What in the world is a Sugar Belle? Officially, it is a relatively new citrus cultivar, which was designed to withstand the devastating effects of Citrus Greening disease.
Spending large amounts of money to purchase a citrus tree that is subject to getting sick and eventually dying has not been a good option. Developed by University of Florida researchers, the Sugar Belle is a cross between the popular Honey Belle, or Minneola tangelo, and the Clementine mandarin. Its fruit possesses the unique bell shape of the Honey Belle. Besides producing delicious fruit, and vigorous growth, the most outstanding attribute of this tree is indeed its ability to tolerate the worst citrus disease ever.
The Sugar Belle is capable of overcoming or living with the disease, due to its unique ability to regenerate new phloem about as fast as the disease can destroy it. Traditional citrus varieties can regenerate only a small percentage of their phloem, and they continue to decline. Young trees now rarely make it long enough to bear fruit.
The Sugar Belle is a top choice for both homeowners and growers. It comes both as a full size citrus tree, and also as a dwarf. The full size will be at least 20’ tall and wide, while the dwarf is more like 12’. The dwarf is easier for a homeowner to prune and harvest fruit from.
Getting started with a Sugar Belle is the same as with any other citrus tree. Plant in well-drained soil, slightly higher than ground level. Remove all grass and weeds under its canopy, enlarging that space as the tree grows. Do not mulch any of this space. These precautions are to help prevent fungal diseases and root rot. Weeds and grass also steal important nutrients from the tree.
Keep your tree well watered, but do not overwater. Use a citrus fertilizer in small doses six times a year. The tree should need little pruning for the first three years. Remove only water shoots which point straight up, using clean tools. Try to keep psyllids off. A soil drench is the most efficient way. Psyllids and leaf miners are especially bad during the spring growth flush, so make sure to protect the tree at this time. The growth rate of a Sugar Belle varies, but generally both dwarf and non-dwarf will grow pretty fast during the first year. A vigorous two-foot tree can five feet by the same time the following year. In the second year and beyond, the dwarf growth rate will slow down, but the non-dwarf will continue to grow fast until attaining its full size.
Fruit production will not begin right away, but the tree can do better without having to support fruit from the beginning.
Just like traditional juice oranges, the Sugar Belle can also be used for either eating or juicing. Fortunately, the Sugar Belle is already available to everyone, but generally only through online citrus nurseries. But this week we have a special opportunity for this valuable tree to be purchased right here at the Osceola County Extension Master Gardener Plant Market. This special sale which will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Osceola Heritage Park. Phone contact is 321697-3000. Plenty of other plants will also be available.
