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Anyone have experience w/ Limetta, Bergamot, Smith Red?

9 years ago

Just what the thread title says. Does anyone have any of these varieties? What has your experience been with them in terms of: vigor, toughness when it comes to light and temperature, fruit quality and quantity.

I'm especially interested in the Marrakech Limonetta, so if anyone has one of those I'd love to hear how you like it.

Comments (5)

  • 9 years ago

    These three are trees I DON't have..lol! I hope someone chimes in.

  • 9 years ago

    Pac, I have the Smith Red in a container I guess 4 or 5 years. It grows well and I have gotten fruit but I have limited the amount to just a few so far as my tree is still small. My camera is not working so I can't take a picture to show it to you. My fruit did get the red color. I think mine is a Four Winds tree.

    Cory

    PacNorWreck thanked cory (Zone 7a, NJ)
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks Cory! How was the flavor? Does it have a 'blood orange' type flavor with the berry notes you might find in a Moro? How tough or vigorous has it been for you? What was the acid / sugars balance like?

  • 9 years ago

    Pac, the flavor was good and sweet but it didn't have the berry flavor of the true bloods. It is a red valencia, not a true blood. It got a nice dark red rind and also dark red inside. I think the fruit ripened later than the other bloods. I really didn't treat it much differently than my other citrus trees to get it to get red. I leave them out until late fall but bring them all in as temperatures reach the mid to low 30s. I keep my greenhouse low temperature at about 58-60°F. I have Sanguinelli, Moro, Tarrocco, Budd and Vaniglia Sanquigno also. They are all still pretty young but all have gotten fruit with good color even though they go into my greenhouse in late fall. I have quite a few mandarines and some lemons and limes (which I bring in a little earlier as I keep them warmer). I had some die back on some of my citrus this winter, but I had a hard time controlling aphids on them. Now that they are outside they are growing strong and filling in again, and have no aphids or other insect problems so far this spring/summer. All have small fruits on them and continue to flower. I think the Smith Red will be a nice addition to your collection as the Red coloring is nice. If you want the berry flavor though you should get the Moro, Tarrocco or Sanguinelli.

    Cory

  • 9 years ago
    Thought I'd give an update as I decided to go for it and get the Marrakech. Here it is, as a "choice" tree from FWG. The leaves look decent although for having come from California during summer I thought it wasn't as healthy as my last FW plant (a Rangpur) and it didn't have nearly large a root ball as the my limequat from Harris (on Volkamer Lemon rootstock vs whatever FW is using.) It will probably not flower until next Spring and fruit will take even longer but I'll try and remember to update again when the time comes.