Citrus Growers Forum

Boca_Joe · Posted: Wed 27 Nov, 2013 9:59 pm

This is exciting and incredible!

So far our record cold and below normal November has no ill effect on our hardy mandarin!

More ripe fruit and taste testing of our Potomac Valley Hardy Mandarin (PVHM) today here in zone 7a after several record cold nights (low - mid 20's, one day high barely above freezing) and over 24 hours below freezing. Fruit still fine and very tasty. The final harvest will be in about 2 weeks, this is the 2nd year and about 15 fruits this year compared to last year's 3.
The latest video and photos from today are on pages 4 and 5 of the album. Also some great photos of the hardy Thomasville Citraquat fruit tasted today also by yours truly.
The rest of the album documents the month of November. I've never seen such photogenic fruit

Thanks to Priscilla Johnston Saia and John A. Saia who own the exotic plantation. The DC Metropolitan Hardy Citrus Council endorses this event.

Today's taste testing notes here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gvktve0rtq0z7tu/pvhm%20taste%20test%20score%20nov%2027%202013.pdf

photos and videos here:
http://bocajoe.smugmug.com/Other/Citrandarin-Countdown-2013/33454782_rK3p5R#!i=2935290124&k=vmnCHdm

All my SMUGMUG photos are © Copyright Joe Seamone. No photos may be used without my permission.

Tim MA z6 · Posted: Thu 28 Nov, 2013 10:57 pm

keep the updates coming Joe! I hope for a mild winter so your crop will be even larger next season. Cool

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Massachusetts, USA USDA z6b

Sylvain · Posted: Sat 30 Nov, 2013 7:04 am

I don't understand how cold hardy is this plant because all citrus can stand "hours below freezing"?

Boca_Joe · Posted: Sat 30 Nov, 2013 12:39 pm

Sylvain wrote:

I don't understand how cold hardy is this plant because all citrus can stand "hours below freezing"?

If you read the posts above, I was referring to the fact that the ripening FRUIT has taken all of these below freezing temps with no ill effect, this fall and last. The TREE itself has seen as low as 0f over it's lifetime here with no apparent damage other than some minor defoliation but every bud had sent out leaves in spring.

Sylvain · Posted: Sat 30 Nov, 2013 3:29 pm