Cold Tolerant Citrus

Someone online shared the following link filled with cold-tolerant citrus information and resources for those of you out there that have been thinking of giving it a shot.

Remember though, that all said citrus will reach those ratings only after 5 years of growth or so... and that they will need assistance until then.

I even found (via a link within the following link) a local farm near me in Virginia Beach, Virginia that has in-ground citrus... right out in the open! They are near the massive thermal mass of the Back Bay area (basically where the outer banks begins but inshore water is fresh)... and about 2mi from the ocean that brings warm water up from the South.

Anyways, I am further inland (border of 7B/8A) and will be planting my trees in a protected spot instead of out in the open like them. My trees will be on the South side of the house... both protected from those winter winds blasting from the North... and in the warm micro clime against the bricks/concrete that warm in the Sun all day during the Winter.

Best of luck!

~ Marty

http://hardycitrus.blogspot.com/2014/01/cold-hardiness-table_13.html

I find this to be a fascinating link.   Although I live in zone 6, I have a high tunnel that I will try to plant in.

John F Dean wrote:I find this to be a fascinating link.   Although I live in zone 6, I have a high tunnel that I will try to plant in.

I know right! I keep going back and taking a look at the list... and am considering getting one of those super cold-tolerant varieties.

They may not be "grocery store" edible quality... HOWEVER, I hear that some of them are amazing for cooking. I love to fish... and LOVE Ceviche!!! (Citrus required)

Plus side is that they would literally be almost zero maintenance for me in my climate... and won't need protection.

I will keep my Owari Satsumas and Lemons up against the South side of the house. The other more cold-tolerant varieties can go out with the rest of the fruit trees.

For you, though, I have some experience from growing citrus in a greenhouse (for only one Winter though sadly). My greenhouse I had about 6 years ago (and 5 homes) was completely empty... with not extra thermal mass or automation for protection. Anyways, the temps outside got down into the teens for a brief while. Temps in the greenhouse got down to the same for a brief period only. My baby "Improved Meyer Lemon" came out without a single bit of damage. When mature they are only supposed to be good down to 25F. I think the complete lack of wind made a major difference.

That being said, a few years later and that more mature Meyer Lemon survived several nights down to the upper teens OUTSIDE in the weather (different home). It was completely defoliated and lost all of it's upper branches (all green turned brown and died). I thought it was dead but it came roaring back to life from it's trunk the next Spring. Late the next Spring.

John F Dean wrote:I find this to be a fascinating link.   Although I live in zone 6, I have a high tunnel that I will try to plant in.

More good news!!!

I just went back to that link and clicked on his blogs from 2020. I found a great read on a variety that has both High quality fruit AND is allegedly good down to 1F or 3F!!!

The cultivar name is "Prague citsuma"

The guy in the YT link.... actually lives in my region.


http://hardycitrus.blogspot.com/2020/

One of those amazing triple posts!

I got Covid from another family member and started showing symptoms pretty heavily since yesterday morning. So.... I have been sitting around all day and been scheming a way to further fortify that microclimate on the Souths side of my home.

I have found two other cold-tolerant types of semi-tropical fruit trees/shrubs that would benefit from the space as well.

I am, at the moment anyways, thinking about planting out two wings of hedgerow out from the sides of my house with Evergreen plants that are bushy in growth habit and also provide both fruit and landscaping appeal. The evergreen nature of the two plants I have in mind will create a wind block from coming around the sides of my home.... as well as create a small outdoor living space.

1) Loquat
2) Feijoa

They are both more than cold hardy enough for my area without assistance once mature. The loquat fruit will need the assistance of the microclimate it created to help hang onto fruit into Spring since it flowers in the Fall. Either way the flowers are allegedly highly fragrant and will fill the air in the space in the outdoor room.

I will add some interesting trail ways leaving the space... and heading to shade gardens... and other outdoor spaces.

So glad to be done moving finally!!!

Here are some links to places for purchasing cold-hardy citrus. I have placed many orders from One Green World and their product quality is amazing.
https://onegreenworld.com/product-category/citrus/

http://mckenzie-farms.com/photo.htm