Ned here are the photos you emailed me. The first is Stan "The citrusman" Mckenzie up in Columbia with a nice size Grapefruit tree. Maybe Ned can fill us in on the rest.









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Yes Lazz, Thanks for posting them.

The first one is Stan showing how large the trunk is on Mr. Croxton's grapefruit. In case you don't know about it, this tree is located in Columbia, SC near the Saluda river and is a seedling that Mr. Croxton planted 13 years ago, when he was around 76. He was 89 when we visited him in August. The tree has been bearing pink grapefruit for 3 years. I think he said it had sixty last year.

The second is Mr. Croxton with his grapefruit. I guess I should say Professor Croxton, because he is a retired math professor. Even at 89 he is a colorful individual and is a delight to meet and talk to.

The third one I took at a friend's home. He lives on the street where I live, so I walked down to check out his citrus yesterday afternoon. He also has a satsuma that was loaded but he had picked most of them before I arrived.

The fourth is another shot of the friend's kumquat. I never much cared for the taste of Nagamia kumquat, but it has to be one of the best citrus to use as an ornamental.

Number 5 is a long shot of a row of grapefruit on a lot two lots down the street from me. They were planted as seedlings by a now decease bachelor friend, and are presently owned by his sister. This is a poor shot, and it is hard to see the fruit, but they are covered. The trees load down ever year with delicious pink grapefruit. I believe she sold them to the local Piggly Wiggly last year. I would guess they are about 15-20 years old. I have a lot of pictures of "Betty's" grapefruit, I will try to post a few in the future later. I would like to get a picture of the trees when the fruit is fully colored this year.

Ned

Ned, thanks for being kind in your description of the Grapefruit tree. I was actually trying to steal it by pulling it up and taking it home in the trunk of my car!

Stan, I think you did take quite a few of them home, in the form of budwood! Did you get some going?

I should point out that weather records indicate that Columbia experience official temps as low as 12 degrees f. - after this tree was planted. We have no way of knowing for sure what the tempertures at the tree were during those freezes, but I suspect they weren't that much different.

I am beginning to wonder if seedling grapefruit aren't hardier than Satsuma.

Ned

I called Ben Salley on Wednesday night and we were discussing the number of seedling grapefruit that have been discovered growing from Columbia eastward. Ben and I came to pretty much the same conclusion that you have, Ned. It now appears to me that a seedling grapefruit with some size and years under its belt is as hardy if not hardier than satsumas. Satsumas were always the benchmark as far as taste and hardiness are concerned but I do believe that with seedling grapefruits they have some stiff competition. I did get some buds to take from the "Croxton" grapefruit tree. I will be glad to share some with you if you like, but then, you have the Bettys grapefruit too.

Ned, in the third picture the tree looks like a Thomasville Citrangequat, as the fruit look to be about the size, and more important, the shape of an egg. Is it? - Millet

Millet, The third photo is a closeup of the nagamia pictured in the fourth photo. That is one loaded kumquat!

Ned

Alan, Grapefruit roots easily so it is not hard to get it on it's own roots. Another approach would be to plant a seedling (or some other rootstock) and bud it low so that you can cover the mature wood during severe freezes, either by banking or one of the various other methods used.

Ned