RyanL, are you growing anything in ground? If so, I would like to know what you are experimenting with. I live in the Charlotte area. I am growing several varieties in ground.

Thanks,
Mark

I have 8 different cultivars in ground at the moment. 2 are tangeries that I protect. But, I leave the others unprotected. So far, I have had good luck with Ichang Lemon, Rusk citrange, Dunstan citrumelo, Thomasville citrangequat and what I believe is a Duncan grapefruit as unprotected trees. Most of the trees are still too young to produce fruit. But, the Thomasville and one tangerine are of fruiting age. The Thomasville probably has more the 200 fruits on it at the moment and more coming.

Meiwa had 3 blooms this year, its got large fruit small fruit and now blooms again. I guess I'll have an extended harvest of these or maybe some will ripen smaller, who knows Anyway I was proud of this shot with the B̶u̶m̶b̶l̶e̶b̶e̶e̶ *Carpenter bee in flight.

Great shot, but thats not a bumble bee. It's a carpenter bee, see the shiny butt? They bore holes in anything wooden.

Ah yes you're right! Carpenter bees, my deck railing knows them well. They sure love the smell of citrus flowers, it seems sometimes they get sleepy or something after drinking so much nectar, they fall a sleep on the flowers, you tap them on the back they wake up and fly off.

Lucky you! My meiwa had only 2, while nagami is having its 3rd bloom this year. I guess my meiwa just isn't mature enough to bear such a large crop. As for the "bumblebee", yeah good point Laaz, that butt certainly gives it away!

Oh no! My beloved Tarocco has started splitting! so far 5 of the fruit have done this. There are only about 30 so 5 is a lot to me



So I cut it open



And then tried it



Pretty good & juicy even this early, I can see the potential. I have never tried a ripe fruit so I can't afford to have any more split!
I know why they are splitting , its because the container is to small and I have to water it every few days, I have a second tree and none have done this on that tree. The rind is pretty thin on this variety.

They do look delicious even though there is no blood... is a little less water not an option?

Yeah, I'll put on a thick layer of mulch and I'll also try and water less. Tarocco is supposed to ripen in January to February here. I would Imagine they would start to get red around that time or a little earlier. I have Moro & Sanguinelli as comparison and they color up well so I am expecting some level of red in the Taroccos. This is my first year with fruit so Ill find out soon and of course post images here.

Early winter 2012 update. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Sunquat's ripening up


Nippon Orangequat, This one grew fast this year. Fruit at all different stages.


Meiwa's starting to color


Tango mandarin, this a new addition.


Clementine cluster, nice color.


Page, can't say enough about it, very good flavor and getting sweeter.


Ponkan, looking forward to trying this variety for the first time.


Owari, not too much color but the flavor is great & inside is dark orange.


Meyer, lots of these.


Variegated eureka & smells great in the greenhouse.


Valencia, still quite green.


Sanguinelli, just starting to get color, interior shows no red yet.


Tarocco, inside they are starting to get some small areas of red pigment. Key lime in the background.


Moro, lots of these this year, interior shows red flecks.

Ryan, as always your trees are outstanding. You have achieved a level of container growing that many of our membership strive for. Thanks for the inspiration. - Millet

Great photos, Tarocco & Valencia are late varieties & don't ripen until Feb / Mar.

Congrats Ryan! That Meyer looks rather prolific, just like the rest of your trees...

Thanks guys!