What you might not know about fast bearing , cold hardy citrus

[clarkinks]

I’m a fast learner and Mckenzie Farms https://mckenzie-farms.com/ are good teachers. What most people don’t know is that if you want fast producing citrus try those that end in “quat”. That kumquat cross gives them fast production and typically cold hardiness. Knowing that little tidbit is a gamechanger.

Citrangequat

Orangequat

Mandarinquat

Marmaladequat

Limequat

Information is hard to come by

Search: 24 results found for "Quat"

[Fusion_power]

Do you remember when Loafnut posted about a cold hardy citrus? I got one plant from him. It is only 16 inches tall so far, but growing very well in a 20 gallon container.

Interesting citrus variety

Got these from a friend of a friend who had them growing on a rural property. Large size, very juicy. I tend to try out local fruit varieties wherever I go, and this one was highly unique. Flavor I would describe as sweet lemonade. Tastes like a lemon, but is sweet like an orange. Exquisite. Anyone had anything like it? [IMG_7367]

[Stanthecitrusman]

Thanks for the shout out! We try! LOL

[clarkinks]

@Stanthecitrusman

You sent me some nice trees! Thanks

@Fusion_power

@Loafnut Loafnutcitrus looks nice! I have to wonder how cold hardy is it?

We all know trifoliate oranges can’t be overlooked for crosses.

[dannytoro1]

I had heard there was one that tasted a lot like a “Key Lime” . That is the one I’d likely try.

[mrsg47]

Would like to know more about these, after you grow them. Bitterness?

[clarkinks]

@mrsg47

Some will have some bitterness at times, and I will let you know which ones. Size of fruit is another thing. Harvest windows may be more narrow. We will learn more on these together. You and I are used to growing normal citrus indoors, but these are something different. We have grown lots of citrus indoors for lots of years. These 0 F to 20F zone 7-8 citrus are something different. @Stanthecitrusman could answer your questions now.

A thread you might enjoy discusses the 0F yuzu and others as we revisit cold hardy citrus. Yuzu is strictly for cooking and juice similar to lemons like you used to grow in Rhode Island. I can practically smell the lemon Marang pies and blueberry- lemon breads now!

Revisiting cold hardy citrus in 2026

I want to discuss this one first Thomasville Citrangequat Trees for Sale - MadisonCitrusNursery.com – Madison Citrus Nursery Thomasville citrangequat is a complex hybrid involving a citrange (Sweet orange x Trifoliate orange) and a kumquat. It was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture in the early 20th century as an attempt to combine the hardiness of the citrange with the delayed dormancy of a kumquat. It was named for Thomasville, GA, where it first fruited. Several differe…

[dannytoro1]

@Revisiting cold hardy citrus in 2026

Thomasville citrangequat

We see that fairly commonly in pots. Nice variable flavor depending on picking time. Which can be summer to November. Not really bitter.

[Loafnut]

@clarkinks

I forgot it outside last fall when it was 22F overnight. It was still very small, yet didn’t damage the tree at all. No leaf drop, no signs of stress. So it’s cold hardiness is somewhere below there, but I don’t know how low it can go.

[clarkinks]

@Loafnut

Thanks for the information that’s promising!

[clarkinks]

@Auburn

Citrus like Yuzu would be a perfect fit for your area outdoors! The 10F tangerine and others would work also.

[Auburn]

Thanks

[clarkinks]

@Auburn

I was thinking about you as I read through this old thread Oranges in Zone 5 - #3 by Auburn

[mrsg47]

Living in Provence, all of my citrus is grown outside.

[Joao]

The quat tip is good to know. I’ve been eyeing kumquats for a while since they supposedly handle cold better than most citrus, but didn’t realise the crosses inherited that trait so reliably. Loafnut’s surviving 22F with no leaf drop on a small tree is impressive.