It seems like everyone is Texas is talking about the satsuma oranges these days. It's one of the cold hardiests oranges out there, growing in almost every part of Texas. It was awarded "Texas SuperStar" status.



It produces very few seeds and the skin is easy to peel.

It can survive temps into the mid 20's but below that and it needs to be protected. Most people grow them in large containers and keep the tree below 6 feet tall.

So, I think I need this. Is anyone else growing it? Any recommendations on where to get it?

I really didn't need to know about this because now I want one! Other than this winter with the arctic weather, I probably could grow it.

I'm thinking it's the perfect patio tree. I have just the spot that receives full sun but is easy to wheel into the garage when extreme freezes happen. Really, for us, that's only a few times a year.

Yep, I have a tiny house but I WOULD make room for it in the Greenhouse!

I haven't grown it or any others. The link has a little more info.

'Sunburst'–This cultivar was selected in 1967 from 15 seedlings; of hybrids of 'Robinson' and 'Osceola', the latter being another 'Clementine' pollinated with 'Orlando' tangelo but still dominantly a tangerine. 'Sunburst' was propagated on several rootstocks in 1970 and released in Florida in 1979. Oblate, medium-sized, 2 1/2-3 in (6.25-7.5 cm) wide; peel is orange to scarlet in central Florida, orange around the Indian River area; pulp in 11-15 segments with much colorful juice; seeds 10 to 20 according to degree of pollination; green inside. Matures in a favorable season: (mid-November to mid-December). Tree vigorous, thornless, early-bearing, self-infertile; needs cross-pollination for good fruit set; amenable to sour orange, rough lemon, 'Carrizo' and 'Cleopatra' root-stocks though the latter results in slightly reduced fruit size; medium cold-hardy; resistant to Alternaria and very tolerant of snow scale.


http://www.hort.purdue.edu/new...


Some good information on Citrus Greening for anyone who has citrus trees.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publ...

They are quite abundant here in N FL. Ripen this time of year. Very sweet.
Also a tangerine. They get sweeter after the cold snaps. I've kept mine on the tree into March.

So, needs cross pollenation...guess I'll need two!

the cross pollination happens before the Satsuma is grafted onto stock. The trick is getting 1 grafted to dwarf stock so the tree will not get overly tall.

If you weren't meaning the 'Sunburst' cultivar specifically, I have a Satsuma.

I chose Miho for a few different reasons. It is suited to a container and more cold hardy than other cultivars.

I found mine in a local ACE garden center around this time of year in 2008. It was supplied by a south Texas grower.

You don't need two trees to produce fruit.

I have found the Satsuma to be problem free. I had a lime tree that had constant issues with mealies but they never bothered the Satsuma even when sitting right next to it.
edited to add this link http://aggie-horticulture.tamu... and due to needing more coffee this a.m.
It is not uncommon to see blooms (which smell wonderful) and fruit of the little tree at the same time. I do overwinter mine in the greenhouse as I wouldn't want to forget it and loose it to a freeze.

Thanks Kristi, that's very helpful!

Miho sounds like the one I want, too. I'll keep my eyes out for it this year!

Great! I wonder if I can find something like that around here. I have relatives going to FL in Feb. so maybe I'll have them scout the local Lowe's or other nurseries for me. I think I would put in the GH as well because of such fluctuating temps here and I may forget otherwise.

Dave just an aside and I don't do citrus. Long long ago I was stationed in Sasebo, Japan island of Kyushu. The province of Satsuma on Kyushu is where it was imported from to US, hence the name. They were a quite prevalent small tree around Sasebo. While Sasebo does not get really cold, it snows frequently in winter. It was amazing to see the Satsuma trees, laden with wet snow while full of ripening fruit.

Yes Farmerdill, I have been told that this Satsuma could overwinter in ground in zone 8a.

A friend has had one in ground for many years. When it was newly planted, he provided protection in winter but now that it is established and large he does not cover it.

I haven't talked to him since we just had over 40 hours below freezing with temperatures down to 14 degrees. I can't help but think the fruit would freeze solid with those temps.

I chose to keep mine in a container because it is easier for me to fertilize and control moisture.

Howdy, All...

Pod/Kristi. I was wondering if your Satsuma Mishi is a sweet orange, or are they more like the sour types? Having spent a lot of formative years in Florida, where we could go out in the back yard and pick oranges and grapefruit free, it should would be nice to be able to do that here in NC.

Shoe

Hi Shoe! Glad to see you stirring... the Miho Satsuma has a sweet taste to me. Of course that might be because at this gloomy time of year any fresh fruit would seem sweet.

Thanks, Kristi...and nice to see ya! Hope all is well out your way.

I'll see if I can find one. And you're right, any fresh fruit tastes great in the winter time! I shouldn't be so picky, eh?

Keep smilin'!
Shoe (down to four leftover oranges and a wrinkled grapefruit, leftovers from holiday gifts!)

The new cold hardy citrus that are becoming available this year is the Orange Frost and Arctic Frost. As I understand, these are not grafted but are a cross of the Changsha and Satsuma varieties. The Orange Frost is hardy down to around 18-20 degrees and the Arctic Frost is good to 15-18 degrees. I have had an Orange Frost for two years. We were able to acquire them from the test productions at our State Master Gardener Conference in San Antonio in early 2012. I allowed 9 of the oranges to mature this year and they were very good. None of them had seeds. The size of the fruit ranged between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball.

I covered it during our extreme cold and so far there doesn't seem to be any damage.

These are both officially now on my "absolutely must have list!"

Groannnnn...mine too! I just hope I can find them. I'm thinking maybe not in this area...research.

Here's our plant database entries for both:

Satsuma Orange (Citrus reticulata Orange Frost™)
Satsuma Orange (Citrus reticulata Arctic Frost™)