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Cold hardy citrus trees

 
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Criss
My weather search  Atlanta temp records shows that you are 4 weeks ahead of me.  I feed my in ground trees with hot water 110F to bring my trees out earlier to get them a head start.  I will be planting my Meiwa kumquat tree in ground with my first 2 week frost free forecast into heated soil.  I don't know if you ever  tried heating the roots early.  If you get a record setting cold snap you will need to be prepared to cover your trees.  This extra month head start has made a big difference in the amount of growth.  What variety of kumquats do you have.
 
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Except for my two Satsuma mandarin trees in my semi-heated greenhouse, most of my citrus trees were quite damaged this winter, despite attempts to cover them.
I haven't heated soil, I think that would be too far beyond "cold hardy" for me to bother with.  
My desire is to find some varieties that will survive and fruit with as little assistance as possible.

My kumquats are home grown from seed, and it's been so long since I started them I don't even remember which variety they are.
I'm starting to think I may have to dig them back up, put them back in pots and let them get much more mature before I attempt to leave them outside during the winter.
(Mature trees are much more cold hardy)
 
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A crazy idea that came to me: What about for small citrus trees, upend a plastic 55 gallon drum over the tree, then surround it with straw? that way you don't have wet/decaying stuff up against the tree (given that citrus don't like wet feet), but have an enclosed space to catch heat rising from the ground. White drums transmit a fair amount of light, and the tree is probably better off forced dormant before a hard freeze anyway. I suppose you could put a small light bulb inside to heat the space and give the tree light, too... might even be enough to survive winter outdoors in harsh climates.

Some LEDs get very hot (hotter than incandescent bulbs, as I was shocked to discover when I touched one of the samples at the hardware store) -- so would be both suitable and cheap. Also, even a 25 watt "lizard heater" (ceramic heater that plugs into a light socket) puts out a LOT of heat -- I use one to heat my garage in winter.

 
Cris Bessette
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Some years back there was a guy on a citrus forum I frequented that basically did this exact thing.  The 55 gallon drums plus some lights or other low wattage heat source.
It seemed to work for him, and he was significantly further north than I am if I remember correctly.

 
Rez Zircon
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Ah, then I'm not as crazy as I seem.  I'll have to try "barreled citrus".
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Cris Bessette wrote:Some years back there was a guy on a citrus forum I frequented that basically did this exact thing.  The 55 gallon drums plus some lights or other low wattage heat source.
It seemed to work for him, and he was significantly further north than I am if I remember correctly.



On the now defunct CGF there was a guy doing this in MA with an Early St. Anne.  Came through his winters very nicely.  Was very sad to see that forum disappear as it was a great resource.
 
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That's an interesting idea.  I can see how it would work on any small shrub that needs a few zones of protection.  I wonder if they get enough CO2 when they're contained in the "greenhouse"?  I don't have easy access to straw but I bet bags of leaves and piles of snow would do the trick.
 
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Experiment:
I just tried to germinate some kumquat and mandarinquat seeds in a window here in POrtland.  Some I planted in a small, heated yogurt maker, which heats the seeds to 70-80 F I think.  Many of those sprouted.

The ones in an unheated tray didn't sprout at all.  

I removed some from the yogurt maker and planted them in a tray that is unheated nearby. They are doing fine.

Previously when I did this experiment, the kumquat seedlings grew so slowly that I lost them, even in the raised bed.  

I think I'll raise them for a full year first, then put them out next year in the spring.

I met someone who successfully harvested kumquats every year here, but he brought the plants in for a week or two each year, during very cold weather.  That's my goal.

Landrace kumquats!

John S
PDX OR
 
Steven Rodenberg
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growing Meiwa kumquat seedling take a lot more light and warmth to get them through the first year.
IMG_0033.JPG
Meiwa-kumquat-seedling-hardy-citrus
IMG_0039.JPG
 light-and-warmth-hardy citrus-winter
 
Cris Bessette
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Greg Martin wrote:



On the now defunct CGF there was a guy doing this in MA with an Early St. Anne.  Came through his winters very nicely.  Was very sad to see that forum disappear as it was a great resource.

That sounds familiar, maybe is the forum I'm thinking of.  They guy I'm thinking of went to an extreme amount of effort to have citrus in the ground.  
I don't really want to go to that much work, but have done so to get things going in their first few years.  I'm looking for that "sweet spot" of sufficiently
cold hardy plants with good tasting fruit.  So far Satsuma mandarins and Poncirus/Citrus trifoliata are the only things that have done well for me.
Both are very cold hardy, but only the first has good tasting fruit.
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Seed grown Meiwa kumquat tree to be planted outside in ground this spring when tree is acclimated from greenhouse to direct sunlight.
IMG_0542.JPG
Seed-grown-Meiwa-kumquat-hardy-citrus-tree
 
Cris Bessette
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I might have to dig my kumquats back up and grow them in pots for a few more years. Mine are all but dead after repeated temps below freezing.
More mature trees with larger trunks are generally more hardy.
 
John Suavecito
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One nice thing about growing questionably zone hardy citrus from seeds is that you often get a lot of seeds and then seedlings.  Hopefully, we can hedge our bets and protect some and let others try to survive cold winters.
John S
PDX OR
 
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Has anyone considered burying a heat tape/cable  around the base , under the mulch layer?

I'm too far north to attempt outdoor citrus, but I use them to keep my masonry sand from freezing in winter , and for bottom warming seedlings early spring. Just a thought. Its the type of cable used to keep gutters ice free. My 400 w cable is about 80 ft long and costs only about 6 cents /hour to run.
Might be worth trying for those colder nights. My sand will stay thawed with a tarp over down to 0 F.   The cable is available in various lengths.
 
John Suavecito
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I know many people put Christmas lights on their tender trees. Seasonally appropriate and many times has made the difference between survival and death.
John S
PDX OR
 
Steven Rodenberg
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I had never thought of using a heat tape to heat the ground under a citrus tree.  I thought of using a heat tape to wrap a fig tree trunk so I could have a 10 foot trunk that branch growth could grow back each spring after all the side branches died over winter and were removed.  I would only keep the trunk alive.
 
Mark Deichmann
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I'm in such a very hard winter area that we use them a fair bit. , Just thought it might work for you guys where it doesn't quite freeze rock hard like here, but the extra warmth might make the difference on those extreme nights. I do use them for bottom heating pots on a table , so the gentle warmth on the roots does help. Not too expensive either, and can be rigged with a timer to come on at night.
I still have one under my masonry sand at night. Makes quite a difference just to keep it above freezing.

Cheers ,

Mark
 
Steven Rodenberg
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updated cold hardy citrus choices
 
Rez Zircon
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Mike Jay wrote:That's an interesting idea.  I can see how it would work on any small shrub that needs a few zones of protection.  I wonder if they get enough CO2 when they're contained in the "greenhouse"?  I don't have easy access to straw but I bet bags of leaves and piles of snow would do the trick.



I just saw somewhere that higher CO2 improves cold tolerance, much as it improves drought tolerance (either way, the plant doesn't need to work so hard to survive). Soil bacteria produce some, so if the dirt doesn't freeze there should be enough leaking upward. But maybe one could put a fermenter, say a jug of leaves-and-yeast, in the barrel with the tree and provide it with a little extra CO2.
 
Steven Rodenberg
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My in ground seed grown Fukushu kumquat tree has completed its first growth spurt
IMG_0634.JPG
seed-grown-Fukushu-kumquat-hardy-citrus-tree
 
Cris Bessette
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Good luck with the kumquat.  My personal opinion is that kumquat is one of the best choices for cold hardy citrus.
Mine took a beating last winter, might have to dig them back up and repot, grow indoors for another year or two
so that they will have more adult resistance to cold.
 
Steven Rodenberg
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In ground Fukushu kumquat has 2 flowers
IMG_0023.JPG
seed-grown-Fukushu-kumquat-flower-detail
IMG_0022.JPG
seed-grown-Fukushu-kumquat-flower-detail
 
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Check also Yuzu tree.....as I read in several forum it should be very hardy..
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Her is a Meiwa kumquat that is on flying dragon that should do well in Atlanta Ga with limited protection.  The Flying dragon adds 5F colder tolerance to its normal 15F.

http://ediblelandscaping.com/products/tropicals/Citrus/
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Updates on outside citrus in Cincinnati
IMG_0590.JPG
New-Zealand-lemonade-on-C35-rootstock-overwinter-cincinnati
New Zealand lemonade on C35 rootstock Has not needed a heat source yet this year.
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Fukushu-Kumquat-winter-outside- cfl-heatsource
Fukushu Kumquat entering 3 winter outside is heated with a 23 Watt CFL
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Valentine-Pomelo-on-US897-rootstock-first-winter-outside-cincinnati
Valentine Pomelo on US897 rootstock entering first winter outside
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Update on Fukushu kumquat tree from seed in ground outside.  Tree is 7 feet tall and now glassed up for the winter
IMG_0146.JPG
Fukushu-kumquat-citrus-tree-overwinter-protection-cincinnati
Fukushu kumquat tree surrounded by 4 layers of glass and 20 inches of shredded leaves on the north side when completed. Will be heated with CFL lights when temps fall below 20F
New-Zealand-lemonade-tree-surrounded-by-4-layers-of-glass-with-heated-north-was-is-the-south-wall-of-my-house.-Will-be-heated-by-a-pelonis-disk-heater-set-at-50F.jpg
New Zealand lemonade tree surrounded by 4 layers of glass with heated north was is the south wall of my house. Will be heated by a pelonis disk heater set at 50F
New Zealand lemonade tree surrounded by 4 layers of glass with heated north wall being the south wall of my house. Will be heated by a pelonis disk heater set at 50F
Meiwa-kumquat-4-layers-glass.jpg
Meiwa kumquat 4 layers glass
Meiwa kumquat 4 layers glass
Valentine-pomelo-to-be-glassed-in-before-hard-frost.jpg
Valentine pomelo to be glassed in before hard frost
Valentine pomelo to be glassed in before hard frost
 
Cris Bessette
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Steven- those window boxes look just like ones I've made for my more sensitive plants.  

 I bought lots of used windows at the local Habitat For Humanity "ReStore" for really cheap and they are great for this and building greenhouses.
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Fukushu and valentine now in glass encloseurs each have a 4 bulb heating/light strip
fvalentine-pomelow.jpg
fvalentine pomelow
valentine pomelo
fukushu-kumquat.jpg
fukushu kumquat
fukushu kumquat
IMG_0202.JPG
overwinter-citrus-light-heater
Light / Heater
 
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Interesting thread!
Steven's approach seems viable.

I have read that Sepp Holzer cultivates citrus trees in the Alps. He is probably growing varieties like Poncirus trifoliata, as does one of my neighbours here in Bavaria, Germany. The secret seems to be lots of protecting snow in the winter.

Here in Bavaria with a climate similar to Southern Canada there used to be "Orangerien" in the castles and manours of the rich. Those were citrus trees that did produce fruit and often grew very old, but it took a flock of experienced gardeners to tend them and control the temperature. They were planted against a wall which received a glass insulation in winter or where directly growing in a glass gallery.

A four hour trip south over the Alpes to the Lago di Garda in Italy still shows some historic Lemon galleries (Limonaia) that are falling down as it is not profitable anymore to grow lemons under harsh conditions. Citrus can be imported easily so the old techniques and constructions get lost.
 
Cris Bessette
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Steven Rodenberg wrote:Fukushu and valentine now in glass encloseurs each have a 4 bulb heating/light strip



Question- wouldn't you get more heat out of that light strip using incandescent bulbs?  
Just two 40 watt incandescent bulbs are enough for my 10x10 greenhouse to stay mostly above freezing.

 
Steven Rodenberg
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These compact Florescent bulbs put out a lot more light per watt and thus gives me the additional light needed in the winter that the incandescent bulbs can't without over heating the tree.  These last 10,000 hours vs 1000 and the risk of loosing a tree do to bulb failure is a lot lower.  I also get CFL's free when my customers upgrade there CFL's to LED's.  Last my CFL's are daylight rated.
 My New Zealand lemonade will get a horizontal light bar of 8 LED's over top in a week or 2
New-Zealand-lemonade-tree-in-lean-to-greenhouse-heated-with-a-Pelonis-disc-heater-set-at-50F.jpg
New Zealand lemonade tree in lean-to greenhouse heated with a Pelonis disc heater set at 50F
New Zealand lemonade tree in lean-to greenhouse heated with a Pelonis disc heater set at 50F
closeup-of-fruit.jpg
closeup of fruit
closeup of fruit
US897-Cleopatra-X-flying-dragon-Undamaged-outside-overnight-in-11F..jpg
US897, Cleopatra X flying dragon Undamaged outside overnight in 11F.
US897, Cleopatra X flying dragon Undamaged outside overnight in 11F.
 
Steven Rodenberg
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This 2 year 10.5 month old seed grown meiwa kumquat will be going in ground outside next spring
DSCN4934.JPG
2 year 10.5 month old seedling Meiwa kumquat tree
2 year 10.5 month old seedling Meiwa kumquat tree
 
Steven Rodenberg
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My grafted Meiwa kumquat has spent its first winter outside in ground without heat under glass and has survived and looking good
IMG_0587.JPG
In ground Meiwa kumquat on kuharske tree completes first winter no heat under glass
In ground Meiwa kumquat on kuharske tree completes first winter no heat under glass
 
Steven Rodenberg
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My greenhouses have been removed and put away.  The trees will enjoy 5 months in direct sunlight
IMG_0021.JPG
Valentine pomelo completes 2nd year outside in ground
Valentine pomelo completes 2nd year outside in ground
IMG_0023.JPG
Seed grown Fukushu kumquat completes 4th year outside in ground
Seed grown Fukushu kumquat completes 4th year outside in ground
IMG_0061nzl.jpg
New Zealand lemonade completes 3rd year outside in ground
New Zealand lemonade completes 3rd year outside in ground
 
Steven Rodenberg
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Seed grown Fukushu kumquat starting into its 5th winter in ground outside in green house
IMG_0347.JPG
Seed-grown-Fukushu-kumquat-hardy-citrus-overwintering-greenhouse
 
Steven Rodenberg
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11-7-2020  Grafted Fukushu kumquats to Flying dragon rootstock
IMG_1753.JPG
Grafted Fukushu kumquats to Flying dragon rootstock
IMG_1756.JPG
[Thumbnail for IMG_1756.JPG]
 
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Citrumelo and Yuzu crops are coloring up nicely and will be harvested before the first severe frost.  Citrumelo tastes like a tart, early season Grapefruit and makes a refreshing  “lemonade “ that tastes like a cross between grapefruit juice and lemonade. Yuzu is used as a lemon in cooking and is great on fish.
2E71B73A-67C9-411A-B919-400B36DDA2CC.jpeg
Yuzu-hardy-citrus-fruit-ripening
 
Mike Turner
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Yuzu tree in photo above, citrumelo tree in photo below.
D97D32BB-250B-4009-B775-1509B6F2C29F.jpeg
citrumelo-hardy-citrus-fruit-ripening
 
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Mike can I get some seeds? I’d gladly pay for postage or whatever you want in barter. I’m using tree tubes and I think that will give me at least a zone.
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