Young, newly planted trees are less hardy and need more protection. Trees do not reach their full cold hardiness potential until they are mature.
Additionally, different types of citrus trees have different hardiness ratings. Kumquats are most hardy, followed closely by Calamondin and Satsumas. These will withstand short spells of 20-degree lows. Fully mature Mandarins, Tangerines, and Tangelo can manage occasional dips into the low 20s. Oranges, Pummelo, and Grapefruit will be ok with temperatures in the mid-20s. Mature Meyer Lemon trees will survive lows in the high 20s. Limes are the least cold tolerant, hardy down to around 29 degrees.
We can modify the climate somewhat around the trees by locating them in an area that has protection from north winds or that is near a body of water to help add a few degrees of buffering temperatures as heat is released from the water. Additionally, we can provide cold weather protection using incandescent lights and/or completely covering the trees with frost blankets or tarps supported by frames. What if you’ve tried all these options and still failed or maybe you are just tired of the hassle?
There is another option for weatherproofing our citrus trees. Citrus trees do well when grown in containers. Growing citrus trees in containers has been done for centuries in less-than-ideal climate conditions. These trees can thrive and produce for years when given proper care. The added benefit is they can easily be moved into a heated space to protect them from cold temperatures.
If you’d like to try container grown citrus, start by choosing a suitable container. Citrus trees need a container with unobstructed drainage holes. It is best to use a lightweight container and preferably one on wheels so moving into a protected area is easier. Eventually you will need a 20-gallon sized container for your tree.
Fill containers with a good quality raised bed soil mix. Do not add rocks or other materials to the bottom of the container. This will cause a perched water table and reduce the available room for root growth. Fill the container with only enough soil so that the base of the tree trunk is about one inch below the top of the pot.
When planting your citrus tree, check the roots for tangled and circling roots. You want to remove these before potting the tree. Do not pile soil up around the base of the tree trunk. Water in the tree well after potting.
Citrus trees need full sun conditions for good growth and production. Container grown trees will need watering thoroughly about 3 times per week. It is best to feel the soil to make sure it is not too dry or too wet. Fertilization of container grown trees is different from field grown trees. Soil in containers leaches nutrients with every watering. Therefore, fertilization is done more frequently, around every month. Use a liquid fertilizer or slow-release citrus fertilizer.
Interested in trying container grown citrus? All citrus varieties can be grown in a container, but varieties grafted onto dwarf rootstock are better for limiting the mature size of the tree. Additionally, Improved Meyer lemon, limes, and kumquats are typically smaller sized trees. Trees can also be pruned after harvest to control the size.
Container grown citrus is a great option to ensure you don’t get frozen out of another harvest.
