hey citro-holics!

we harvested the rest of our fruit today.Also did a side by side of US 852- notes to follow.

3 quick videos:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On9cKyXAxsA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxjlIxLKdKI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUpxDfENDU

photos (todays are this photo and to the end of album)
http://bocajoe.smugmug.com/Other/Citrandarin-Countdown-2013/33454782_rK3p5R#!i=2952803104&k=rrD9mqf

refractometer readings by Dr. Pooya J. citrologist:

Thomasville when left at room temp to fully ripen for 2 weeks 10 - 11
Honey Changsha 10-11
Clem yuzu 3-3 9.5
Lemandarin 7.5-8
US 852 10.5
PVHM Nov 6, 2013, underripe 9.5
PVHM fully ripe Dec 6, 2013 12.0!!

scans of our scoring and tasting notes here and last page of album:
http://bocajoe.smugmug.com/Other/Citrandarin-Countdown-2013/i-9r6cLF3

the sweetness of the ripe fruit really stood out even from 7 days ago!

Boca Joe

thanks you for the correction!

we may need testers once we get enough rooted cuttings.
Thanks

bussone wrote:

Boca_Joe wrote: hey citro-holics! we harvested the rest of our fruit today.Also did a side by side of US 852- notes to follow. 3 quick videos: https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=On9cKyXAxsA&video_referrer=watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxjlIxLKdKI https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=3kUpxDfENDU&video_referrer=watch photos (todays are this photo and to the end of album) http://bocajoe.smugmug.com/Other/Citrandarin-Countdown-2013/33454782_rK3p5R#!i=2952803104&k=rrD9mqf Boca Joe I think those links should be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On9cKyXAxsA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxjlIxLKdKI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUpxDfENDU Incidentally, if you need someone further north to try some seedlings in-ground...

I'd love to test it, but I'm in Europe so that's not an option I guess...
Maybe some seeds?

Great job Joe. It's looking very positive. I have a cage waiting for a cutting for zone 6b testing! Here's my Loquat.

Like Marc in Europe but would offer to trial your mandarin if material was available.

Would be test in cool and wet summer area.

In general winters are not that cold except once a decade or so when the weather blows in from siberia.

Was this citrus protected when you had a high temperature of 16F (-8.9C).....brrrrr

Tim
The tree was planted summer 2007 and NEVER protected . At all. Nothing. I know this is important to many.

Most of the hardy exotics we plant here in our area are left on their own.
We do place a great focus on soil building, mycorriza, organic matter, proper watering especially the first 2 years. This has produced tremendously successful plantings of eucalyptus, hardy palms, gardenias, fatsia a well a our hardy citrus, citrumelo, etc.

Joe

Tim MA z6 wrote:

Was this citrus protected when you had a high temperature of 16F (-8.9C).....brrrrr

Nice to hear no protection was used. Last winter your area had five consecutive days with highs below 32F 0C

But this also means that Panama John also has an exceptionally hardy, zone 7a Trachycarpus fortunei growing nearby. Amazing

There are dozens of hardy trachys in the area, the one in Sterling has around for 20 years next summer and has seen -10f over the years, there is also a 30 yr old sabal minor same area. John's are no different, we seem to have found the hardiest of the genetically hardy ones and also have focused on soil, fert and water.

These plants are genetically hardy and laugh at our temps in our zone, with no special requirements. We seem to stumble on these gems all the time.

There are 20 yr old hardy gardenia August Beauty too and eucalytpus too. We hope to expand our hardy citrus varieties too.

Joe

John's wife Priscilla picked the last PVHM today:
http://bocajoe.smugmug.com/Other/Citrandarin-Countdown-2013/i-HgXthNW/A

I was hoping for a snow photo this year!

ilyaC wrote:

But this also means that Panama John also has an exceptionally hardy, zone 7a Trachycarpus fortunei growing nearby. Amazing

What plants other than this hardy citrus was damaged in previous cold spells? Did the Trachycarpus ever get damaged leaves while this hardy citrus was OK? Other plants will be a good indicator how cold your microclimate is.

none that I can remember...

Tim MA z6 wrote:

What plants other than this hardy citrus was damaged in previous cold spells? Did the Trachycarpus ever get damaged leaves while this hardy citrus was OK? Other plants will be a good indicator how cold your microclimate is.

This citrus is still a great plant no matter how hardy it is!