Citrus ~ by Gilbert, Allen
What do you do when your lemon tree's leaves turn yellow? Or when the branches develop nasty lumps?
Citrus trees can be grown just about anywhere in Australia making these kinds of questions about citrus trees the most common on gardening talk back radio programs.
Allen Gilbert's latest book, Citrus, according to the publisher, answers all your questions about citrus. The many types of citrus are described including sweet oranges and mandarins, sour citrus including lemons, limes, grapefruits (including blood red flesh cultivars). The book has a comprehensive section on pests and diseases, disorders and nutritional deficiencies with excellent, easily identifiable photographs of each problem and organic methods of control. There is a section on propagation and many recipes for using citrus fruits. Allen gives details of his system for repotting potted citrus plants and details of his new priming system for lemon trees. This is a book every gardener must have. Gardeners with a large space or tiny space, cottage garden, patio or even a rooftop garden can grow a citrus tree trained as an espalier shape and some citrus grow better in a pot.
Some citrus, such as the aromatic Gaffer Lime, are grown for their leaves only while the bizarre citrus `Buddha's Hand' is more an ornamental curiosity. Australia has its own indigenous citrus species including the Desert Lime and Finger Lime now readily available for home gardeners.
Allen Gilbert lives on Briny Island where he and his partner have developed a self sufficient lifestyle growing most of their own food. Allen has extensive experience, firstly working on an orchard that included citrus trees then becoming a professional horticulturalist including conducting a radio gardening talk back program for over 15 years.
