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NoMoreNicksLeft
Joined: 14 Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Lubbock, Texas zone 7B
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| Posted: Mon 15 Nov, 2010 8:00 pm |
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I know that I'm hundreds of miles north of where I might hope to grow trees outside and have them grow well. Am I forever limited to growing some dwarf tree in a pot on the patio?
I understand that orchards could never grow citrus this far north, but if I have only a few trees, might there not be heroic measures that could be taken?
I pretty much like everything I've ever seen at the grocery store except kumquats (probably about the most exotic citrus I've tasted, boring huh?). I know that any grapefruit are probably off the table. Oranges aren't much better. Are lemons or limes much better? Can I get decent-tasting tangerines? |
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Darkman
Citruholic
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 966
Location: Pensacola Florida South of I-10 Zone 8b/9a
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| Posted: Tue 16 Nov, 2010 1:23 am |
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I'd love to help you but I am still trying to figure out what I will plant in 8b. A small greenhouse and dwarf citrus planted in ground could be the answer. I'll certainly follow this thread to see. There are different kinds of Kumquats so don't give up yet. You might like the next one!
You might want to look at Mackenzie Farms website. He is here on this forum and has a lot of knowledge and experience with cold hardy citrus. I believe he has a 10 degree satsuma. His name is Stan.
_________________
Charles in Pensacola
Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!
Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! |
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Darkman
Citruholic
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 966
Location: Pensacola Florida South of I-10 Zone 8b/9a
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| Posted: Tue 16 Nov, 2010 8:50 pm |
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Here is a link.
http://www.mckenzie-farms.com/photo.htm
and it was a Tangerine
and I spelled McKenzie wrong. Sorry Stan.
_________________
Charles in Pensacola
Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!
Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! |
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frank_zone5.5
Citruholic
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 343
Location: 50 miles west of Boston
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| Posted: Tue 16 Nov, 2010 11:39 pm |
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gssh If I can grow then in Mass, you guys should be able to grown then in your areas...... |
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Darkman
Citruholic
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 966
Location: Pensacola Florida South of I-10 Zone 8b/9a
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| Posted: Wed 17 Nov, 2010 9:43 pm |
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| frank_zone5.5 wrote: | | gssh If I can grow then in Mass, you guys should be able to grown then in your areas...... |
I have the opposite problem from Nick. There are too many varieties that I can grow and I'm trying to limit it to about 25 - 30 trees. And then there is the Big Brother problem. I live in Florida so there are many trees that are desirable and will grow well here but they are not available due to the restrictions in our state. Now before anyone lectures me, LOL, I completely agree with Big Brother on these rules BUT I don't have to like them. I'm not completely sure how all the certification works but I don't think many plants are authorized because they are good for the dooryard grower. I think that the only way we get a superior dooryard variety is for it too not pan out as a commercial variety due to it not being profitable. By the time it gets to the commercial trials there is a good chance it will get out for the non commercial grower to acquire. At least that is my thoughts which may be entirely wrong.
Should not be attempted while under the influence! Batteries not included some assembly required!
_________________
Charles in Pensacola
Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!
Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! |
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NoMoreNicksLeft
Joined: 14 Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Lubbock, Texas zone 7B
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| Posted: Fri 19 Nov, 2010 10:14 am |
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Is there not some place from which you can purchase scion? In Texas, Weslaco makes bud wood available for 40 or 50 varieties. And, I think there's a procedure in place to request that they acquire varieties that are unavailable (much like you can do from the USDA itself for varieties only available in foreign countries). Generally takes 2-3 years, because they grow this stuff in a lab and make certain that it's not diseased. |
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mrtexas
Citruholic
Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 1029
Location: 9a Missouri City,TX
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| Posted: Fri 19 Nov, 2010 6:28 pm |
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| NoMoreNicksLeft wrote: | I know that I'm hundreds of miles north of where I might hope to grow trees outside and have them grow well. Am I forever limited to growing some dwarf tree in a pot on the patio?
I understand that orchards could never grow citrus this far north, but if I have only a few trees, might there not be heroic measures that could be taken?
I pretty much like everything I've ever seen at the grocery store except kumquats (probably about the most exotic citrus I've tasted, boring huh?). I know that any grapefruit are probably off the table. Oranges aren't much better. Are lemons or limes much better? Can I get decent-tasting tangerines? |
You can grow what you want in Lubbock in the ground if you cover/heat the tree every time there is a freeze of more than a few hours. That would be lots of nights in Lubbock! I've got a picture of a greenhouse over a citrus tree on my website:http://members.fortunecity.com/pjsauber/.
Even with that style greenhouse(structure surrounds tree but plastic is put on only on freezing nights), I doubt many people would be willing to put that much effort to grow citrus. |
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mrtexas
Citruholic
Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 1029
Location: 9a Missouri City,TX
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| Posted: Fri 19 Nov, 2010 6:33 pm |
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| NoMoreNicksLeft wrote: | | Is there not some place from which you can purchase scion? In Texas, Weslaco makes bud wood available for 40 or 50 varieties. And, I think there's a procedure in place to request that they acquire varieties that are unavailable (much like you can do from the USDA itself for varieties only available in foreign countries). Generally takes 2-3 years, because they grow this stuff in a lab and make certain that it's not diseased. |
They have the same at Lake Alfred but it is illegal for homeowners to propagate citrus in Florida. |
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NoMoreNicksLeft
Joined: 14 Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Location: Lubbock, Texas zone 7B
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| Posted: Fri 19 Nov, 2010 7:01 pm |
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I'd gladly go to the work of covering them. I like growing stuff I can eat, and I like fruit especially. Heating though, not sure how that's done.
Are you only trying to raise the plant up to the minimum temperature? If you warm it enough that it goes out of dormancy, doesn't that introduce an even bigger problem? |
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frank_zone5.5
Citruholic
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 343
Location: 50 miles west of Boston
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| Posted: Sun 21 Nov, 2010 10:31 pm |
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I think you want to assure that the min temp stays above say 25 f......
depending on how cold it gets u might need to cover with something other than clear plastic
also u could heat with Christmas lights or fill your volume with barrels and buckets of water................this all helps to keep things warm on cold nights
I have wondered at least for me if raised beds are best, one area I have has them SUNK in the ground 8 inches, as height limits my trees (cant feasibly cover) the extra 8 inches give me 8 inches more trees
the whole thing isnt all that hard, if u dont mind a big of work, electricity and ingenuity |
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