The effect of hedging time on regrowth and flowering of mature Valencia orange trees

Abstract

Thirty-eight-year-old Valencia orange trees on Rough Lemon rootstock were hedged at monthly intervals from September 1973 to April 1974. Trees were hedged on the east and west sides. Size of cut stem, number and length of each flush, and fruit number were recorded for each flush. Regrowth rate was highest on trees hedged in mid-summer, but by the winter of 1976 first flush length was similar on all treatments, and there were no significant differences in the total length per shoot or in the number of first or second flush shoots. The number of third and fourth flush shoots were reduced on autumn hedged trees. Stem circumference, rather than hedging time, was the major determinant of regrowth vigour. Approximately 50% of stems cut before December had flowering regrowth next spring. In the following year all hedging treatments produced flowering regrowth. It was concluded that mature Valencia citrus should be hedged after harvest and between spring and mid-summer. Autumn hedging should be avoided because it results in reduced fruiting.