Kristi, I give up..What is an Afourer?? LOL..I looked it up but found no info..is it a type of citrus? Thanks, Toni

Afourer is the other name for the "W. Murcott"... not to be confused with the Murcott. They are both similar tasting and what here in California, I THINK, they're marketing as "Cuties" and other seedless type clementines (seedless when grown in the right situation).

Anyway, someone here at GW warned me not to place the two in the same yard because of cross pollinations and seed. And when I researching it on Dr. Google, I got overwhelmed by all the agribusiness information... now I'm too confused. One of my nurseries says it needs a pollinator, and one of my local nurseries thinks Four Winds have made all their drwarfs self-fertile (not needing a pollinator), to make matters more confusing.

Just wondering if anyone here knows about pollination and the Four Winds Dwarf Clementines.

Thanks!

Anyway, If you google pllination and clementine, a bunch of links to the California agribusiness websites talkinga bout how the W. Murcott and the Clementine are having trouble both being used here in this state.

Let me see if I can explain it further. Hope I don't make it more confusing for you. Clementines (of which there are many different named varieties) should not cause seeds with each other. As well W Murcott Afourer will not make itself seedy. However W Murcott Afourer planted near clementines will make both varieties seedy. Navels will not make either mandarin seedy because it's pollen is sterile (that is why navels are virtually seedless). Things like grapefruit, lemon, valencia & minneola will cause seeds in both W murcott and clemetines. The afourer sets fruit well when planted by itself (isolated from other citrus varieties) as it's pollen is self-compatible. The clemetines are not self-compatible therefore don't set as much fruit when isolated from other citrus. But if a variety such as navel or satsuma is planted near their pollen will stimulate the growth of fruit but since it is sterile should not produce seeds within the fruit.

Thanks Citrusenthusiast... that's exactly what my research and questions at the nursery have let me to. But it's good to see it validated here. So... I took back the Clementine and kept the Afourer, which will be nice since it fruits later than the mandarins (of which I have 2).

I think I can really do this. I think I can. I think I can. :-)

Now, if only I can keep them alive. LOL

But I'm in Northern California, so at least I've got the weather and the seasons working in my favor.

Thanks!

Both the clementine and afourer are self incompatible...pls refer to http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/16892.pdf

If memory serves me right, clementines have perfect female flowers and imperfect male flowers. So, you want to grow your clementines off by themselves, away from other citrus. Clementines grown by themselves will produce seedless fruit, most desirable. If there are any other citrus near the clementines, the clementines will have seeds. When pollinated by another variety of citrus, clementines may have more fruit, but they will be seedy. Plant your clementines at least the length of a football field away from other citrus.