A Fruitful Diet: The Many Benefits of Fresh Citrus & Fruit

Citrus fruits like Navel Oranges, Ruby Red Grapefruit, and Meyer Lemons and Key Limes from the citrus cocktail tree are sweet, brightly-colored, yummy goodies that bring a burst of sunshine even on rainy days. But besides being flavorful and pretty, fresh citrus fruits offer many advantages and numerous health benefits when added to our daily diet.

  • Citrus fruits are rich in plant compounds like vitamin C which helps strengthens the immune system and helps protect us from common colds and other illnesses. It also helps keep our skin smooth and elastic, plus it fights free radicals in the body that cause cancer.
  • Fresh fruits are an excellent source of dietary fiber that helps improve our digestive system, aids in losing weight and also lowers bad cholesterol. High levels of bad cholesterol can cause the development of fatty deposits in the blood vessels increasing our risk of contracting heart diseases. The soluble fiber content of fresh fruits binds with cholesterol particles in our digestive system and moves them out of our body before they get absorbed.
  • Citrus fruits like the lemons and limes from the cocktail citrus tree are excellent sources of thiamin and folate. Thiamin is a type of vitamin B that plays an essential role in our metabolism, while folate is crucial for cell division and DNA synthesis.

Citrus is not just Orange

Although orange is the most popular and the world’s most favorite citrus, there are other unique citrus varieties you should try. Check out yarden.com for citrus cultivars you may be interested in growing in your backyard. To make an informed decision be sure to read the citrus.com reviews to know the quality of trees shipped out to valued customers.

One particular citrus tree that may pique your interest is the citrus fruit cocktail tree. This is a combination of the sweet Meyer Lemon and flavorful Key Lime grown on a single tree. The lemon lime citrus tree cultivar is not your typical seed grown tree. It is cultivated via a cutting and grafting method to achieve the desired results.

More about the Fruit Cocktail Tree Citrus

The fruit cocktail citrus tree is a cold-hardy, evergreen, and ever-blooming citrus tree that is best grown in citrus growing zones 9 to 11. It has a superior root structure and is highly resistant to pests and diseases. What makes it an awesome fruiting tree is that it is dwarfish and grows around 6 to 9 feet tall, plus it is a 2-in-1 tree that bears two kinds of citrus fruits on a single tree so it is an efficient space saver.

Citrus Cocktail Tree Care

Just like other citrus trees, the cocktail tree citrus needs proper care to grow healthy and bear fruits. It needs sunlight, adequate watering, cold protection, pruning, citrus tree mulch, and balanced fertilizer.

FAQs

  • Should you mulch citrus trees? – Yes, you should mulch citrus trees. Mulching citrus trees is beneficial because it aids in cutting down on potential water loss, helps maintain the soil temperature, and prevents weed growth around the trees that only steal away the nutrients in the soil, which the citrus trees need to grow.
  • What is the best mulch for citrus trees? – Organic mulch like wood chips and grass clippings are the best mulch around citrus trees as their slow decomposition process makes it possible for the soil to have a constant supply of nutrients.
  • Where can I get a citrus cocktail tree for sale? – You may visit the citrus.com website and purchase it there.
  • When to pick citrus fruit? – Citrus fruits take a few months to mature and ripen. Check the outer appearance of the fruit and see if the peel has changed color and has taken on a glossier look. The next step is to gently squeeze the fruit and see if it gives a little; if it doesn’t the fruit is most likely not ripe, if it is mushy then the fruit is most likely overripe. The last step is to take a taste test and check if the fruit is juicy and offers a satisfactory flavor. You may then harvest the rest of the fruits you need if the fruit you tested has passed all the tests you have done on it.