|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Dec 13, 2008 13:19:30 GMT -5
What do you know about growing clementines? There's a stand near my house (same farm I got the Tahitian Squash from) where they have really wonderful, flavorful oranges. Are clementines hard to grow? No seeds, so what, do I graft something? I'm clueless, and the stand is one of those honor system places... unmanned, with a money box. So, no one to quiz about how to grow them.
I'd love to have these on my own property, to save me the wallet hassle. (he sells them for a dollar a pound, but we're eating about 25 bucks worth a week!!! They are SO good... our family will not worry about our risk of scurvy this year! hahahaha)
So tell me... how do I grow my own clementines?
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Dec 13, 2008 21:05:37 GMT -5
They should do well in your climate. they are not as sub tropical as other citruses. Citruses take a lot of time to fruit from seeds usually, it would be easier from graft. They are probably sold as trees in your neck of the wqods. Just check this discussion on garden web about a northern Californias grower: forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg031136396917.htmlThe calamondin orange, sold for interior purposes, has good interesting fruits if ripen under the sun. It apparently makes a killer marmelade. I sure would grow kumquats if I were you, but there are plenty you can grow... |
|
|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Jan 2, 2009 11:34:56 GMT -5
Once upon a time,a princess of the realm was in chat with Michel and Orflo, and they did have wise words regarding growing her own clementines. She said "Men, you must add this info to the clementine thread, as I do not have a way to preserve the chat once I leave." Yea, verily, both agreed that they would do so, but sadly, it was not so....
Get crackin', boys, it's been a couple days!!!! ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Jan 2, 2009 14:01:46 GMT -5
I am in my family, closer to the north pole than you'll ever be ;D
I know a couple of things about citruses because I grew some indoor and my friend had many of them, so I am sharing his experience as much as mine. The rest is lots of lecture and general knowlege that applies...
So why don't you start one my dear, ask questions and we can step in if we know the answer, until somebody reads this that knows more and steps in....
|
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Jan 2, 2009 14:03:37 GMT -5
OOOOhhhhh, I'm sooooo lazy today...  No, ,promise, I'll tell you some things one of these days; meanwhile, there's a forum, a bit inactive, but still, you can learn something over there: Citrus North (Iforgot the real adress, so google a bit..) |
|
|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Jan 2, 2009 16:21:52 GMT -5
Ugh... lazy, lazy boys!
So here's a question... we sort of established that the trifoliata was probably the best rootstock for me to use. Suppose I also want to grow bitter orange itself, like say, Sevilles. How much distance will I need to maintain in order to keep the clementines pure? Do I have enough room on my five acres, do you think? Also, I know that bees here have been an issue for clementine growers, in terms of cross pollination. Would growing clementines well preclude me from ever keeping bees?
Orflo - Citrus North is a private website, as of yesterday. New members by invite only. So poo!
|
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Jan 4, 2009 14:20:38 GMT -5
Sorry about citrus north, I didn't know, sad... Now, why do you want to keep your clementines from cross-pollinating? Normally you will get the 'true' fruit , it's only when you should decide to sow the seeds that an eventual cross-pollination will show... What's most hardy? Citrus is, off course, oranges are quite hardy, followed by clementines (but, I'm speaking about European (more precisely Spanish and I talian ) conditions, so it could be different). I'm in a non-citrus -zone (51°North), so I'm tub-growing some, again, the same order: citrus goes well, oranges are fairly OK, and clementines just survive... Here's a peculiar one:Buddha's hand: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha's_hand I always liked to see that one, unfortunately I'm restricted in place for surviving the pots during wintertime (indoors), otherwise I would grow it |
|
|
|
Post by lavandulagirl on Jan 4, 2009 15:04:07 GMT -5
Orflo - I want to avoid cross pollination to avoid seeds in the fruit.
|
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Jan 5, 2009 14:48:51 GMT -5
I can't help you on this one, I really don't know the endemic bees in California, I know a bit about the bees and bumble bees and other pollinators (hoverflies,...) over here in Belgium, and these can travel for miles. But you can create some sort of natural barriers, placing other flowering trees or shrubs or even sunflowers or...
in between the two varieties, chances of cross-pollination will be smaller.
By the way, I suspect pistacchio nuts can also thrive over there, if you like these ...
or eriobotrya japonica, off course figs, olives, bay laurel, feijoa, strawberry guava ,...
|
|
