Citrus Tree Project now on Facebook

The 4H citrus tree project is now online and on Facebook. Ask to join today! Go to Facebook and search for 4H Citrus Tree Project and send a request to Mr. Ryan!

John Jackson Scholarship Application

Criteria: An active 4H'er from District VIII. Must be a high school junior or senior and have completed at least one year of the Citrus Project. Application must be postmarked by along with two letters of recommendation. Winner will be announced on after the Citrus Tree Auction. Application for John Jackson Scholarship. Return this application along with two letters of recommendation to:
Lake County 4-H
Attn: John Jackson Citrus Scholarship
1951 Woodlea Rd
Tavares, FL 32778

4-H Citrus Tree Project Information

The Central Florida Fair 4-H Citrus Tree Contest has been in operation for more than twelve years. There are a number of objectives, one of which is to have an increased awareness of the Central Florida citrus industry. A key part of the project is the citrus grower, processor, packer, and support industries which purchase the trees. Central Florida Fair starts February 25, 2010.

Citrus Tree Contest Details

Each contestant will be given the opportunity to choose his or her own tree. Once trees have been selected, no substitutions will be allowed. Only trees from the original group will be eligible for exhibition in the fair.

Tree Judging

Two weeks prior to 4-H Day, each tree will be pre-judged and classified as blue, red, or white by qualified judges. All trees must be taken home. Blue-rated trees will be eligible to be "shown" by the exhibitor. You should return your tree the night of the sale. Separate classes will be held for Juniors and Seniors. During this final judging process, exhibitors should be prepared to answer questions related to the care of their trees.

What Makes A Blue Ribbon Citrus Tree?

These are the factors that go into judging a blue ribbon tree:

• Height
• Width of trunk & good sturdiness of tree
• Very well formed canopy –Branches plentiful and uniform
• Dense foliage and good foliage color (no deficiencies)
• Leaf shape and size
• Straight trunk
• Sprouts cleanly removed
• Free of insects and insect damage
• Free from disease signs and symptoms
• Free of cold injury

These factors are not ranked necessarily in order of importance as they are all important traits to producing an award winning tree.

Project Book Judging

Project books must be submitted by all CFF Citrus Contest participants. At check in time, books will be screened for completion. An exhibitor whose project book does not meet completion criteria will be ineligible to enter the tree in the CFF. Junior and Senior project books will be judged separately according to completeness, accuracy, and overall neatness.

Knowledge Test

All participants MUST take the knowledge test. Contestants will be required to ID varieties of citrus, parts of a tree, diseases, nutritional problems, and to answer questions relating to tree care and the citrus industry. Junior and Senior trees will be judged separately. Participants may take the test regardless of whether a tree is entered for judging. 209/2010 Knowledge Test List.  Study the following carefully:

• 4 H Citrus Problems
• PDF Version by Chapter of Florida Dooryard Citrus or book version if you have purchased.
• 2008-2009 Citrus Samples
• 2008 Conserv II Workshop Day Workshop Day and Conserv II Tour. 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Click here to view snapshots and citrus information from Mr. Ryan's presentation. (Is a powerpoint presentation)

Also recommended look over the resource section and Care of Your Tree under Contest Materials

Tree Sale

Blue ribbon trees will be for sale to the public during the fair. Sale of trees is optional. Please note your desire at time of check-in. Contest coordinators will attempt to recruit potential buyers for trees, but exhibitors are ultimately responsible for recruiting their own buyers.

Event Dates

Please note:  Mr. Ryan's Saturday programs will run from 10 a.m. to 12 noon unless otherwise noted.

Sat. December 5, 2009: Field Day at the Mid Florida Citrus Foundation/Conserv II. Click on link for directions.

Sat. January 30 , 2010: Pre Judging and Knowledge Test. Being held at the MREC in Apopka. Click on link for directions.

Sat. February 27, 2010: Awards and Auctions at the Central Florida Fair. Click on link for directions.

Sat. March 20, 2010: Tree Distribution at the MREC. Cost of trees $10.00 each. Click on link for directions. Tree will be W. Murcott.

4 H Citrus Problems

4 H Citrus Problems

Presentation designed to show some challenges/diseases a citrus tree might have.

Contest Materials

• Care of Your Tree (167KB pdf)
• Citrus Tree Project Book #1 (336KB pdf)
• Citrus Tree Project Book #2 (369KB pdf)
• Citrus Tree Project Books #3-5 (364KB pdf)
• Citrus Tree Project Book #6 (636KB pdf)
• Cloverbud Citrus, ages 5-7 (716KB pdf)
• How to Transplant (122KB pdf)

2009/2010 Variety

Ray Ruby Grapefruit  The fruit of the Ray Ruby has a pink blush, which is darker than that of a Redblush but less than a Star Ruby.  The fruit averages between 3.75-4.25 inches in diameter, is low seeded with 0-6 seeds per fruit on average.  Ray Ruby is typically commercially harvested between November-May (later dates tasting better in Mr. Ryan’s opinion).  The peel is thicker than that of most grapefruit varieties.

Swingle citrumelo   Swingle is the most widely planted rootstock in Florida.  Swingle is a cross between Duncan grapefruit and trifoliate orange which was produced in Eustis, Florida in 1907.  The rootstock is named for a famous citrus breeder W.T. Swingle whom worked for the USDA in the early part of the 1900’s.  Swingle was officially released by the USDA in 1974.  Grapefruit trees grown on Swingle are fast growing and produce large trees.  Swingle is suitable for most soil types with the exception of heavy clays or soil with high calcareous conditions (limestone).