Do you ever wonder how things like temperature changes, overly wet soils or salty irrigation water affect your fruit trees at home?
University of Florida scientists at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have those answers.
A newly released UF/IFAS publication offers science-based insights to help all Floridians, whether you are a backyard grower or commercial producer, understand the environmental factors that shape the success of your fruit trees and crops.
The Ask IFAS Extension publication, Quick Guide to Environmental Factors Impacting Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Florida, compiles science-based insights to guide decisions for both commercial and residential landscapes.
Authors explain how Florida is experiencing an expanded interest in tropical fruit production beyond its traditional centers in extreme South Florida. Warmer trends, uncommon freeze events and shifts in land use have prompted both long-established producers and newer growers to explore alternative fruit crops statewide. Researchers also stress that while opportunities are increasing, successful production hinges on realizing how environmental conditions vary across regions and how individual crops respond to those conditions.
“Florida’s fruit-growing success is closely tied to water conditions, not just temperature,” said Young Gu Her, associate professor, hydrology and agricultural engineering at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. “Across the state, soils range from sandy, fast-draining sites to low-lying areas with poor drainage and shallow water tables.”
After heavy rain, water can pool around roots, reduce oxygen in the soil and weaken trees or increase disease risk, while dry periods can quickly stress trees on sandy soil unless irrigation is well managed.
In coastal areas or places that stay wet because the groundwater is near the surface, irrigation water can also become salty, which adds a layer of stress that impacts root health, nutrient uptake and long-term productivity.
“Understanding how water moves through a yard or a grove, and how long soil stays wet or dry, is often the difference between a tree that thrives and one that struggles,” said Her. “Hydrology and soil conditions are a major part of why the same fruit tree can perform very differently across Florida and is why matching the crop to the site and managing drainage and irrigation with local water risks in mind are essential for reliable fruit production.”
The guide also emphasizes how environmental tolerance differs widely across fruit crops. Each crop has its own optimal and limiting temperature ranges, and understanding those thresholds is essential not only for large-scale growers but also for homeowners who plant fruit trees in backyards, community gardens or small urban orchards.
Authors explain that many tropical and subtropical fruit trees require a form of environmentally induced dormancy, known as quiescence, to trigger flowering and ensure productive fruit to set. Recognizing this cycle can help urban residents avoid misreading natural seasonal changes, such as leaf drop or dormant growth, as signs of plant stress or decline.
“Florida fruit growing is changing as the weather becomes less predictable,” said Haimanote Bayabil, associate professor of water resources in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. “The increased frequency of flooding, drought, heat and salinity in some areas means growers need to carefully select sites and crops, manage water more efficiently and establish effective drainage and irrigation systems.”
Selecting sites less prone to flooding and wet soil conditions is critical and can save growers money. However, crop selection is also important, as different crops have varying tolerance levels to different issues.
“Efficient water management, drainage and crop selection matter more than ever, especially as flooding, drought and salinity risks increase,” said Bayabil. “In simple terms, success will depend on planting plants in the right place and plants that can better handle local conditions.”
In many Florida neighborhoods, conditions such as poor drainage, low-lying yards and exposure to intense sun or prolonged heat can create microenvironments that influence fruit tree performance just as strongly as conditions on a farm.
The guide notes that tolerance to flooded or waterlogged soils varies widely among fruit species, and that salinity, whether from irrigation sources or coastal influences, can play a significant role in long-term plant health and productivity. This is a challenge relevant to urban and suburban residents, who often plant fruit trees near homes, driveways or stormwater features without realizing how water movement and soil characteristics affect root systems.
“Because Florida’s weather is becoming more variable, growers and homeowners should expect shifts in flowering timing, fruit development and irrigation demand from year to year,” said Her. “Paying attention to site drainage, soil moisture conditions and water quality, especially after heavy rain or during dry spells, can help people adjust practices early and reduce stress before it affects yield and fruit quality.”
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By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.
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