Here is the thread I started last year about the first lone fruit on the tree. It is amazing that by leaving a few more fruit on a still young tree the size and shape of fruit are so different in comparison. https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/4863491/is-this-xie-shan-fruit-ready-to-pick#n=34

This is the branch with the cluster of fruit that I picked the fruit off of. Bottom right. This tree had a lot of June fruit drop and I expected it to drop more before the fruit ripened, but it didn't, so next year I may select and pick a few off so the remaining fruit will grow larger.

This seems to be a very recommended variety. How old is your tree? Is this the earliest ripening Satsuma? I just love satsumas and would love to try a few more varieties (space allowing).

What a nice producing tree! How big is it that it is holding that quantity of fruit?

Dave, I purchased the 5 gallon potted tree from Harris last year. It is a small, slow growing tree and I estimate it to be close to 5 years of age. Early last year, Ruth said the 5 gallon were just over 4 years. The Xie Shan is a early ripening Satsuma variety. Is it the earliest? I have no idea as I only have one other Satsuma currently with fruit, a Brown Select, and that tree is also the same age with fruit very similar in size and shape to the Xie Shan. The green fruit on the Brown Select is starting to soften up also and this will be the first time for me to sample this variety.

Fruity, the tree branches are staked because the fruit are bringing the branches down but I believe the tree is just a bit under 5' planted in ground. The bottom trunk girth is around an inch. I checked the tag on tree and it shows a date of 3-13 on it.

I am really surprised that the fruit are starting to soften up and ripen this soon because I had estimated the ripening time to be end of September to October, but I need to keep in mind that this tree is planted down in a partial underground gh that is heated with wood during the coldest months so it does have protection and it bloomed and set fruit earlier in my zone 4 because of this.

Are the fruit supposed to be green?

Denise, the fruit can be ripe while still green. A lot depends on how the tree is grown and the weather conditions. I check fruit ripeness by doing the gentle squeeze test also.. lol

Thanks for the info, Jinny! I’m not a big fan of mandarins (don’t hate me lol). I like more of a zingy tangerine like taste. I may have to try this one. I’m looking forward to your next assessment :)

Jinnylea, your treecis beautiful! I heard that satsuma will improve with years and xie shan is one of the best!

Lol. No hate from me, Kelley. We each have our own unique and individual taste bud's. I like a bit of sprite and zing to my citrus also but I feel this variety will be a bit better if allowed to sweeten up a bit more. It may bring out more of the mandarin flavor it is known for. I will post updates soon. Amy, I agree, it should improve more with age. Do you have one? Have you tasted the fruit? Bob, I have enough on the tree to try at different stages. I would like to try the next one as it turns yellow, it may also be a bit sweeter to bring out more flavor. I picked this single mandarin because it was extremely soft on the bottom of the peel. It was starting to turn light green. When will the first of your fruits be ready? Be sure to post pics please. . :)

Jinny, bottom picture was last year, notice the leaves from surrounding tree's on the ground. Patience! Left tree is a Page.

Page does a lot better in my insulated no heat garage, it will completely defoliated but by spring/late winter it will wake up and bloom profusely. I have done it with 2 winters The tree in my workshop is a little diesy, they will bloom during winter and lack pollination. The temps there stays around 68*, might have to lower it a bit.

For those with this tree, has it been as cold hardy as advertised for you? I’m headed into my first winter with mine and wondering how much I need to protect it here in 8b (trending towards 9a thanks to climate change).

From my understanding, Xie Shan should be just fine in zone 8b, but might be a little more difficult in zone 8a. However, if you're in the Pacific Northwest region zone 8b, it would be advisable to give it a little bit of a protection, especially if it's only been in the ground for a few years.

I don't think Xie Shan is really that much more cold hardy than regular Satsuma, the difference is probably very small. But I'm not saying this out of personal experience. The main reason for Xie Shan is that it is earlier ripening, so the fruits can be harvested before Winter hits.

I think it should be okay most years in the Pacific Northwest where you live, but every once in a while, maybe every 8 years, or in the more severe cases once every 40 years, there can be a very cold Arctic Winter that will kill off any plants that are borderline for the climate. You would want to use protection during these years. I use a cold frame covered with fitted plastic sheeting and Satsuma grows great (but it has to be opened up by early April because it really starts warming up on certain days). I also keep large containers of water inside because water will release heat which will help maintain the temperature if things go just below freezing for a short time.

Bob. Your pictures did not come up for me earlier but I see them now. Wow, you have beautiful trees. Will the fruit stay fresh on the Xie Shan if you leave them on until they are all ripe? I do not want them to become dry and puffy like last year's lone fruit.

Good information, Bob and socal, thanks! :)

Hi, Jinnylea and socalnolympia, How was the Xie Shan fruits? are they better than gold nugget?