I emailed Brandy Crowley, one of the owners of Just Fruits Nursery in Crawfordville, Fla and asked her to supply me with any info she might have on Sweet Betty. Here is a copy of her email.

Hi Stan
Good to hear from you. Glad the folks I've sent have found you and that you're having a good season. We're getting a bountiful harvest of Satsuma's this year as well, love this time of year.

Sweet Betty does in fact come from us. It was brought to our attention by one of our customers Clayton Lewis who found it growing in a compost pile in his next door neighbors back yard in Panacea Florida. (Yes that is the correct name of that town). The compost pile was under a live oak and the tree shot up a main branch that grew 20 foot to get to the sun, it finally fruited when it hit the sun. When I asked Clayton what he would like to name it, he asked that it be named after his mom Betty Lewis.

We would appreciate it if you mentioned our nursery when promoting this tree, we do not patent our local finds but do feel honored to be part of the legacy they create. I'm glad you are having success with the tree and the fruit is being recognized for it's quality. The restrictions that the state of Florida has imposed on acquiring new varieties into their register citrus program has made it impossible for us to register the tree, so propagating it is not possible for us at this point.

Have a great holiday and take care,
Brandy




Brandy Cowley-Gilbert
Just Fruits and Exotics Nursery
30 Saint Frances St. Crawfordville FL 32327

850-926-5644, FAX 850-926-9885

justfruits@hotmail.com

Nice story, I say ..

Thanks Stan. I have my Sweet Betty in a container, and find the fruit quite tasty. I think I may plant it soon.

It would be interesting to know what variety "Sweet Betty" really is. Certainly, "Sweet Betty" is what ever variety of citrus fruit Clayton Lewis's neighbor happened to be eating, and discarded the seeds into his back yard compost pile. If Clayton's neighbor has citrus trees growing in his yard, "Sweet Betty" could come from ether one of his neighbors citrus varieties, or if not, a variety from the supermarket . If from the supermarket it would be interesting to know what the neighbors favorite citrus to purchase is. - Millet

Too much to guess ...

Both from yard or store could be any crazy cross and then it could be a multiple mutation too ...

Sanguiello, what you say above is just not true. Almost all citrus, and most especially oranges produce fruit true from seed. The chance it is some "crazy cross" as you portend is VERY slim indeed. Multipal mutations is yet even more extreme. - Millet

I say some examples :

Clementine

Ortanique

Ugly

In fact all citrus are hybrids but the original Medica, Pummello and Mandarine and maybe some more ...

Not even Mandarine is sure ... it could be a hybrid of Fortunella and Pumello ...

Sanguinello, I don't have time to continue with your assertions. It will save a lot of time and effort to just agree to disagree. - Millet

It very well could be a hybrid. Two good examples are the Panzarella orange & lemon.

Absolute right !

Post 2 times = flooding

Having no idea of basics = trolling

My last post on this subject. It could be anything, but since it is a citrus seed, the chance of it germinating true to type is at least 95 percent sure. - Millet