Most of my citrus trees has some kind of greening or something cause young leave to curl up (not leaf miner). I heard from a nursery owner that there will not be any cure (greening) for the next 5-7 years until they develop a new root stock. I notice that my younger trees are more susceptible than the older citrus tree, still better not plant any until something new come out.
Something is eating my mango trees older leaves, not sure it's "little leaf notcher weevil" or something else.
Citrus greening doesn't cause leaf curl on new leaves. Usually that is leaf minor. Citrus greening has definitely
hurt the industry, but what most of the remaining groves are doing is increasing the fertilizer. The citrus industry
use to average 350 boxes of citrus per acre. Now with the increase of fertilizer and other chemicals the groves are
trying to use, the breakeven point is 200 boxes per acre. I know someone who manages a smaller grove and he averaged
260 boxes per acre last year and he complains the owner won't pay for what he wants to really do. The juice prices are up and
the remaining groves who are willing to put out the costs are making a profit. If you look around some groves are adding trees
now. I think what the nursery was saying is if an actual cure or new root stock were to happen it would take at least 7 years
to prove the results. If citrus greening never happened the actual juice market would be flooded and the growers would be
complaining about no money because of over supply. What a fun business the citrus industry has been with canker and now
greening.
What does this mean to the backyard grower. Not much really. Who needs 350+ oranges per tree? I have several tangerines and they are
loaded with fruit. I am sure they have greening, I am surrounded by groves and one is a rocks throw away from my house. I have a kishu
right now loaded with fruit probably 200 or more. I have two ponkans with several fruit even though I cut them back severely
and was trying to give them the year off. I have way more tangerines then I will ever eat and will end up giving allot away.
You may have to double or triple the fertilizer but the backyard grower should be able to produce more then enough.