FORTUNELLA MARGARITA

FAMILY: Citrus

USES: Brightly coloured orange fruit and its symmetrical, abundant green foliage. Does well as a small sized fruit tree, understorey plant, espalier, container plant, on balconies, near pools, patios and in courtyards.

SIZE: Grows 2.5 – 3.5m tall with a 2m spread. Medium growth rate of 30 – 50cm p/a.

LOCATION: Full sun to partial shade. Does best in coastal areas and in well protected humid locations in the interior regions. Shade any pots from the sun to reduce heat to the soil root zone.

SOIL: Best in an organically enriched free draining fertile soil with a pH 6.1 – 7.5, mildly acidic to neutral.

FERTILISER: Apply a slow release 8:4:8 NPK annually in May or June when the flower buds appear. This is a greedy plant. Watch out for N and Fe deficiency. Do not feed in winter.

WATER: Keep soil moist. Water well after flowering to produce an acceptable crop. Does not accept over irrigation or waterlogging which will quickly lead to fungal problems.