Good report Patty.

The literature calls Kyshu a seedless Kino Kuni but that cannot be the correct story. Kino kuni is late as a Murcott and very tart. When Kyshu arrived in Texas about nine years ago it made me wonder. I have too many other Kat mandarins to get another even if it is very good. Is it as cold hardy as Tim Kat, Long Huang, Kino Kuni, and Cho Chau Tien Chieh?

Was it you who reported on Dekopan last year.

The Lee x Nova sounds like a must have for the Tantanman. Both are Clemintine X Orlando tan-tangelos. Maybe it is more reliable than Nova. When Nova is good it is sooo good but that isn't always.

Wish California wasn't so far.

Thanks for the report Patty! I will definitely try and go next year! Here are my thoughts on what you posted....
1. Kishu- I love my Kishu! They are tiny and delicious, and perfect for the little ones. My best girlfriend has a 20 month old who adores my Kishus. He has a speech delay and a very limited vocab, but he has learned to ask for his beloved "deeshoes". He will do anything for them, and If I pull one out of my purse mid tantrum, he will stop in his tracks. I might get a second tree, to keep up with him.
2. good thing we couldn't find you an ugli
3.- Yay, can't wait to try my valentine!
4. Gold Nugget is one i'm trying to find a great looking specimen of to add to my collection.
5. I want a Navelina!
6. Sumo- I will help you on this mission. I will make the ultimate sacrifice of eating tons of sumos to try and find us some seeds this year.

Yup, that was me. The fruit off the tree was much better than what I bought at the store, and that wasn't half bad. Really goes to show what we get from our trees can be so much better. And absolutely the 88-2 was outstanding. What an unfortunate name, though. You'll have to check your commercial growers and see if anyone has procured budwood for the 88-2 in Texas. Lovely tree.

Patty S.

Hah, Karly, LOVE that story about your girlfriend's little guy, too darling! They are MADE for little kids. And, when a grown up just wants a half a mandarin. They don't want you to take fruit with you, but my guide let me "take one for the road". Scrumptious! I'm going to pick one up tomorrow if my local nursery has them in stock. If they have them in stock, and you want me to pick one up for you if they're nice, let me know. And if I can find a Navelina, I'll let you know. I'm going to be taking a citrus class at UCR Extension in February, so I'll see if they know of ANY commercial grower who is growing Navelinas. If not, I'll just try to get budwood and graft my own. I'll graft several, so one will have your name on it :-)

Patty S.

Patty: USDA 88-2 sounds like a name that has not been released to commercial growers. And it usually takes quite a while for a variety released in California to be taken into the Texas budwood program, maybe several years. I'll be very surprised if they don't change that experimental code number for something that women would not minding taking home. Having spent a lifetime in research, I am content to go out to a tree in my yard and pick and eat an F-6-9-10. Nova was C-22 I believe. I like the name Nova. When I bite into a good one the name Nova always rings a bell with me.

I remember when CA released Monreal Clementine, the Texas budwood program seemed like they tried to ignore it. The catch was... we amatuer growers had had it for a long time already.

USDA 88-2 Lee x Nova has been available thru the Texas budwood program for several years already. I got my budwood from California thru the budwood program last year as well as
USDA 15-150 Mandarin, New Zealand Lemonade and Sudachi hybrid. I topworked one tree to 88-2 and hope to taste fruit this year.

Here is a link that might be useful: mrtexas

Tantanman, exactly as mrtexas has mentioned - it's been out for a couple of years, now. If you look at both the budwood order forms, there are lots of varieties that just sport numbers, and not pretty names :-) I just think that this mandarin has a fair amount of commercial potential, so I was surprised it didn't warrant a real name :-) Maybe Lova, or Nee?? Just joking, but I was actually surprised it wasn't given a name because the researchers at the Citrus Collection all really liked it, and it has many of the qualities commercial growers look for.

Patty S.

OMG!!!

Patty, that manderine you speak of, I HAVE ONE! Let me tell you when I say that it is sweet and seedless!
In fact, I just gave the only 2,lol, yes 2 that I managed to grow to my mother and father. 1 each.

They said they had never tasted a fruit like that before.
When I first bouht it I was told they were that good, but did not believe it and still paid 39.99 for a very small tree. Now I am glad I did. This one is my special tree:-)

It also seems to be a very tough one to kill. It doesn't react to being over or under watering like the others and it stays very green even without constant feed. It can also adapt to temps swings. It flowers prfusely and grows the fruits at an ease.

Thanks for sharing your experience and good time with us. In fact, you were lucky they weren't selling the whole trees or you would be in the poor house.

Now to reread your post and figure out what is next on my list. What a nice thing to do for your community too:-)

Have a great day to all.

Mike

Good to know, Mike. I did find a nice little Kishu, so I have that and the Owari to put in the ground. I cannot buy one more mandarin. That's it. I swear.

Patty S.

Patty!

Here is my 2 bit Kishu manderine, one of my favorites. It only had two fruits, but I hope to have a lot more come this summer. Delicious for sure;)

{{gwi:560533}}

Mike

Wow, those were big for Kishu, Mike! I see some teeny blossom buds starting on the Kishu, so hopefully I'll have a few fruits next season from my little tree. Lovely plants btw!

Patty S.

Mike were you speaking of the Dekopan when you said you have one?
Dan

Patty, thanks!

I shall have to take a few pics of the ones that I keep in my very cold room this time of the year. I am amazed at their resilience to stay healthy despite their counterparts in the greenhouse and in warmer places than that! It has been no higher than the 50's in that room all winter.

Hey Dan, I was speaking of the Kishu. They are sweeeeeet.

Mr. Texas:
I checked the Weslaco Citrus Center available budwood list and no USDA 88-2 is listed among the two dozen or so mandarins and mandarin hybrids. I don't grow new trees but every several years. But this year I will have some young trifoliates to graft. Both my sons need some new trees.

I topwork some trees with new scions more often.

You must ask Weslaco to order the budwood from California for $40 for 2 budsticks.

I can provide budwood. You live in Houston area? Email me if interested at the following link.

Here is a link that might be useful: mrtexas