Actually, I agree with Gene Lester's philosophy, and that is, if you can purchase a citrus variety in the supermarket, why grow it. Last year, when I first heard of Gene's philosophy, I agreed with it so much that I went to my greenhouse and ripped out a 3 - 4 year old in ground Valencia, tossed it on the compost pile, and in its place planted a Sanbokan. Gene's philosophy has a significance importance, when a person is growing their trees within the limited bounds of a 32-ft X 70-Ft. Colorado greenhouse.- Millet (678-)

Millet, I've got two large navel orange trees and the fruit from my navels taste better than any I've bought in a market. My own Gold Nugget isn't producing much yet but I think the fruit I've picked from it so far are also better than what I've bought in a market. I also have a walnut tree and I certainly can buy those of similar quality in a market but I've got the space and all I do is water it about six times a year and pick up the nuts, pruning it just a little. The Wonderful pomegranates in the markets are never ripe (they don't ripen after being picked) so mine are better (besides the other varieties I grow). If I had limited space like you do, I probably wouldn't grow things that are easily bought in a store unless I thought I could produce a higher quality fruit that was important to me.

Oh, I should say that I my two navel trees were already here when I bought the farm in 1994 and I wouldn't have planted two of them since even one produces way more than my family can eat. I actually cut one of them down the year we bought the place because it had so much damage from the 1990 freeze. However, it grew back great and I ignored it for a couple of years and then decided to keep it because it produces larger fruit that peal easier than the larger tree. It's worked out okay since it's become a fun project with my son (just turned 13). We pick about 200 pounds of fruit at a time and sell them to a lady that runs a nearby fruit stand. for just a few hours of work we've sold about 600 pounds for a little over $100 so far and split the money with my son and he's learning something in the process. We work some and then have fun with something frivolous with our mad money. I still have 200-300 pounds to go. No sprays, fertilizing, and watered about four times last year.

Harvey, as your son is 13, in 5 years he will be starting college. You better sell all the oranges you can, to help pay his tuition. My granddaughter just graduated from The American University in Washington DC. Her tuition was $41,000.00 per year (that's a lot of oranges). - Millet (678-)

Millet, we've got a few years of that covered already (not from oranges!) but haven't even begun talking about where he may go. The orange money is just our fun money that he gets to help blow after helping me with a little work. We either pick them while on the tree and make a little money or on the ground after they're all rotten!

I've thought of more reasons I prefer to grow my own. I enjoy eating fresh fruit right off the tree. Oranges lose Vitamin C after being harvested. My season for most varieties is different from when I'll find the same varieties in a market. My fruits aren't sprayed with any pesticides (though I spray weeds around them). My fruits are more accessible than a market 20 miles away. Finally, satisfaction of growing my own and the benefit of landscape value.

Gene does grow several things that he can buy in a market, including some citrus and avocados. While Gene doesn't need a greenhouse like you, he does grow all of his citrus in imported amended topsoil on mounds, so that is a bit of a limiting factor.

Phllip, I'm going Dekopan hunting this weekend. I'll try to find some Page as well and conduct my own very non-official taste test. If I end up with any seeds, I'll let the list know. Not holding my breath on that one. And, as an aside, where can those of us in California buy a xie shan satsuma? I have sent an email to Four Winds, but it looks doubtful, since they don't have it listed. Any other suggestions? I have a Page, but the fruit isn't ripe, yet, as well as a Gold Nugget, Pixie and Algerian Clementine (which was delicious.)

I asked Four Winds if they had any Xie Shan about 1 year ago. They had never heard of it. On a brighter note, they told me that they were planning on restarting their special order business in the near future. As I understand it, they would grow any of the varieties from the UC Riverside collection for you, although I am not exactly clear on the details.

-Brett

Thanks Brett. I'll ask them about this when they respond to my email. Have a Red Smith Valencia (Blood Orange) on its way from them shortly to go with my Moro, which I really like. Very tasty, and really great in a salad.

I will sure let you know if I find any, Phillip. And my Page is still in the pot (will be going in the ground tomorrow), and it is obviously more vigorous than my GN. And also starting to go into full bloom. I have not grafted before, but I can certainly learn. In fact, I'm planning on it. If you have extra budwood, I'd love to buy some from you. If not, I'll have to figure out how to get budwood for both Xie Shan and Ugli Tangelo. So, I take it I'll end up with some minimum amount of budwood, and have to graft all to root stock, then nurse them up. I can always swap them with CRFG folks I guess.

Phillip, found the Dekopan down at Mitsuwa Marketplace on Kearney Mesa Road, San Diego. They have a good supply. They come in boxes, 8 to 9 Sumos in a box for $12.99. Had my first one. Flavor. Well. I have had better Algerian clementines, and not nearly as good as Page, but that's just based on one. They're nice. Sweet, but not as "tangeriny" as others I've had, including Pixie (still waiting for my GN to ripen, and couldn't find any to test, so still waiting on that comparison.) And, no seeds Interestingly, it had a tiny navel. They are large, about the size of a good sized navel orange. Easy to peel, thicker skinned. So, several more to go for a final taste verdict for me. And to see if I was lucky enough to get a seed or two!

I think Dekopon, or its bud wood, will be available to the public long before a person planting the seed, and then waiting the many years for the tree to finely mature and begin producing fruit. I don't know of a citrus tree that has not made it into the public yet. - Millet (674-)