WOW!!!! what an awesome reward for your kindness to that tree. How cool! The other day when I picked up a few Dekopons I also grab a moro and the flesh was very pale and not very yummy. It kind of turned me off on wanting to grow one but this just might change my mind.

Mike

Just like about every other citrus, they are much, much better coming from your own tree :-) I, too, bought a couple of Moro's in the store, and they were okay, but not delicious like these were. I was really surprised at the amount of berry taste. Very nice flavor. And yes, this little tree is paying me back for sparing its life, lol!! Definitely a nice addition to a citrus collection.

Patty S.

I'm very jealous! Mine are not nearly as dark. This is about how mine are or lighter. They are still very tasty and sweet but I would love to taste one that "bloody."

{{gwi:565653}}
Rob

Thanks, Rob! I think that the cool/cold nights we've had recently really colored up the fruit. Frankly, I was surprised. We don't always get the right temp fluctuations here to get nicely colored blood oranges. So, pretty pleased. Plus, this tree is probably about 5 to 7 years old in the ground, so it's maturing, and I think maybe that has something to do with it. Pretty pleased, have to say :-)

Patty S.

Mine is around the 7 year mark in the ground too. This is the first year it had fruit though. Maybe next year it will color up more...I can hope.

Rob

Hey....Save me some Patty! I thought you were suppose to invite me to your Moro party!lol

'Spetacular' is not even a word to describe your fruit once you expose the insides! Wow

Mike

Absolutely lovely, Patty! You make me want to try growing blood orange, and we may even get the temp divergence to get decent color. But again, I fear we don't get warm enough. And I think I'm out of garden space, LOL, so probably a moot point.

Tim

Hah, Mike, there's always citrus here for you anytime, Moros or whatever is ripe to pick,lol!! And TIm, it's possible you're not quite warm enough long enough to get a Moro to sweeten up. And it's a bummer when you run out of space, I hear you. I'm getting close to running out of space, too.

Patty S.

Nothing in your bowl looks like any cocktail fruit I've seen as they are yellow. The large ones look like minneola tangelo to me and they are my favorite citrus and are late as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: mrtexas

Well, that's because there are no Cocktails in that bowl, mrtexas :-) You're looking at Bearrs limes, Moro oranges and Dekopon mandarins. Yes, the Dekopons do resemble a Minneola a bit due to the neck. The Dekopon is a cross between a Kiyomi tangor (which is a cross of orange and satsuma mandarin) and a ponkan (hence the neck). They are not available for us in tree-form, yet, due to the very strict patent regulations. They are being grown by just a handful of growers in the Central Valley in California, and are being marketed as Sumo mandarins due to the extremely large size (as large or larger than a Minneola.) We are all anxiously awaiting budwood from UCR CCPP to be able to graft and grow, or for growers to do so, and provide trees for those who would like a backyard Dekopon. But, that's going to be a few years out, still. Definitely NOT a Minneola :-) I don't care for Minneolas as they're a wee bit too tart for my liking. Which is odd, because I love grapefruit and pommelo hybrids due to their sweeter taste. But for me, the Minneola just tastes like a tart orange, and not a sweet grapefruit :-) The Cocktails, which are most definitely Cocktails, are LONG gone, as they are my most favorite citrus in my yard. I squeeze two every morning, so I blew through them on my young tree in short time. Going to the Farmer's Market tomorrow to try to find some. Boo. But, I am now enjoying the few Melogolds I have. The Oro Blancos are also gone, too. But, everything is getting ready to bloom, so hoping for bigger crops this year!

Patty S.

I'd agree with you that California minneolas are too tart for my liking as well. Ahh, but Florida minneolas are sweet beyond imagining! I tasted tree ripened minneolas when I lived the Indian River country back in the 70s. I looked forward the the fabulous minneolas every February along with the also very good temples that accompanied them.

Mmmmm, great color, great looking squeeze of juice!
One day I hope to do the same ;-)

Josh