Dear Citruholics,

some of you may know that I am trying to push the citrusbelt as much as possible to the northern border. My location is Hamburg, Nothern Germany. Since 1999 my Swingel Citrumelo survived each winter without nearly any protection. In between this tree is grown up to 2,50 Meter an bears fruit each year. Even the summerheat is missing the fruits do ripe end of November/top of December. The fotos below show you some impressions of thes year harvest. I hope with this I can encourage some of you to try same.

brgds from hamburg

Andy

That's a handsome looking tree, Andy.

What's your usual lowest temperatures in Hamburg?

I've read a lot about what the Swingle fruit tastes like, but have never personally tried one. Does it taste as bad as I've read?

.....Alan.

Way to go Andy !!! Your tree is very impressive. I too live way out of a citrus growing region. I would be interested in what the fruit tastes like. I have heard the taste of the Swingle was/is terrible. I chose to go with the Dunstan citrumelo instead. It appears Hamburg's climate is similar to Vancouver B.C. / Seattle area. http://www.wordtravels.com/Cities/Germany/Hamburg/Climate
So I guess there is hope for me too

Thanks, Greg

Dear Greg and Allan,

to answer your question...taste is defenitely awful and from my point of view the juice is not of any use. However blossoms, shape and hardiness of the Citrumelo is impressiv. The tree is in between 16 Years old and was planted in 1999. Since that it was two times defoliated after winters with temperatures below - 15 C° and - 13 C°.

tree was looking like this....




I do belive Vancover area is very similar to Hamburg so I am convinced that Swingle Citrumelo is absolute suitable.



May be Ichangensis and Ichangensis hybrids like Yuzu are also possible with much better fruit quality and less heat demand during growing season, but hardiness is may be not sufficient.

I wish you good luck with your citrus garden at the west coast...

Andy

Congratulations Andy! Beautiful tree and fruit as well! From all the old war movies, I used to think that Germany was almost as cold as Iceland! So, there are actually some zone 8 areas in Germany? It appears you know what you are doing when it comes to citrus. Great Job!

Greg ... by the looks of that German zone map, we are better off in our zone 8b.

Cheers, Barrie.

Very nice tree and I'm amazed it survives the winters. Is the swingle citrumelo an especially hardy variant?

I think I missed your original post - but looking at your pictures now I am very impressed.
Here in England I have 12-year old citranges growing happily outside, but still no sign of any fruit. I guess they are only about half the size of your tree - probably because they are a bit less vigorous than citrumelos and also your summers are probably a little hotter than here.
In the spring I will ask you for some budwood from your tree. I would like to try grafting on to one of my mature Poncirus and see what happens.
How are the temperatures in Hamburg at the moment? We have just had a low of -8C, which is the coldest for many years.
Mike aka Citrange.

Mike, I am surprised that after 12 years your citrange has not flowered. We got down to -12.6c or 10f - unfortunately (or fortunately ) I was on a cruise in the Caribbean when the these temperatures were reached and I was unable to monitor the situation. I suffered some damage to my in-ground citrus and I hope nothing is fatally injured. It appears that this past seasons' last flush is what got damaged. I have a Dunstan Citrumelo and a Morton Citrange which Got completely entombed in snow. I guess we will see what spring brings!!!
Do you know if you will be working the Winter Olympics next year?
Take care, Greg

Greg - I don't know for certain yet about Vancouver.
I normally get seconded to an organisation called the European Broadcasting Union, which provides Olympic TV coverage for the smaller countries which can't afford their own separate installations. The request for staff usually goes out in April the previous year, so I should know by then.
You may be interested to see BBC TV Vancouver Planning.
Mike.