New addition.....Citrumelo (hardy grapefruit) arrived today!

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:33 am

Anyone growing and/or attempted to grow Citrumelo (hardy grapefruit)??

It arrived today from Chilly Palms. Leaves are similar to Poncirus trifoliata...........good!

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 593417.jpg>

web site:

http://www.chillypalmtree.com/CITRUMELO.html

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:40 pm

Keep us informed! The Poncirus is the only citrus I know of that can make it down here unprotected.
Will you protect this in winters?

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:14 pm

Hey Tim:

Last Summer I planted 3 Citrumelos and 1 Thomasville outside. No protection other than a layer of mulch. They all came through fine.

But...this was a very mild winter, so the jury is still out.

I have a Morton Citrange in a pot that I may put out somewhere. Ichang Papedas would be good choice.

The way I see it is if I have to protect, I may as well try a Satsuma or something that is actually edible.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:24 pm

Just don't try to eat the fruit !

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:11 pm

I'll be protecting this Citrumelo this coming winter.

Jack, keep us posted on your hardy citrus plants.

Laaz, how bad tasting is the fruit? Worse than lemon? What's the hardiest citrus besides Poncirus?

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:18 pm

Tim, I believe it's the Ichang Papeda. I'll hopefully have a few coming my way by the end of the summer.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:04 pm

Anything with poncirus has a very nasty after taste...

Papedas are about the next most hardy of the citrus family, but are full of seed and really not edible... The most hardy that is actually edible would be the Changsha mandarin & it is dry & full of seed.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:45 pm

I never heard of Ichang Papeda..........worth a try? How hardy??

Changsha mandarin is dry? Dry does not sound very interesting. I wouldn't mind a very tart citrus like lemon.....it doesn't have to be sweet. I not sure if our growing season is long enough to produce citrus.....poncirus was 'ripe' in eary October here.

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:15 am

TimMAz6 wrote:I never heard of Ichang Papeda..........worth a try? How hardy??

Changsha mandarin is dry? Dry does not sound very interesting. I wouldn't mind a very tart citrus like lemon.....it doesn't have to be sweet. I not sure if our growing season is long enough to produce citrus.....poncirus was 'ripe' in eary October here.

2nd most hardy after Poncirus. It will probably do better than Citrumelos where you are. Taste like crap, but you will have a lemon tree.

I found what was probably a Citrange or a Citrumelo tree in Myrtle Beach. Some fruit had fallen so I tried one. Tasted like grapefruit that had been soaked in seawater. But the tree was gorgeous and I would be psyched to replicate it here.

Tim:

Get this book:

http://www.sepalms.org/index.php?/store ... southeast/

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:44 am

Ive read that Trifolate orange makes a good "marmalade" or "orangeaid" when juiced and sugar/honey is added. Maybe the same with the other hardy citrus?

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:34 am

grapefruit soaked in seawater............wow, that bad? We'll see what happens with the Citrumelo......most likely it won't survive here.

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:45 am

TimMAz6 wrote:grapefruit soaked in seawater............wow, that bad? We'll see what happens with the Citrumelo......most likely it won't survive here.

Well, one bite and you realize why they are not available at your local fruit stand.

I have heard Poncirus is really horrid. But, as Canadianplant says, there is some hope via culinary uses. I like lime in my Corona or G&T as much as the next lush, but eating one out of hand is not to my liking.

To me, their value is ornamental and as a conversation piece.

If I were you, I would line up some Ichangs and try them along with the Citrumelos. Remember that Sean lives in SC, which is a helluva lot warmer than both our locales.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 5:13 am

Thanks Jack.......who sells the Ichangs? I can do a side-by side test.....great to see both plants go through the same winter next to each other.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:52 pm

Tim, I'll send you a PM

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:12 am

TimMAz6 wrote:Thanks Jack.......who sells the Ichangs? I can do a side-by side test.....great to see both plants go through the same winter next to each other.

McKenzie Farms

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:21 pm

thanks everyone............I'll call Stan.

I had to bring in the Citrumelo out of the greenhouse since tonight is suppose to drop into the low 20'sF. Boy....that warm spell came to a screaming halt!

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:53 am

TimMAz6 wrote:thanks everyone............I'll call Stan.

I had to bring in the Citrumelo out of the greenhouse since tonight is suppose to drop into the low 20'sF. Boy....that warm spell came to a screaming halt!

You should also check out Laaz's citrus forum. There is a section devoted to hardy citrus and one guy in Massachusetts who grows it. He keeps them small and uses some of the tactics we use to protect palms. He gets fruit!

Another guy who grows them near me says the Citrumelos defoliate during the Winter but bounce back. This Winter was so mild, they just a looked a bit out of it at times. No leaf drop. Ironically, the Thomasville, which in theory should be less hardy than the Citrumelos, looked tougher. All of them are starting to flush now. Maybe I will even get a grapefruit al la seawater.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:55 am

thanks Jack for the tips............I'll try to track down that guy in Massachusetts who grows citrus.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:54 am

That would be Frank. He does quite a good job with edible citrus in the ground in MA.

http://citrus.forumup.org/viewtopic.php ... rum=citrus

I will have Yuzu, Sudachi, Thomasville & Rusk citrange seedlings available soon if anyone is interested.

Also Flying dragon, a special Trifoliata that blooms at about a foot tall. This is the mother tree which has bloomed since the first year from seed.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:03 pm

Hi Laaz,

your young blooming P. trifoliata is great. Mine took 6 years to bloom from seed. Is the mother plant some sort of hybrid with another citrus?? PS, I'm trading with someone who has 'English Large' trifoliata plants......how large are the fruits??

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:58 am

Tim I'm not sure what the parentage is. A friend gave it to me. It has fruited since the first year & the seedlings from this plant do the same, they will start to flower @ about 1 ft tall.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:23 pm

update on the Citrumelo...........it still looks alive!

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 86F8F9.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:27 pm

Do you think it's a little less hardy until it's been in the ground longer?

Certainly filled out a lot in one year.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:33 pm

oh yes a first year plant...........that's why I'm concerned the temp dropped below 10F inside the protection.......I think I got lucky.....it still looks OK.

Established Citrumelos can take quick drops down close to 0F (-18C) when dormant.

The long range forecast says no more cold below 10F.........the last time I said that we quickly dropped to 0F.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:26 am

Is this guy grafted on the Poncirus or the self-rooted? It would be easier for a hardy citrus to be dormant if the stock is the poncirus, isn't it?

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:12 pm

Hi Igor,

I don't think it was grafted onto P. trifoliata but not sure.........when the Citrumelo dies we'll find out since the Poncirus trifoliata shoots will come up!

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:06 pm

TimMAz6 wrote:oh yes a first year plant...........that's why I'm concerned the temp dropped below 10F inside the protection.......I think I got lucky.....it still looks OK.

Established Citrumelos can take quick drops down close to 0F (-18C) when dormant. The long range forecast says no more cold below 10F.........the last time I said that we quickly dropped to 0F.

It looks fine. My three look just like that if not worse and they bounce back in late March.

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:07 pm

TimMAz6 wrote:oh yes a first year plant...........that's why I'm concerned the temp dropped below 10F inside the protection.......I think I got lucky.....it still looks OK.

Established Citrumelos can take quick drops down close to 0F (-18C) when dormant. The long range forecast says no more cold below 10F.........the last time I said that we quickly dropped to 0F.

It looks fine. My three look just like that if not worse and they bounce back in late March.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:31 am

Please post a photo of your Citrumelo................any fruit yet?

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:01 am

TimMAz6 wrote:Please post a photo of your Citrumelo................any fruit yet?

Looks like yours. I would think they are related as they come from the same place.

No fruit or flowers yet. My Thomasville fruited outside.

Next time you visit family, stop by and see them all.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:07 pm

I'd love to visit when I come down to the MD area again.

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:16 am

TimMAz6 wrote:I'd love to visit when I come down to the MD area again.

Just let me know. Drinks on the tropical veranda of the Le Jardin du Lord.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:23 pm

I took a few photos inside the Citrumelo protection today...............it appears the -2.9F when the power went off didn't damage the Citrumelo? The leaves were partially fried prior to the power going out......the leaves seem a little worse but not too bad. How's mine look to other Citrumelos out there?

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 0d3af1.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 54ab99.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 69b72a.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:37 pm

Ooooh NO!
Leaves remind me of my (RIP) citrus

Hope it's OK, despite its appearance.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:20 pm

Hi Barb,

the curly leaves looked like that in November.......they are a little more curly now.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:32 pm

Tim,
Hope your crinkly leaves don't do what mine did...the next stage was broken/dried/cracked (kinda like bay leaves into a soup).

How can you re-hydrate those leaves?

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:19 pm

Hi Barb,

other Citrumelo growers state the plant will recover in spring.........leaves will fall off but it will regrow.........only time will tell.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:59 pm

That's encouraging Tim.
Glad it'll make it...and just think, it'll get hardier with each year.

Is it going where the Wollemi was planted?

You'll laugh...for the heck of it, instead of throwing out kumquat seeds, stuck the seeds in a pot.
They're all coming up...
A few more plants with 2 inch thorns...

I know...I know...they should be grafted onto a proper rootstock.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 6:22 pm

Hi Barb,

the Citrumelo is planted near my white shed......I have not planted anything where the Wollemi was planted.........I'm sure I'll find something to plant there.

I hear you Barb...........I tend to plant all the seeds I come across too.........good luck with your Kumquats.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:37 pm

Citrumelo is planted near my white shed

The white shed color will provide reflected sunlight ... that baby will be flowering in no time, Tim.

Barb