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jillnrandy80126

Citrus for Zone 8B

8 years ago

I am considering planting a Satsuma Orange tree here in Dallas this Spring and am looking for recommendations. I know that Frost Proof and Artic will survive here, but I am at a loss where to purchase these online, Does anyone have a recommendation on reputable online retailers that sell healthy large orange trees? Thanks!

Comments (12)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Since you live in Texas you have to purchase in Texas. Orange frost arctic frost citsuma Prague. Marumi kumquat. kimbrough satsuma, Changsha, bloomsweet grapefruit, harvey lemon. You will have to google, google, and still more google

  • 8 years ago

    To put another way Texas is an HLB / ACP Quarantine state so you can only buy from in state suppliers. Your best bet would be a local garden center.

    A few varieties to be considered are Arctic Frost, Orange Frost, Miho and Seto all are available in Texas, in fact all were developed / introduced to the US in Texas. Arctic Frost and Orange Frost are Satsuma Hybrids, with Arctic frost being the more cold hardy of the two, it is also reportedly the less tasty. Miho and Seto are both Satsumas that are reportedly more cold hardy than Owari.


    Having said that Satsumas can be grown in 8b (I am on the 8b/9a line in Louisiana), just expect to need to do occasional freeze protection whatever you choose. For me that means covering and adding heat lamps / old style Christmas lights about once every 2-3 years pm average. in the DFW area that may mean every year or even multiple times per year, depending on the micro-climate, city heat bubble, etc.

    I can't comment on taste of any of the above, as I just added my first Miho here last month.

  • 8 years ago

    Love it! Wow! Nice work to run Citrus in zone 6! I like the ways that you are using for the plant protection in the winter.. I just planted my Satsuma Orange. Supposedly it will go to 20F. We shall see!

  • 8 years ago

    Just for fun I planted a loquat too. We are at the northernmost limit for fruit.. so who knows!! Pic of the loquat below. The wife thinks it’s an expensive annual!

  • 8 years ago

    nice looking trees I hope they do well for you

    Randy thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
  • 8 years ago

    Randy did you buy the Miho ? I have been told that one is really good.

    Randy thanked Nick (9b) Modesto Area
  • 8 years ago

    Yep.. that one is the miho. I’m going to give it a try.

  • 8 years ago

    Steve - in your smaller square structures - are you using just old windows? Are they heated in anyway? Are you only growing the most cold hardy in the ground? I didn’t realize your were growing in ground in Cincinnati. I thought my only option in my would be growing in containers forever in a heated sunroom/greenhouse.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    My windows are double glass Low-E The bottom half is 2 0f these for 3 sides and leaf bags for the north side. The second level is 1 of these windows on 3 sides with leaf bags on the north side. The second level has additional bubble wrap around to seal air leaks and provide more insulation. The bubble wrap allows the suns heat through to warm the glass with out cooking the plants. I use a 72 watt incandescent light bulb to add heat when the outside temperatures went into the teens and down to our -7F freeze. I am growing only the most cold hardy citrus trees. Unfortunately all my citrus trees ALWAYS burst out in growth around November and December and I must keep the area inside above freezing.

    Fukushu kumquat ----------15F.

    Meiwa kumquat--------------15F

    New Zealand lemonade--(15F-20F) ????

    Marumi kumquat------------0F Looking into buying 0ne

    Hardy Chicago kumquat-Killed back to ground below 10F produces fruit on same year 10 foot tall stump suckers and produces 300-600 kumquats.

    Steve

  • 8 years ago

    I did not realize NZL was that cold hardy. Man, I really want one and wish they weren't so hard to find!


  • 8 years ago

    I have had a very hard time finding the cold hardness of the NZL. The numbers I displayed were suggested but I found no hard statements to their limitations. Sweet lemons and limes tend to be on the hardy side. If you can find one on sour orange or poncirus trifoliata/FD you will do better on the cold side.