Fruit by the season?

[gata montes]

I don't know if I agree with you or not about different varieties. The way I understand what happens to get 2 crops a year is to force the tree into dormancy no matter what the temperature is, as it gets really hot in the summer in South Texas. The lack of moisture and nutrients seems to do this, and if this is factual then one could grow the same varieties and get 2 crops, but not on the same tree

No the same fruit - but a different variety in terms of harvesting time - like for instance one that fruits earlier in the year and one that fruits later in the year - although I have to say that wouldn't work here - as by late spring early summer we're usually up to well above 45 C - however this idea may not be too successful with mandarins either - as mandarins have alternate cropping years - one year its a bumper crop and the next its near on nothing.

To be perfectly honest I don't altogether know why anyone would want to do that anyway - as although it takes between 6 - 9 months for the fruit to form and ripen - the cropping season depending on the weather often lasts for well over six months - in fact this year mine started earlier than normal in early November and will now continue to produce an abundant amount of fruit until the end of April and possibly even into to May providing that the weather doesn't get too hot.

 

[Chuck]

No the same fruit - but a different variety in terms of harvesting time - like for instance one that fruits earlier in the year and one that fruits later in the year - although I have to say that wouldn't work here - as by late spring early summer we're usually up to well above 45 C - however this idea may not be too successful with mandarins either - as mandarins have alternate cropping years - one year its a bumper crop and the next its near on nothing.

To be perfectly honest I don't altogether know why anyone would want to do that anyway - as although it takes between 6 - 9 months for the fruit to form and ripen - the cropping season depending on the weather often lasts for well over six months - in fact this year mine started earlier than normal in early November and will now continue to produce an abundant amount of fruit until the end of April and possibly even into to May providing that the weather doesn't get too hot.

That is the same here. Most if not all citrus is alternate bearing here. Your climate is hotter than here. A real hot day may get to 40C but usually it hovers around 37C during the summer. Here the normal citrus harvest is in middle to late fall, just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. What some of the big growers do is try to make a spring Mandarin crop too, but I would guesstimate that a spring crop is only about 25%, if that, of their orchards. Like I said, it is a big gamble and if there are substantial rains during their dormant period that crop is lost. Although if Mother Nature is kind they can make as much or more than off of their fall harvests of Mandarin's

 

[Mechanic]

I don't see how it is possible to have two crops of oranges, mandarins or satsumas twice a year. Here on the gulf coast we have flowers in late February to early March with sweet fruit from late October through February. Lemons yes they will flower and produce fruit as long as it is warm.
I have a friend in Colorado that grows Citrus in a huge greenhouse and only gets one crop a year with oranges mandarins and satsumas.
DrYellow
it would help if we knew what zone or state you would like to grow these trees. Very few fruit trees will produce two crops. Figs will if you live near the gulf coast or Florida. The LSU purple is reliable for a large crop in July then a smaller crop just before the first frost.
Low maintenance fruit trees are citrus,blue berry, figs, persimmons ,loquat and some pears.

 

[headfullofbees]

It's probably not economical or labour efficient to grow three crops of mandarins a year from the same tree, but if it will flower three times a year, it has to be possible to get SOME fruit 3 times a year, even if it doesn't make sense for commercial growers.

 

[gata montes]

It's probably not economical or labour efficient to grow three crops of mandarins a year from the same tree, but if it will flower three times a year, it has to be possible to get SOME fruit 3 times a year, even if it doesn't make sense for commercial growers.

Although this starting to sound like a stuck record - IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET MORE THAN ONE CROP OF ORANGES OR MANDARINS OFF THE SAME TREE and I can assure you especially as many commercial growers are extremely competitive - that if it were possible whether it was labor intensive or not - the commercial growers would most certainly be the ones who would be doing it.

So until someone comes up with a variety of tree where the fruit doesn't take 6 -9 months to form and ripen - most people are more than happy with the abundant crop they get throughout the 4 - 6 month harvest period.

 

[gata montes]

I too would agree with Mechanic that if wanting a tree that would fruit more than once a year - then Fig would probably be the best choice - especially as there are now many. many varieties that not only crop twice a year but are suited to all kinds of different growing conditions and climates.

 

[headfullofbees]

Although this starting to sound like a stuck record - IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET MORE THAN ONE CROP OF ORANGES OR MANDARINS OFF THE SAME TREE and I can assure you especially as many commercial growers are extremely competitive - that if it were possible whether it was labor intensive or not - the commercial growers would most certainly be the ones who would be doing it.

So until someone comes up with a variety of tree where the fruit doesn't take 6 -9 months to form and ripen - most people are more than happy with the abundant crop they get throughout the 4 - 6 month harvest period.

I think you're misunderstanding me; when I say that you can get two, or even three, crops from a mandarin tree, I do not mean full crops.

What I mean is that, say an adult mandarin tree will produce around 500 fruit if it is restricted to cropping once, say, if you restricted the fruit to, say 100, it is possible, since under ideal conditions the tree can blossom three times in a year, to have some fruit following each bloom.
A fruit tree will not produce flowers unless it is possible for some of them to progress to fruit, as to do so would be an absolute waste of that tree's energy.

Similarly, it is the case with many fruit trees that if you allow them to produce too many fruit in one year, they won't fruit ata all the following year (biennial fruiting).

 

[gata montes]

I think you're misunderstanding me; when I say that you can get two, or even three, crops from a mandarin tree, I do not mean full crops.

What I mean is that, say an adult mandarin tree will produce around 500 fruit if it is restricted to cropping once, say, if you restricted the fruit to, say 100, it is possible, since under ideal conditions the tree can blossom three times in a year, to have some fruit following each bloom.
A fruit tree will not produce flowers unless it is possible for some of them to progress to fruit, as to do so would be an absolute waste of that tree's energy.

Similarly, it is the case with many fruit trees that if you allow them to produce too many fruit in one year, they won't fruit ata all the following year (biennial fruiting).

No not at all and to be honest - as this is now getting beyond the point of ridiculous and instead of being polite I'm likely to start being rude - this will be my last comment on this matter - especially as until you stop making the mistake of thinking that citrus trees grow and produce fruit in much the same way as other fruit trees - you will not understand why your arguing this point is so futile.

Especially as citrus trees are actually pretty smart and although how often a citrus tree blooms will depend on the size of the fruit, the environment, the temperature and the amount of water available - once a citrus tree starts to bloom and especially in the case of smaller fruits it will very often bloom off and on throughout the year - but this is where the citrus tree is clever because not all blossoms will develop into fruit at the same time - as it will drop blossoms as well as marble sized fruits at least three times throughout the growing season - in fact up to 80% of its blossom and young fruits are periodically lost like this - as this is the trees way of ensuring that only the best fruit survives and also that not all fruit arrives at any one given time.

I would also just add that it in the case of citrus trees or olive trees for that matter that are alternate bearers - it would make no difference whatsoever if you reduced their fruit production one year - as they would still not fruit in their dormant year.