Citrus Growers Forum

Scott_6B · Posted: Thu 15 Aug, 2013 1:06 pm

Klemmd, Millet is correct, with the appropriate setup you should have no problem getting a satsuma through the winter in zone 7.

I overwintered my satsuma outside this past winter in zone 6B only using passive protection.
The progress of this experiment is documented here:
link
and here:
link

Here is what my tree looks like now:

TRI · Posted: Fri 16 Aug, 2013 12:20 am

Scott_6B wrote:

Klemmd, Millet is correct, with the appropriate setup you should have no problem getting a satsuma through the winter in zone 7.

I overwintered my satsuma outside this past winter in zone 6B only using passive protection.
The progress of this experiment is documented here:
link
and here:
link

Here is what my tree looks like now:

Your satsuma tree looks very healthy. Congratulations for your fruit production! In my opinion satsumas are the best tasting citrus. You will have a fantastic treat this fall!

Tim MA z6 · Posted: Fri 16 Aug, 2013 6:22 am

Yes it's a beauty! Do you have any plans to hybridize it with PT?

_________________
Massachusetts, USA USDA z6b

GregMartin · Posted: Fri 16 Aug, 2013 7:18 am

Tim MA z6 wrote:

Yes it's a beauty! Do you have any plans to hybridize it with PT?

Scott, if you do and end up with too many seeds I know a guy in Maine who will grow them up (it's me Wink

). That's one cross that's on my list...still need to pick up an Early St. Anne. Part of my list of F1s to make for use in further crosses.

Scott_6B · Posted: Fri 16 Aug, 2013 10:56 am

TRI, Tim, Greg, thanks for the comments.

I hope the fruit are ready before I need to wrap it up for the winter in late Oct./early Nov. I think it's going to be close, as I believe the fruit are ~1.5 to 2 months behind where they would be if the tree were in it's home state of Louisiana. Oh, and in case it wasn't clear it is an Early St. Ann.

I haven't really put any effort into hybridizing it yet. If I were to start making hybrids, I'd probably start by crossing Poncirus and its hybrids with C. ichangensis and C. latipes. The goal would be to shift some of the "semi-edible" Poncirus hybrids more towards edible while maintaining cold hardiness. Odds of success are not high, but it would be fun to try. Currently I do not have C. ichangensis (easy to get one though) and C. Latipes (less common). As for the poncirus hybrids I have a few of these as seedlings or rooted cuttings, but would also want to get a few more such as the Changsha citrandarin (or something similar to what Boca_Joe has). Another interesting parent might be the Jiouyuezao mandarin (I believe this was discussed somewhere on the forum earlier this year), which is supposedly hardy in to the high single digits Fahrenheit, but this variety might not even exist in the US.

TRI · Posted: Sun 18 Aug, 2013 12:00 am

I think Satsuma mandarin fruit is hardy to about 29F. If the temperature is 29F or lower for three or more hours there will be damage. Temperatures in low 30s F will not injure the fruit.

I think you have enough time though since is only mid August. Once the fruit fill out, the cool temperatures will ripen them quickly.

In south Louisiana, I always harvested Satsuma mandarins long before freezes.

Millet · Posted: Sun 18 Aug, 2013 12:53 am

Tri, I believe your correct if your talking about the fruit of the Satsuma mandarin. If the tree is hardened off before the freeze, it should be hardy to the low 20s. - Millet