Question
I inherited a small Blood Orange tree with the house when we moved in 4 years ago. I do not know its real age, but guess it's at least 5 y.o. It's in the ground in a fairly shady spot.
Last year it had about 6 oranges. This year it had lots of blooms, and some fruit set on, but most did not get beyond the small marble size. It looks like maybe I'll get two or three full size fruits.
Many of the leaves have turned black. I don't see any insects, so I'm guessing it's some kind of fungal infection. I haven't sprayed with anything because I don't know what to use.
Can you tell me what's going on?
Thanks.
Oh, forgot to tell you. Spring Hill, FL is about 40 miles north of Tampa and about 10 miles inland from the Gulf. The local agri extension "expert" doesn't seem to know much about Blood Oranges.
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Answer
Hi GB..what you have is sooty mold on your tree, probably being caused by poor circulation around it, not enough water, as ants are probably crawling up it also.  You need to be watering at least 3 inches of water a week so you won't loose your blooms or dry your fruit out, as the plant will suck the juice right out of the fruit to survive.  Use Neem Oil to help pollinate your tree.  Neem Oil is a fungicide and a miticide as well as keeping chewing and sucking insects off your tree.  No mulch under it either.  If you do these things you will have a prettier and more fruitful tree.  Citrus do love the sun but due to the fact it is in more shade it could cut down on some fruit production, but you should still get enough fruit.  Being in the shade just be careful not to over water.  If after you water once a week it is still wet than skip a few days till it is drier then give it a good drink again.