pmurphy

I've been working on expanding my citrus collection, which now contains well over a dozen different types, by recently adding a finger lime - Citrus australasica - to my "grove".
But I'd also like to thank Olafhenny for adding to my collection.
Meet the Quats - Fortunella Japonica Thunberg (Swingle)



I believe 7 of the 10 seeds have germinated

Snookie

Groovy....... how about a picture of your grove and what it is your growing?

Thanks

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pmurphy

Most of my grove is currently potted and spread out but soon the largest ones will be placed permanently in-ground in one location.....once I get the time
You've already met the most "recent" additions but here is a varigated kumquat fruiting - currently located beside my garden greenhouse (the new Quats are located in my "hot" greenhouse, a double-wall poly that get very warm and is great for germinating almost anything)


Most of the plants are starting to flower - there's nothing like the scent of citrus blossons - so I'll try to add more pictures as they set fruit

Olafhenny

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merce3

not to discourage you, but i don't think citrus grows true from seed.

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Olafhenny

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The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences,
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Olafhenny

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The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences,
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Kat2

Wish I lived where receiving "home made" citrus plants or even seeds was legal and that I had a spare pot or 2 to dedicate to experiments which, I'm not convinced, won't eventually yield decent tasting fruits.

I'm drooling over pmurphy's "striped" kumquat because I'm a sucker for variegated plants and I absolutely adore kumquats. I have a legal pink lemon which I would love to share; she has 1 little gnarly fruit on her very coddled self just now which makes me very happy. (Fortunately, if that drops, she'll bloom again so I won't miss an entire season.)

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pmurphy

I've never had a variegated before so it should be interesting to see if there is any difference in the taste.....I'll let you know

FYI, My collection currently includes:
"quats" - Fortunella Japonica Thunberg
key lime
finger lime
Satsuma mandarin
Satang mandarin
honey tangerine
ugli
tangelo
kumquat fukushu
variegated kumquat
marsh white grapefruit
citron
Seville orange
Meyer's lemon
Citrus junos
'flying dragon' - Poncirus trifoliate (these last 2 are extremely cold hardy and have flown through the last 4 winters without issue outside in the gardens)

....and a couple of seedlings from either mandarin or clementine (store bought at Christmas that I shoved into a pot, and they sprouted)

I also have some Sudachi ichandrin seeds that I'm currently trying to germinate

Olafhenny

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Kat2

Actually FL and a few other states have experienced some devastating imported diseases and insects that have affected their commercial crops so restrictions are tight even up to the Federal level. I am all up for that along with not assisting sending plants that are invasive though trades.

When I was young, it was common to get a box of homegrown citrus from family/friends in FL for Christmas but not now--you have to have your crop inspected before mailing it or risk huge penalties. (Yeah, it makes no sense if you're mailing to MD or NY where they don't grow citrus normally but who knew fire ants and African bees would acclimate so well and what might drop out on a stopover in GA? Safe is good IMO.)

Despite being a very careful and sanitary gardener who even won't give a weak thus suspect annual to a friend/neighbor, I'm okay with the rules because I don't want to see FL, where citrus like to grow, become a wasteland of failed orchards. Okay, even more failed and abandoned orchards...now, if pot was legal here...much different game...

I have always tried to obey rules about sending starts/plants/even seeds to Arizona. Those folks are really, really OCD IMO but that's not my issue. CA is another I've respected. Their rules.

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harveyc

Olafhenny, it appears you're very ignorant about worldwide importation regulations. Australia is about the most strict. Shipping dormant pomegranate cuttings to Mexico required treatment for mealy bugs even though none exist on the dormant cuttings. Shipping pomegranate cuttings to Italy required typical paperwork but officials still held up cuttings upon arrival for a month. Portugal was slightly worse and took about two months. Buyers in Asia complain about tough regulations there that make it very difficult for them to import dormant fig cuttings.

The regulations exist for very good reasons and are justified.

Kat, Centennial is a nice variegated kumquat that is pretty widely available. I bought a tree here in California at Costco.

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Olafhenny

I knew that!


That is, of course, new to me!

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The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences,
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Kat2

Stop tempting me! If I had the space, I'd be on a buying spree where it doesn't snow or not really!!

I know where to get what I want for now but am not going there and didn't when I was 20 miles away. As it is, I just ogle plants of all types because I insist on seeing the nursery section of any store. But rarely do I make a purchase unless off the clearance rack since they're a lost cause and I feel their pain knowing they won't come back to life so I take them home for their final gasp and to stick them in the compost.

Traitors!

My $1 gardenia (2 in the pot and I left 6 starts in Jvillee) and a Yellow wing hibiscus (6 plants in that wilted pot that are blooming daily in 6 new pots) now comfily settled just giggle and stare at me then say "we need more friends, Mom. Get your wallet out!" ACK! I'm beyond sick--glad I don't belong to Costco and just traipse around Walmart and Lowes most often. (I broke down at the flea market this past week and spent $5 on 2 more hibiscus (both have 6 plants in the pot!); 1 is a peach bishop and the other a "totally edible one. Not sure where I'll buy cheap "can't live without stuff" like saws and such or tomatoes but I dare not return--ever.)

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pmurphy

Now that the chatter has died down on who has the strictest import laws, I thought I would add a couple more pictures of plants from my "grove".....

finger lime - Citrus australasica....this one is just loving it outside and has add so much new growth since I got it just over a month ago

key lime - Citrus aurantiifolia....starting to put out new flowers and already has fruit ripening, which we've already been harvesting - I find if you just cut it up and drop in some ice water it makes for a very refreshing drink


Owari Satsuma Mardarin - Citrus reticulata subsp. ........last Christmas we were harvesting these and they are soooo good!

harveyc

I followed the fascination with fingerlimes for a while but found the fruit to really not be worth the space to grow and got rid of mine. I find it interesting how people can get so interested in fruit just because it is unusual.

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pmurphy

I guess the same could be said for bananas, or any other plant for that matter.

I think one of the biggest draws for Canadians to acquire some of these plants is that a lot of them, including bananas, are almost impossible to acquire here. The only bananas you will find readily available are the musa basjoo and ensete ventricosum - even if you ask at nurseries/garden centers, very few people are even aware there are any other types . And expect for a handful of specialty plant dealers (99% of which are located on the other coast), we have no easy or inexpensive way to get them - it cost me $110 to bring in that little finger lime and a second one that I then shipped to someone eagerly waiting in Montreal (and he paid an additional $35 for me to ship it to him).

I don't grow these plants to harvest them; I grow them for enjoyment. The fact that I get fruit, and bragging rights, is a bonus. I enjoy telling people what they can grow here - whether inside or out - under the right conditions. Its also funny to see the reaction on people's faces when I tell them what I have in my gardens and greenhouses......I probably have the only cashew tree in Canada

Kat2

Got any spare "nuts"? I'd love to grow one.

I fully understand the desire to push zone limits; gardening without a challenge means you pay a service to mow your grass and never get your hands dirty. Failures are a given when you try plants not suited to your area but impossible successes are beyond sweet. (Still fascinated by your striped kumquat.)

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pmurphy

Try Whatcom Seeds Co. - 5 seed for $4.94, that's where I got mine (only 2 germinated and of those only 1 actually grew, but that survivor is now almost a year old

Whatcom Seed Company - Catalog of Rare, Exotic, Unusual Garden Seeds

....as Olafhenny said, getting seeds into Canada is actually not difficult, you just have to have LOTS of patience.......

Snookie

A few pics of varieties of Citrus and other Fruits and Veggies growing here at Lizard Creek Farms:}

Navel Oranges

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Meyers Lemons, Along with Several Varieties of Satsumas and A persimmom
tree and Kumquats in the background

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Concord Grapes

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Kiwi & Cherry Tomatoes sharing some space:}

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OH...Then there's Avocado Hill lol
Several different varieties some unknown because I forgot what they are:}

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Now Apples and Blood & Navel Oranges
Even a Blood Orange in a Pot experiment going on:}

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Then there's the different varieties of fig's I'm trying to get going
Large grown fig trees not shown I was to lazy to go to the front of my property to take a picture:}

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All of those plants are why I decided I needed some help so I rent a few homes/ place to these girls:}

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Other crops/plants not pictured are, Sugar Cane, Tobacco, Moringa Tree, Spring Vegetables, Peaches, Plums, Pomegranates and of course BANANAS lol

Oh and the rose garden in the front of my place.

Again to lazy to go and take pictures lol

Peace B with U!

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Mayor of Lizard Creek