Citrus Growers Forum

Tim MA z6 · Posted: Fri 06 Sep, 2013 11:07 pm

I noticed some of the PT fruits are turning color....anyone else?

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Massachusetts, USA USDA z6b

Citradia · Posted: Fri 13 Sep, 2013 1:25 pm

How many years did yours need before blooming/ fruiting? How tall was it before it started blooming? Have you tried to make marmalade out of the peel? I've heard the peel of PT is palatable.

cristofre · Posted: Fri 13 Sep, 2013 1:41 pm

I have quite a few PT plants on my property, but none are old enough to fruit yet.

The only mature specimen I know of is downtown in the middle of the city where I live, I checked it out about a week ago and it's fruits are still quite green, though I am about 2 zones warmer than you.

Roberto · Posted: Fri 27 Sep, 2013 7:24 am

Two weeks later -most of my PT fruits on Flying Dragon are ripe or nearly ripe.
As far as I kow PT on an average needs more than ten years to flower. But there exist specimens that flower within two or three years. I had one that flowered in its second year.

buddinman · Posted: Fri 27 Sep, 2013 4:59 pm

My poncirus are yellow.

Millet · Posted: Fri 27 Sep, 2013 5:24 pm

All my PT have long ago been sent to the compost pile. -Millet

Tim MA z6 · Posted: Fri 27 Sep, 2013 8:24 pm

Citradia wrote:

How many years did yours need before blooming/ fruiting? How tall was it before it started blooming? Have you tried to make marmalade out of the peel? I've heard the peel of PT is palatable.

Hi Citradia,

my PT is seed grown from 2004. I planted it outside in it's second year and it had it's first fruit when 6 years old. The fruit crop gets larger and larger each season.

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Massachusetts, USA USDA z6b

ilyaC · Posted: Sat 28 Sep, 2013 6:02 am

Millet wrote:

All my PT have long ago been sent to the compost pile. -Millet

Millet,
You probably was growing it in your greenhouse. But is it possible to grow it outside in your climate? I am just curious.

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Best regards,
Ilya

Millet · Posted: Sat 28 Sep, 2013 11:10 am

I really don't know if it is possible or not. Never seen a PT tree outside around here, but then never really looked either. I'm in zone 5. - Millet

ilyaC · Posted: Sat 28 Sep, 2013 6:45 pm

Millet wrote:

I really don't know if it is possible or not. Never seen a PT tree outside around here, but then never really looked either. I'm in zone 5. - Millet

Yes it is too cold even for average minimum. It is considered to be hardy to -25C, but probably this is too stretched.

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Best regards,
Ilya

Scott_6B · Posted: Sat 28 Sep, 2013 9:11 pm

Zone 5 should be possible for Poncirus. I know of two mature fruiting zone 5 FDs here in New England. One in northeast Connecticut (5b) and one in central Massachusetts (5b/5a). The one in Massachusetts has seen temps of at least -12F (approx. -24C) and probably even lower.

ilyaC · Posted: Sun 29 Sep, 2013 7:05 am

Scott_6B wrote:

Zone 5 should be possible for Poncirus. I know of two mature fruiting zone 5 FDs here in New England. One in northeast Connecticut (5b) and one in central Massachusetts (5b/5a). The one in Massachusetts has seen temps of at least -12F (approx. -24C) and probably even lower.

Than if no shelter has been used the hardiness of poncirus should be at least to -29C (-20F). The average year minimal for the border between z5b and 6a being −23.3 °C (−10 °F) and on average one expects year minimal being one zone lower every 5-10 years. For the border between 5A/5B it should be striking 31.5C! Good to know.

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Best regards,
Ilya

hardyvermont · Posted: Sun 29 Sep, 2013 12:25 pm

I grew several in southwest Vermont, which is a 5A or 5B. It is very windy there, the ones that survived were protected from the wind.

citrange · Posted: Sun 29 Sep, 2013 2:11 pm

I've had Poncirus badly damaged at -12C.
I think it depends greatly on exact local conditions and microclimate; size and maturity of the plant; humidity; timing and length of the low temperatures and whether accompanied by strong winds. All variable and unpredictable factors. Together with good or bad luck!
My usual advice is don't grow PT if temperatures regularly fall to -20C.

ilyaC · Posted: Sun 29 Sep, 2013 3:38 pm

citrange wrote:

I've had Poncirus badly damaged at -12C.
I think it depends greatly on exact local conditions and microclimate; size and maturity of the plant; humidity; timing and length of the low temperatures and whether accompanied by strong winds. All variable and unpredictable factors. Together with good or bad luck!
My usual advice is don't grow PT if temperatures regularly fall to -20C.

Fully agree with you, it corresponds to what I have seen in Europe, although the damage at -12C is probably very rare here .
All aggravating factors are extremely important for hardiness, but they for sure also exist in North America.
For me poncirus hardy in z5 without much protection is astonishing.

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Best regards,
Ilya