Here on CTF the citrus trees are producing. This year we've had quite a good harvest of reasonable sized mandarins, the Satsuma variety in particular has been the best we've had so far.
The mandarin trees are only small, most of them only about 1m high and only a few years old. They are in quite a sheltered north-facing spot and I have been feeding them regularly. Despite the Summer droughts they seem to be doing a lot better than our other citrus trees which are in a much more exposed position.
This is our Seville orange tree, planted near to the mandarins so also in a sheltered position. It's also very small but bearing fruit. The fruit is not ready yet though - one we picked and tried was really sour! (UPDATE - have since realised - doh - that this orange is supposed to be sour! It is a cross between a tangelo and a mandarin and great for making marmalade.)
The one citrus tree I'm really looking forward to bearing fruit though is the 'blood' orange. I think it may be a few years off doing so at this stage as it is less than 1m high now.
Other citrus varieties we have are grapefruit, Rangpur limes, lemons (Meyer, Lisbon, Yen Ben), lemonades, kaffir lime and tangelo. The lemons are still a way off producing, but the limes are really quite hardy and the lemonade tree has a fair few fruit on it this year, although not yet ripe.
What citrus do you grow and what is your favourite?
12 comments:
Too northern to grow citrus, but oh, how I wish I could. I could eat satsumas all day long... Matt really likes blood oranges. I'm glad your little trees are being so fruitful! We've put in some fruit trees (plums, apples, peach, apricot)this year and look forward to the bounty to come in future seasons!
Yes we are very lucky to be able to do so. I always appreciate being able to pop outside to pick a lime or lemon(ade) if needed. Couldn't do that back home (UK)!
Won't be too long before you'll be harvesting from your new trees :-)
Yum love citrus but too cold to grow any here but we do grow some beautiful citrus in NZ so I don't mind buying it. Sounds like you have been having a similar winter to us. Enjoy that sunshine when you get it.
Hi Ailsa
Yes indeed. Hubby is a big mandarin eater so he also buys the NZ ones when in season as ours aren't producing enough.
Mind you, being in the south island does have pros with regard to growing, much better for growing things like swedes and peonies!
Surprised you tried eating the Seville orange! They are always sour. I use for marmalade and I have a nice recipe (untried) for Seville orange curd. x
Hi sis
Now that you mention it, that did cross my mind (briefly!) Probably was ripe then!! The Seville orange curd sounds yum :-) x
yum! I miss the citrus trees at my old house...
Hi Amy
What a shame. Maybe you can plant some new ones where you are now, or perhaps have a dwarf tree in a pot?
Your mandarins look great! I have a potted mandarin tree that's in my glasshouse but it's just too cold for it here and it hasn't produced any fruit while I've had it. Such a disappointment, I'd love to grow mandarins and limes. I do have a massive lemon tree that produces all year round though!
Hi Ruth
That's a shame about your mandarin, even in your glasshouse :-(
But having fresh lemons on hand is wonderful, and being able to pick them all year round is brilliant!
Well done your harvest! We grow just about every citrus you can imagine :) My favourites are limes and lemons though as they're so versatile!
Hi Ock Du Spock
Just waiting on the Seville oranges and Rangpur limes to ripen so I can make some marmalade :-)
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