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South Carolina orange juice isn’t likely to ever appear on grocery store shelves, but citrus is making a bit of a comeback for growers in the Southeast. The Southeastern Citrus Expo on Nov. 23 is a testament to that, and Clemson University extension horticulturist Zack Snipes is convinced there’s a future for cold-hardy varieties to stake their claim in South Carolina.
Just don’t start with limes. Or Meyer lemons. Those are a bit tricky and might deter growers from trying something new.
“Citrus has been around since settlers came here,” he said. “I mean, a lot of the roads on some of the sea islands are named (after citrus) — Orange Grove Road or Lemon Tree Lane. There's still remnants of it here.
” Growing citrus isn’t new to South Carolina, though it’s making a bit of a comeback. Many local fruit farmers have a niche product to sell at markets, to restaurants for seasonal dishes or to bars for a fresh infusion with local garnishes, Snipes said. There’s a Lemon Tree Lane near the Bayview Soccer Complex on James Island and another in York.
It may not be the source of the road’s name, but a Yorkville Enquirer article from February 1876 reports a Mrs. J. H.
Blassingame had a small lemon tree with over 30 fruits and blooms in nearby Spartanburg. It’s more common to see citrus trees growing near the coast — the Cutie-like satsuma oranges and grapefruits in addition to lemons and limes — because the climate is more forgiving to the tropical DNA in the fruits’ roots. Trees sold in the Southeast will be grafted onto roots known to weather colder temperatures well, Snipes said, though those in colder climates can grow citrus trees in pots and bring them to a garage or carport when freezing temperatures strike.
“It's a lot of work, but in some parts of the state (freezing temperatures don’t) happen too many nights,” Snipes said. “Some of the satsumas, we've shown that they can take down to 18, 16 degrees and just be just fine.” He and fellow researcher Anna Hall have spent the past four years studying cold-hardy citrus plants to see which varieties can tolerate all four seasons South Carolina has to offer.
So far, the field tests from their plot in Charleston match the lab tests, showing some varieties can tolerate temperatures below freezing. Gardening Column: Enjoy Japanese maples year-round To help them grow in cooler climates where the risk of freezing temperatures is higher, he said people near lakes and ponds have a built-in insulator. For that same reason, planting citrus trees where they’re protected from cold northern winds will help their longevity.
“Typically, it's going to be warmer if you can plant against a house on the south side,” he said. “Planting near, say, a brick house is going to be a heat sink.” Saturating the roots ahead of freezing temperatures can also help and, if all else fails, get festive.
“Some people will take the old-timey Christmas lights and hang them in the citrus and put a bed sheet around it,” he said. The winter is, after all, the time to celebrate local citrus. Though it can take around five years for a tree to hit maturity and a few more for maximum production, Snipes anticipates seeing more South Carolina citrus around the holidays as they begin ripening around Thanksgiving.
The expo will present an opportunity for networking and sharing tips and tricks for growers. For some, trying a specialty crop like citrus may be a key to rejuvenating old farmland and keeping it in the family. “A lot of folks are struggling to keep their familial farmland and losing a lot of acres to development, that sort of thing,” he said.
“You know, this could be a really easy, low-input way to make some money and pay taxes so we don't have to sell out to developers if we don't want to." The Southeastern Citrus Expo takes place at The Coastal Research and Education Center, 2865 Savannah Highway, in Charleston on Nov. 23, and the Citrahaulics Banquet is Nov.
22. More information is available on the Facebook page and tickets are available at clemson.edu.
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