Thinking about joining the citrus world! ...what to get though?

13 years ago

Hi all! Like the title says, I'm thinking of purchasing a pair of grafted dwarf citrus (from Four Winds?), and was looking for some input from all y'all experienced citrus growers. I'm an apartment-dweller in Seattle with fairly limited space, and am interested in getting some indoor citrus trees! I was thinking of some more exotic varieties like blood orange and yuzu (b/c lemons and limes are so cheap at the store). Open to others like key limes or whatever, but was looking to see what you all think.. Have TONS of questions, but weÂ´ll start there. =) Thanks!

Comments (4)

mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
13 years ago
Welcome, glad you are here.

You might as well order all you can now, cause as the saying goes, once you get one you cant stop. LOL.

I think a blood orange and an oroblanco grapefruit would be good ones to try, I know they are next on my list to get.

but also you cant go wrong with a meyer lemon or a lime variety. I know it might sound clichÃ© to have these, but you know they are easy to grow and easy to get. Pretty good starter trees.

While you are deciding you should read up about soils, fertilizers, overwinter, etc so you are ready to go once you get your trees. The container forum is a great resource for containerized trees and plants. My opinion is whatever you like to eat, that is what you grow.

let us know for sure what you order and please share some pics of your new trees.
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
In my experience the last one that I could grow without difficulty is the "meyer"..lol
Some have no problem at all...Wierd, right?

But as Mksmth said which is great, definately learn about the "MIXES" first, and then all the other things about cultural needs. The biggest culprit for death of citrus is root rot. Make sure you have your good fertilizer, mix, good containers with drainage holes, good light, and this site at your hands.

For me, the easiest to grow when I began was the "calmondin", the "oro blanco", and 'Ponderosa lemon"..
The "calamondin" would grow wonderful for me even with a little sun all winter then great in full time summer sun.

The "oro blnco" was one that held on to it's leaves and always stayed green, no matter what conditions it has been reasonably subjected to, and the "ponderos", well, a slow grower, but constantly blooming, but boy they hardy as weeds...lol.

And Mksmth is right on this too. Once you start, there is no stopping buying trees, especially from where you plan on getting them..lol

Good luck and great to have you!
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deebo82
Original Author
13 years ago
A couple more questions! I hear blood oranges need cold to get their bright color, and heat to sweeten up... But how cold and how hot!? =) I'll be growing them in a sunroom (walled up balcony), so can keep them at either indoor or outdoor temperatures, and it doesn't snow much here.

Also, how thorny exactly are these trees? I've heard Yuzu is one of the thornier, and since this is gonna be inside with me, is this going to become an issue? Could I thin or tip the thorns safely (for the plant)? Does anyone have yuzu pics they could send my way?

As a side note, I'm pretty much a total newbie gardener (cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, eggplant, etc) and what these plants actually look like was pretty surprising to me... Who knew that cucumbers were spikey, or eggplant stems have thorns? Not I... =P
jacklord
13 years ago
I have a Yuzu from Four Winds. Not very thorny- nothing that cannot be clipped off. I leave them on so as to twart any deer. Just do a search in Google/Images for Yuzu pics. They look like...citrus trees. Mine has not produced fruit yet- only got it last spring. I procured some Yuzu fruit though as the curiosity was killing me. Like fancy limes. Like it in my beer.

Thinking about joining the citrus world! ...what to get though?

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mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma

meyermike_1micha

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Thinking about joining the citrus world! ...what to get though?

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mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma

meyermike_1micha

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deebo82Original Author

jacklord

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