From what I have read so far, I understand that some cold hardy citrus are inedible and/or bad tasting, and fit for ornamental purposes only.

I am getting my list ready for this spring for cold hardy citrus and I don't want to waste my money on inedible fruit nor am I interested in citrus for ornamental value only, at least at this time.
My citrus will most likely be planted outdoors in my zone 8b garden.

I would like to poll everyone for their absolute favorite cold hardy citrus:

Criteria: Excellent flavor, good taste (no off or bitter aftertaste), and sweetness factor.

Limes
Lemons
Oranges
Mandarins
Grapefruit
other citrus as long as it is certifiably delicious.

Satsuma.

I agree with Skeeter, SATSUMAS

Ponkan

satsumas all the way. Here is some reading for the ones that live at the edge of growing citrus plants. http://www.walterreeves.com/uploads/pdf/coldcitrus.pdf

Satsuma or one of the other proven cold hardy mandarins.

Then kumquats.

.....Alan.

Most mandarins are quite cold hardy. Juanita, Ponkan, Satsuma, Changsha and Clementine are all pretty hardy. You want the ones that ripen before a hard freeze.

As Laaz said all mandarins (satsumas, tangerines, clementines, and so on) are cold hardy, but you want a variety that will ripen its fruit before the hard freezes hit your area.

Out in my orchard I've got a Page orange (hybrid), Ponkan, Sunburst tangerine, Kimbrough satsuma, Ambersweet orange (another hybrid), Orlando tangelo (still another hybrid), and an unknown Satsuma. All chosen because they will usually ripen their fruit before we get a freeze hard enough to damage them. Usually.

Anything that ripens its fruit from December on in my part of Florida would be better kept in a container since chances are good that most years the fruit would freeze off about the time they were mature. Thus my Murcott is in the greenhouse.

.....Alan.

Satsuma and Ponkan . Choosing one over the other would be impossible for me.
Karl

Okay, so far....so good....a big thank you to each of you for your response.

I now have on my list:

Satsuma (Owari)
Satsuma (Kimbrough)
Ponkan
Meiwa Kumquat
Sanbokan Lemon
Ponderosa Lemon
Meyer Lemon

For those above that may be more tender, they will be housed in winter.

More specifically, tell me about these:

Bloomsweet Grapefruit (taste?)
Changsha Mandarin (good eating/juicing?)
Name a good lime
Nippon Orangequat (is it good for out-of-hand eating or juicing?)


Tks for the reminder about the early ripening, that will be my final item to critique them by.

1. Ponkan and Satsuma
Page and Honey Murcott isn't far behind.
There was also a 3 week stretch in December where my Dancy's were fantastic. Before that they were okay, after that okay.

satsuma, ponkan, page

I can help you with most, if not all of these plants.
I still can't wrap my head around putting them in the ground.
I have a large flying dragon that I bought from Woodley's that I planted in the ground that I shall try to bark graft Satsuma and Ponkan to this Spring. I plan on only trying to have to protect just one tree. The best in ground protection that I have seen is Mr. Texas' friend's large frame built around a grapefruit tree

I have some flying dragon rootstock going. If you want to plant some, I'll hook you up. When they are big enough, you can bud something onto them.

If you want to save time, see Stan or do the mail order thing.
Beware the Yellow Dragon!!!!!

My part of Columbia(Irmo) is a big deposit of hard red clay. Great for making bricks. Perhaps you are a little south or east, and enjoy a sandier planting situation.