Good pollinator for Clementine vs. Afourer

16 years ago

Hi,

More Citrus 101 for me....

I just bought Clementine and Afourer dwarfs and am starting to read up about pollination.

Someone here told me not to plant them in the same yard or they'd both end up VERY seedy. After a google search I've learned that it's actually a pretty serious concern for the citrus industry... I don't entirely understand all the science of it but I get the gist of it.

So, is the Clementine + Afourer combination particularly seedy? Are there other combinations of Clementine + _____ some other fruit or Afourer + ________ some other fruit that makes either of them less seedy.

I also vaguely recall a sign for the Clementine at one store that they can use Navels for cross pollination... but that's confusing since Navels are seedless. But if a navel will work, I'll just get a navel and return either the Clementine or Afourer.

Then again, maybe my meyer lemon will cross ok?

What I'm getting at is will the number of seeds in the Clementine be the same regardless of if I cross it with a Navel, or a Meyer, or the Afourer?

Likewise, if I decide to keep the Afourer and return the clementine... you get the picture.

Hope someone can help with this,

Thanks,

Kristi

I also bought a Meyer... I know those aren't seedless but will they be enough to pollinate?

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Comments (6)

birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Kristi, I give up..What is an Afourer?? LOL..I looked it up but found no info..is it a type of citrus? Thanks, Toni
kristimama
Original Author
16 years ago
Afourer is the other name for the "W. Murcott"... not to be confused with the Murcott. They are both similar tasting and what here in California, I THINK, they're marketing as "Cuties" and other seedless type clementines (seedless when grown in the right situation).

Anyway, someone here at GW warned me not to place the two in the same yard because of cross pollinations and seed. And when I researching it on Dr. Google, I got overwhelmed by all the agribusiness information... now I'm too confused. One of my nurseries says it needs a pollinator, and one of my local nurseries thinks Four Winds have made all their drwarfs self-fertile (not needing a pollinator), to make matters more confusing.

Just wondering if anyone here knows about pollination and the Four Winds Dwarf Clementines.

Thanks!

Anyway, If you google pllination and clementine, a bunch of links to the California agribusiness websites talkinga bout how the W. Murcott and the Clementine are having trouble both being used here in this state.
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Several decades ago, I hybridized Poncirus trifoliata and Clementine mandarin using Poncirus as the pollen parent as Clementine is 100 % monoembryonic when used as the seed parent. The only difficulty was the timing of flowering of the 2 parents. Some of the flowers on the progeny were misshapen and not capable of setting fruit. A few of the hybrids were vigorous and fruited in a solar greenhouse without supplemental heat in southeastern Pennsylvania. These trees were planted directly in the soil with the perimeter of the greenhouse base insulated 4' deep using panels of Styrofoam insulation. One of the trees fruited with Clementine-like fruit, deep orange, seedless, not bitter, but tart, about 2 inches in diameter. Regrettably, I discontinued covering the greenhouse and lost the trees to winter cold. I had previously sent 2 scions to an amateur citrus breeder in Tifton, GA. He was an elderly gentleman at that time and they may not have been further propagated. These trees began flowering and fruiting at 5-6 years of age. I did not fertilize these plants and did no pruning as flowering began on the most distal branches, especially on the longer upper branches beginning to bend downwards.
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citrusenthusiast
16 years ago
Let me see if I can explain it further. Hope I don't make it more confusing for you. Clementines (of which there are many different named varieties) should not cause seeds with each other. As well W Murcott Afourer will not make itself seedy. However W Murcott Afourer planted near clementines will make both varieties seedy. Navels will not make either mandarin seedy because it's pollen is sterile (that is why navels are virtually seedless). Things like grapefruit, lemon, valencia & minneola will cause seeds in both W murcott and clemetines. The afourer sets fruit well when planted by itself (isolated from other citrus varieties) as it's pollen is self-compatible. The clemetines are not self-compatible therefore don't set as much fruit when isolated from other citrus. But if a variety such as navel or satsuma is planted near their pollen will stimulate the growth of fruit but since it is sterile should not produce seeds within the fruit.
kristimama
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Citrusenthusiast... that's exactly what my research and questions at the nursery have let me to. But it's good to see it validated here. So... I took back the Clementine and kept the Afourer, which will be nice since it fruits later than the mandarins (of which I have 2).

I think I can really do this. I think I can. I think I can. :-)

Now, if only I can keep them alive. LOL

But I'm in Northern California, so at least I've got the weather and the seasons working in my favor.

Thanks!
cspud
15 years ago
Both the clementine and afourer are self incompatible...pls refer to http://cesandiego.ucdavis.edu/files/16892.pdf
information
15 years ago
If memory serves me right, clementines have perfect female flowers and imperfect male flowers. So, you want to grow your clementines off by themselves, away from other citrus. Clementines grown by themselves will produce seedless fruit, most desirable. If there are any other citrus near the clementines, the clementines will have seeds. When pollinated by another variety of citrus, clementines may have more fruit, but they will be seedy. Plant your clementines at least the length of a football field away from other citrus.

Good pollinator for Clementine vs. Afourer

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Good pollinator for Clementine vs. Afourer

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birdsnblooms

kristimamaOriginal Author

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kristimama
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