Photo shoot evening #2 is led by the requisite Meyer lemon.
I’m sure these are the #1 citrus sold for container and indoor growing. I’m guessing that the reasons for that are that it is naturally dwarf and flowers and produces early. My own opinion is that they are possibly the biggest pain in the neck of all the citrus to grow successfully indoors, especially if they spend part of the year outdoor. They react poorly to change and any stress. Ponderosa lemons aren’t too far behind, but those are large and gangly trees, not promoted for indoor growing. My key limes follow well behind in propensity to pout, and third runner up to them has been kumquats.
Kumquats have an excuse. They go into a period of quiescence after fruiting, and are naturally slow to come out of it. It’s one reason they can handle lower winter temperatures than many other citrus.
I no longer stress out when any of the above act cranky, and just take it as part of their nature. I give them what they need and let them get back on course in their own time.
Back to the subject at hand. Page ‘orange’ is next in the line up.
Page is called an orange only because it looks like an orange. It’s actually a tantangelo, the result of a cross between a Minneola tangelo and a Clementine mandarin. I was happy to get fruit to set because I don’t have any of the preferred pollinators.
My Xie Shan, a satsuma mandarin.
This is one I’m looking forward to tasting. It’s supposed to be very good. I’m pleased with its productive nature and growth habit. Xie Shan has a far less weeping habit than Owari, and is cooperating by putting out growth lower down in its trunk. Those who prefer lollipop trees might not appreciate that last trait, but it allows more area of productive growth area in less of an indoor footprint.
The next two shots are “Sugar Belle”.
Sugar Belle is my most recent arrival. She’s also a Clementine X Minneola hybrid. I’m a wee bit excited about this one. It’s touted to have some very appealing characteristics. Ripening 4 to 6 weeks before Honeybell, it is supposed to be deeper colored, richer and more complexly flavored, and sweeter, along with having 40% more vitamin C in a slightly smaller fruit. It is resistant to Alternaria. Sugar Belle fruits prolifically and exhibits vigorous growth. It has been shown in trials to maintain performance even when infected by HLB. A protected variety first released for FL commercial growers only in 2009, it has been less than 4 years since the first small batch was permitted to be sold to individuals, and even less time since its been available through approved nurseries.
Measured from the base of the trunk, this tree is already taller than I am. A negative is that some of the young fruits appear to have been hit by scab, which I will treat for. If this tree comes anywhere near approaching the claims made for it, I’ll be very happy.
Last one for the evening is a classic. These are some of recently set Key Lime fruitlets. It’s also carrying larger ones from an earlier bloom.
One gust of wind and there would be a load of mud on the bottom of the pool with bark chips and perlite floating on top while the trees bathed themselves in chlorinated water. Fun times! I’ve been working on getting them away from the water to where they have at least dappled shade in the afternoon.
I think it was like $20. I suppose i could see if they have them again (they seem to get them this time of year). I use to grow citrus from seeds and had a ton of them, but the young trees have razor sharp spikes and that wasn’t doing it for me so i composted them all.
