The Meyer lemon is one of California’s lemon varieties that is touted as best for Hawaii. This tree bears fruit year-round and may even produce fruit the first year after planting. The Meyer lemon is a hybrid between a lemon
The Meyer lemon is one of California’s lemon varieties that is touted as best for Hawaii. This tree bears fruit year-round and may even produce fruit the first year after planting. The Meyer lemon is a hybrid between a lemon and a sweet orange or mandarin; no one knows for sure. It was originally imported from China in 1908.
The Meyer lemon is a small tree — 12-15 feet tall — and is ideally suited for container growing. The fruit is round, containing few seeds and almost orange when fully ripe. They are very juicy and less acidic than other lemons. The trees have few thorns and need no pruning. This is unlike many other lemon varieties which are vigorous growers and require yearly pruning.
In the 1940s, it was discovered that the Meyer lemon was a symptomless carrier of the citrus tristeza virus. This malady was a serious threat to citrus production worldwide and, at the time, was threatening the citrus industry in California. Finally, in 1975, a virus-free variety, the “improved Meyer,” was released by the University of California.
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Aloha Nick, I am ready to prepare an asparagus bed. The Burgess Nursery catalog presently offers Jersey Knight 1-year-old plants. Is this plant a good match for us here? How many feet between rows do you have in your own asparagus beds? — N.A.
Yes, Jersey Knight along with Giant Jersey should do well here. In addition, some newer California varieties such as Apollo, Atlas and UC 157 are well suited for Hawaii’s climates.
Along with Burgess Nursery (www.eBurgess.com), see also Seeds of Change at www.seedsofchange.com. During the winter/spring, Paradise Plants Nursery in Hilo will have asparagus crowns available; the varieties will be Mary Washington, an old standby, and perhaps Giant Jersey. Mainland mail order nurseries like Burgess usually carry varieties including Mary Washington, Giant Jersey, Jersey Knight and Purple. The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources recommendation is to plant the crowns or seedlings 12-16 inches apart. It seems the wider spacing tends to produce thicker spears and closer spacing thinner spears. Rows should be at least 4 feet apart.
Asparagus prefers a sunny location with well-drained soil. Since asparagus does not compete well with weeds, diligent weed control is a major task. The best news about asparagus is that here on the Big Island it is relatively pest free. For more information on growing asparagus, check out the CTAHR publication titled, “Asparagus.” See also my website: gardenguyhawaii.com; asparagus.
I have a lychee tree that has some branches with rusty-colored leaves. The tree produces some nice fruit so I hope that doesn’t mean it is dying or anything serious. Should I do something or will it be okay? Mahalo for your help. — K.K.
This rust like appearance on the leaves of lychee is a very common occurrence about which I receive a number of inquiries. It is not a disease but rather is caused by tiny mite (Erinose mite) about 1/200 inches long. The foliage has been described as curled, distorted, and galled, with a velvety brown to brownish-red appearance on the underside. These mites attack the new leaves at the onset of growth flushes. Mites infesting young trees may cause a stunting of the tree. At this stage, when trees are manageable, infested leaves can be removed and discarded. Remove infested leaves during or shortly after the growth flush. This will help reduce the mite population and allow the young trees to grow more vigorously. As the tree becomes larger, removing infested leaves is difficult. Mites will seldom kill a tree. It is almost certain that infested trees will continue to be plagued with mites, but they will still yield a good crop. If spraying is desired, sulfur should be used and only when the new flush of leaves emerges.
Hilo resident Nick Sakovich is a professor emeritus of the University of California. He has worked in the field of agriculture for 30 years. Email your questions to Sakovich at askthegardenguy@earthlink.net.
