Harris Shiranui mandarin (a/k/a Dekopon a/k/a Sumo)
I got the tree delivered today (it was originally scheduled for tomorrow but once I found the correct tracking #, it did actually start moving over the weekend). Did I say how much I hate Fedex? It was delivered to a home 2 doors down so I was frustrated that the tracking said "delivered", I looked out the front door, and nothing was there. I eventually walked further out to the walk and saw the box on another doorstep. Anyway...
Here is the box -
And the tree (you can compare the size with the ST to the right) -
All I can say is wow. The tree is huge! This is the 3 gallon. I measured it to be almost 5ft tall from the top of the soil to the tallest branches on the canopy. The top of the tree was curled over to fit into the box so with it out now, it has been extending/expanding.
What is cool is that the leaves have a thin bit of a wing on the leaf petioles.
Also as a note, here is a closeup of the point where the canopy begins at the top of the trunk so that you can see the trunk (and its thickness, which is not apparent from a distance) and the branching. It doesn't appear to be "crooked". :-D It does have a single thick side shoot, a second somewhat thinner shoot opposite (to form a "Y"), and a 3rd shoot (slightly thinner than the 2nd) to form a triangle to balance the canopy "shape".
I will let it adjust to life out of the box before repotting and am looking to maybe try to start putting the trees out this week (around the rain). Temps here are supposed to hit the 70s by Friday and 80 over the weekend. Will have to keep these 2 quarantined from the others, which will be tricky given not having much space outside to do the shade to sun transition. lol
Comments (17)
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Shiranui/Sumo/Dekopon seedlings
Comments (30)As the season fizzled out, the last dekepons were smaller, not as juicy, as not as sweet. They did, however, deliver quite a few seeds. I have some seedlings just now coming up and if they survive I should have a few small starters in Nor Cal. A couple of things about this variety. It is reported to be a very finicky grower. So much so, that the Japanese originally gave up on commercial production until some lone farmer stole a tree or some budwood (?) and figured out how to properly grow them. I think it has a lot to do with thinning, but don't know for sure. There might be water/fertilizer/other issues. Having had the fruit in Japan (including just recently) I can say the the best examples of California Sumo have tasted *better* than even the 'gift class' of Dekopon I'd had in Japan. Perhaps I didn't get it at the right times or from the right purveyor, but I think the CA growers are doing a fine job. I have a few more seeds that may or may not germinate after being accidentally forgetten in some water (oops) - I am guessing they're toast. Still, with luck, I should have 3-5 seedlings if they survive any damping off. Being easy to peel, sweet, juicy, BIG, and tasting like life savers tangerine candies did the trick for me. I hope they aren't *too* difficult to grow. We'll all know in a few years :)...See MoreOrdered Shiranui/Sumo/Dekopon From Harris Citrus
Comments (110)I have the same tree from the same place and on the same rootstock. So far, I have not repotted mine yet as whatever mix it is in, it seems to like at this point (plus it wasn't potbound when I got it). It is doing some nice flushing of leaves. Rich is a trifoliate orange rootstock and should be okay with this. Here is a GW thread on it with a couple links for more info - [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/rich-16-6-dsvw-vd~4158704[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/rich-16-6-dsvw-vd~4158704) One of the links at that thread is this (PDF) where on pg 8 there is a category for "Trifoliate Orange" that includes Rich 16-6. Since you are in south Florida (and have a hot/humid rainy season), just make sure that whatever you mix up, drains well but has enough potting mix so that you are not watering it multiple times a day when it's not raining and the sun is blazing (unless you don't mind doing that). Here is mine this morning (we have had on and off rain for the past couple weeks - it is the tree that is sitting in the clay-colored plastic pot to the left of the plumeria & peony) -...See MoreDekopon/Sumo seedling help!
Comments (79)Souther California has superior citrus growing parameters to any of us northerners. In 2 .5 years my tangerine trees top 6 & 7 feet and stopped growing thorns. Flowering was just down the road had I lived in So.Cal. I was unable to cover my tangerine trees this past winter and 2 died one died back to 2 feet and is doing well. He can still get a grafted tree and still plant the seedlings outside with high hopes....See MoreSumo Citrus
Comments (20)Are dekopon trees particularly fussy/difficult to grow in a container? I'm relatively new to citrus, but I've had a Meyer lemon, Persian lime, and a calamondin indoors for about a year now. Those three seem to be doing well and I was hoping to get another citrus soon... I think the three I have are one of the easier container citruses and I'm a bit worried to venture out too far too quickly... Dekopons I had in Japan were amazing, and I'd love to grow one myself. Thanks! Jeff...See Morejenny_in_se_pa
6 years ago
Alanna Migliacci
6 years agojenny_in_se_pa
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agozwoydziak9bsunset13
6 years ago
Ricky B
4 years agoDenise Becker
4 years ago
bklyn citrus (zone 7B)
4 years agoDenise Becker
4 years ago
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoIf you give these Harris Trees a lot of sun on the trunks, they will sprout new growth further down . . . all the way down to just above the graft union. Then you can keep the very top growth pinched back and ultimately develop a bushier plant. Circled is all the new growth that has come off the trunk. This was purchased as a starter size.
Denise Becker
4 years ago
sunshine (zone 6a, Ontario,Canada)