Citrus Experience Podcast

Why are finger limes fast becoming a must-have among gardening enthusiasts and citrus lovers alike?  In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, explore the wonderful world of finger limes, a native Australian citrus that will shake up your taste buds. They cover everything from its origin story to expert tips on how to successfully buy and grow one at home. What to Listen For: [00:00] Introduction [01:02] Ancestry of the Australian finger lime [04:15] The finger lime varieties from citrus men [08:40] What are finger limes? [11:30] The CSRIO lime varieties you should know about [13:40] Everything you need to know about desert limes [17:36] Gary’s favorite finger lime variety [22:30] The finger lime gold pearl variety  [25:28] Why you need to grow a finger lime citrus tree [26:19] Parting thoughts  Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

Lets go on a virtual garden centre experience, we'll give you some check boxes to tick when you’re looking to purchase a Citrus tree.  In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, discuss what you should look for, and how you decide what variety you should choose. What to Listen For: [00:00] Introduction [00:58] The number one thing to look for when buying a citrus tree [03:00] How to make sure you always get a good, healthy plant [06:32] How to pick the best citrus according to your needs [11:07] Why we all love Mandarins [14:02] How to choose when there are so many varieties available  [19:42] The quirky and unusual citrus plants  [22:05] How to identify a grafted citrus plant  [25:00] Parting thoughts  Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

What do you do when you find insects on your citrus tree? If you're like most people, your first instinct is to destroy them. However, that is not always the best course of action.  In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, discuss the dos and don'ts of pest control on your citrus plants. Listen to learn what you can do about the magical and sometimes destructive pests that enjoy living on your citrus tree.  What to Listen For: [00:00] Introduction [02:10] What to do about the snails on your citrus tree [05:30] Identifying and controlling lead miners [09:26] Why not all insects are bad [10:36] Warning signs of a scale infestation [16:03] How to get rid of aphids safely [17:50] How aphids spread plant diseases [19:18] Why chemicals are not always the solution to pest control  [21:28] What you need to know about the stink bug [23:28] Should you get rid of caterpillars? [25:27] How to reduce chemical use in mass plant production  [29:19] Parting thoughts  Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

Are you thinking of getting your loved ones a citrus tree this Christmas? You’re in luck because the Citrus Men have a fantastic selection of citrus trees up for grabs. In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, discuss how to get your loved ones a citrus tree this Christmas and why citrus trees make meaningful gifts this time of year.   What to Listen For: [00:00] Introduction [01:42] The best time to order your citrus tree for Christmas [02:50] The Sugar Bubba citrus tree [04:55] Why we all love the Lemon Pinky [06:42] How to get exciting citrus giveaways this Christmas [07:48] The Red Center Lime [13:12] Yuzu - The very popular Japanese citrus [14:45] Why you need to get the beautiful Variegated Calamander [18:02] All citrus trees are amazing [19:20] Parting thoughts   Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

Having trouble taking care of your citrus tree? Don’t worry about it. Caring for citrus trees can get complicated, especially if it’s your first time. Fortunately, an off-colour looking tree might not always mean it’s lost. In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, discuss a few ways you can rejuvenate your tree and bring back its colour. Listen to learn tips for dealing with pesky pests or how to save your tree when you’ve accidentally gone too close with the whipper snipper (let’s face it, we’re all guilty of it).   What to Listen For: [02:16] Rejuvenating dry citrus trees [05:36] Returning to mulching [06:13] How dry can citrus trees get? [07:22] Understanding skeleton pruning [10:28] Citrus transplanting [13:20] Recovering a tree that’s suddenly lost all its leaves [14:40] Dealing with serious pest incursions [18:53] Fighting citrus tree borers [20:24] How to tell if your tree has borers [21:31] What should you do if the whipper snipper has hit your tree? [24:20] Parting thoughts   Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

What’s something you’ve heard about citrus trees that you aren’t sure whether is true or not? There’s a lot of misinformation out there; following the wrong advice could harm your citrus trees more than help them. In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, debunk common myths surrounding growing and nurturing citrus trees. Listen to learn the proper ways to care for your citrus tree and prolong its life (and a surprise at the end of the episode!).   What to Listen For: [01:26] Are epsom salts good for citrus trees? [04:51] How root temperature affects citrus trees [05:44] Is sugar good for citrus trees? [06:30] Are tonics the same as fertilisers? [09:04] Do citrus trees need pollinators? [10:35] Why you shouldn’t urinate on citrus trees [12:00] Understanding fertiliser [14:02] Can you really grow citrus indoors? [16:43] Is it okay to water citrus trees with soapy water? [19:47] Does a lot of citrus fruit mean a small tree is healthy? [22:19] Do citrus trees love eggshells? [23:48] Introducing Pongkanomi [26:20] Parting thoughts   Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

Did you know that the quality of your citrus tree depends on its rootstocks? Many people, especially those new to planting citrus, mistake appearance for the quality of the tree. But what goes on underground actually determines its quality, even if you can’t see it. In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, share insights about the history of rootstocks and how it affects a citrus tree. Listen to understand how you can preserve the quality of your citrus tree and even enjoy delicious fruits with the right care.   What to Listen For: [02:22] Have we always used rootstock? [03:21] The history of understock in Australia [06:07] The historical benefits of rough lemon rootstock [12:15] What are true-to-type citrus? [13:41] Why growing citrus from seeds isn’t recommended [15:44] Why you shouldn’t plant citrus from overseas [18:45] Understanding cutting-grown trees [21:33] How to tell if a citrus tree was grafted [23:15] Should you bury the graft? [24:10] Citrus graft best practices [25:46] Recap, final tips, and parting thoughts   Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

If the quality of citrus fruits depends on the health of the tree, how do you care for the tree? There’s a lot that goes into it, from choosing the right fertiliser to understanding when you’ve under or overwater it. In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, talk about the best practices to follow once you’ve got your tree planted at home. Listen to learn how to prolong your citrus tree’s life, and when it might be time to replace it.   What to Listen For: [02:40] Why tree roots matter [03:00] How to train and frame your citrus tree [06:15] Citrus tree potting best practices [09:12] The value of your soil mix [10:01] The best pot types for citrus trees [12:18] Can citrus grow indoors? [16:24] Understanding citrus fertilising and watering [19:40] How to revive potted citrus trees [25:45] Should you still water your citrus tree after it rains? [27:13] How to feed hungry citrus trees [29:08] When to move on to another citrus tree [31:30] Parting thoughts   Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en  

Our Citrus industry is protected and secure from many diseases that have ravaged citrus trees in areas across the world. The processes and strategies that are in place in Australia are world-class. We go behind the scenes and discuss what we do commercially and what we should do domestically to protect our citrus trees. What to Listen For: [1:16] What to know about citrus gall wasps [5:12] What is citrus greening?  [7:10] How greening affects the citrus industry [8:20] What greening looks like on citrus trees and fruits [8:50] The scale of Australia’s citrus industry  [11:27] What are citrus cankers? [12:04] Canker outbreaks in Australia [13:43] How cankers appear on citrus trees  [14:55] Australia’s world-class biosecurity professionals [15:44] What is Auscitrus and what do they do? [17:38] The Auscitrus repository: A library for citrus trees [19:46] How Citrus Men ensures disease-free citrus trees [21:16] Australian guidelines for transporting citrus trees [21:47] The challenges of transporting to Western Australia [24:50] How to avoid spreading citrus diseases [26:26] Final thoughts Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en

What are citrus trees up to every season? Every cycle of citrus trees brings new surprises, colours, and even behaviours you should be aware of to keep your citrus looking fresh as the temperature falls and rises throughout the year. In this episode, Susan Burns, marketing horticulturist, and Gary Eyles, industry expert and Founder of Citrus Men, walk you through how citrus trees transform throughout the four seasons. Listen for tips on how to keep citrus fresh in your garden all-year round.   What to Listen For: [0:59] Citrus trees in spring [2:24] What happens to citrus tree roots in spring [4:35] When to give citrus trees feed [6:46] A fun fact about citrus trees [10:21] On and off seasons for citrus [11:!2] Citrus trees in summer [12:31] How to keep your citrus tree hydrated in summer [14:45] How to deal with citrus water shoots [17:52] Citrus trees in autumn [19:40] Is autumn a good time to up pot your citrus? [21:40] Citrus trees in winter [24:42] How fruits ripen in winter [27:31] Helping with citrus maturity [28:08] Parting thoughts   Follow the Citrus Experience Podcast Website: https://www.citrusmen.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citrusmen.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrusmen/?hl=en