What are your favorite varieties of oranges, mandarins, tangelos & grapefruit? I have a new greenhouse and would like to purchase more dwarf citrus trees. Right now I have a Washington Navel, Cara Cara Navel, Valencia Orange, Owari Satsuma, Improved Meyer Lemon, Lisbon Lemon, and a Key Lime. I purchased them all from Four Winds Growers, and have been very pleased with the size and quality of their trees. Briteleaf and Harris look like they have good varieties, but I haven't ordered from them yet.

Which varieties do you think are the most productive for container growing? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts. Thanks!

Leslie

I have a bit of a thing for tangeloes. I'd love to try and grow a good Ugli fruit, as well as Wekiva. I truly dislike grapefruit, and is one citrus that I do not have any longer.

I like the tang and taste of Minneola. Orlando is great too. I have a Nova, but I've never tasted the fruit. You seem to have a nice collection already.

I've decided that for me, rootstock hardiness or dwarfing ability are unimportant.

I've decided that it is more important for me to learn not only how to root prune, but to also learn to use ph more to my advantage.

Yeah.....right after I learn how to post pics on the web!

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the reply Scott. I'm fairly new to citrus growing, so I really appreciated the input. A Minneola sounds good, but I've read that it's more productive if it has a pollinator. Guess I'll have to use a Q-Tip for that. Like you, I'm still learning about pruning and soil requirements. These boards seem to be really helpful for information. Thanks for the welcome!

Leslie, when asking this type of question usually someone will answer by naming half of all the citrus varieties available, or of course just naming their favorite. However, most of the experts in the Citrus and Nursery Industry, state that the Page Mandarin is the very best tasting citrus of all varieties. I have five Page Mandarin Trees, and although Page is not my VERY MOST favorite (Cara Cara is) Page is a tremendous tasting fruit. So, all in all, I believe the experts are correct in their selection. In the past I have purchased citrus trees from both Briteleaf and Harris, but I certainly would recommend that you now be VERY CAUTIOUS about purchasing citrus trees that were grown anywhere in the state of Florida. These last two years have spread disease throughout much of the state, and it would take ONLY ONE TREE to contaminate your entire collection. Some citrus diseases can take up to three years before you can tell that the tree you purchased is indeed diseased. In fact Briteleaf is presently moving their nursery out of the area into a safe location to avoid any possible danger of selling trees to their customers that could be contaminated. Presently I am growing close to 80 different varieties of citrus, therefore, I myself would NEVER take the chance of buying another Florida grown tree, that could contaminate my entire collection. I would recomend you to look for a Texas or California nursery. Leslie, welcome to this forum, it is very nice to have you as a member. Take care. - Millet

Millet,

Thanks for your recommendations. I think I'll stick to Four Winds Growers since their trees are so nice and healthy. Would you recommend buying from Clifton's, Acorn Springs or Thompson's? I think they are in Texas.

Wow, 80 varieties! Do you have greenhouses or live in a warm area? I imagine you give a lot of fruit away to your family and friends. I like to hear the personal favorites of others since I'm not sure of all the varieties. I'd like to have citrus bearing year-round if possible.

Thanks again for your suggestions. I'll look into getting a Page Mandarin. Take care.

Leslie

Eating out of hand = Satsuma mandarin

Drinks = Key lime / Sudachi / Calamondin

Breakfast = Duncan Grapefruit

Throwing at neighbors = Meyer lemons...


Try Stan Mckenzie. He has some great citrus for sale. http://www.mckenzie-farms.com/. If you are in a citrus growing state you will not be able to import citrus from other states.

bloody its halloween, but no bloody orange blimey yet!

Next year I will be able to settle some of the hypes that's been floating around about these pigmented oranges. I will have 90% of my collection come into fruiting.

So far, the Gold Nugget is the best tasting from my yard for eating fresh.

but it depends what you would use the citrus for. In most exotic recipes, I prefer the Calamondin. For liquors, I love the limequats, but too bad it is not year round yet, so would settle for calamondin again. Pies, sometimes Meyer lemons are better, but in other recipes, Lisbons or Eurekas are better.

Sometimes it depends on my mood. I could rate the lemon as best tasting at times when there are no other citruses to be harvested, a winner by default.