*** NOTE: Click on CHILLING REQUIREMENTS in the below link: http://www.sandybarnursery.com/choosing-fruit-trees.htm#chilling requirements How many actual hours of temps below 45 is actually required and do these hours vary with citrus varieties we have planted? Regards
Citrus trees require some form of stress to differentiate (change) foliage buds into floral buds. This stress can be either chill hours, or drought hours. In temperate countries such as the United States, this stress is normally accomplished by accumulating chill hours during the winter months. In tropical countries, where it never gets cold enough to provide this type of stress, it is accomplished by the dry season. Citrus accumulates chill hours at any temperature below 68F. To differentiate enough of the tree's foliage buds to produce a good crop the following spring, a citrus tree requires between 600 to 800 hours of temperatures below 68F. If the tree set a large fruit crop the previous spring, than the tree should receive 800 chill hours. - Millet (1,352-)