I have a large ceramic container on our patio. I have been thinking about a citrus in it. It is too large to move so will have to stay outside..I will be willing to wrap everything up for prolonged freezes. Is a citrus possible and if so what kind? I'm in zone 8 b about 75 miles north of Houston.

I'm in 8b and grow citrus in pots that stay outside. It is possible. The Meyers Lemon has done well for years in a huge Marshall's Pottery pot. The lemon is near the end of its life now, but has been left out in winter for many years. I just cover the plants and pots with old blankets and/or frost cloth, depending on the weather.

You have the best authority on citrus selection right in your backyard! TX A&M could give you the best advice through their website, or even a phone call. Try the Master Gardener desk at the Extension office too. They can send you printouts of good information on growing citrus in your area.

I have a few grapefruit this fall that are nearly ready to pick. I don't eat them, just wanted to see if I could grow them in a pot. Our soil is too alkaline to grow fruit in ground.

There's article about growing citrus in containers on the front page of NGA today, @teacup754 .

Arctic Frost and Orange Frost are the satsumas that were designated as Texas Superstars by A&M's horticulture gurus the last three or four years. First they are on their own root stock and second they have been tested to between 15-20 degrees. If they die back above ground and the roots are ok they will come back and still be good. Before moving from Huntsville I had both for two or three years but they were in the ground and didn't have any problems. I think they would be ok in CS in a pot depending on where it was located.

go to either the aggie-horticulture site or go to plantanswers.com and they should have good advice.

I checked out the info on the two cold hardy ones I didn't know about. I am excited to see if I can find them next spring. I so love the fragrance of citrus blooms.

I have a friend who lives by me that has a myers lemon planted in the ground and she puts a tent over it with a light on in the tent. I bought this one this year. The striped fruit and fabulous leaves was just to much to walk away from. I had to have it and the best part was I got it for $14

Love the variegated leaves! ' Never have seen the striped fruit before!

It was really tasty fruit and was kind of sweet. I was surprised at the salmon colored pulp.

Meyer Lemons are thought to be a cross between a lemon and a Mandarin Orange and, I find, are sometimes sweet enough to be eaten like an orange.

I made a drink with the two I picked I used whiskey and our honey we collected from our hives. It was delicious. I hated to pick them. They look so pretty hanging from the tree. I am really looking forward to next bloom time. It is supposed to bloom more than once a year and can have fruit and blooms at the same time.

sounds yummy

I have had Satsuma Orange, Improved Meyer Lemon, and Miewa (sp) Kumquat in 15 (est) gallon pots for 4 years. In fact, I have new pots standing by for them once the fruits drop. (Should I wait til spring?) We have had mild winters but they have been easy to move under the porch in the threat of a freeze. With the new pots, this will not be possible. So I will opt for covering.

I have all of those except the Miewa (I don't know how to spell it either) in the ground here and they require no winter protection after their first winter. We may be slightly warmer than you, but not much. Perhaps all you need to do is protect the pots/roots.

My meyers isnt ready for picking yet, fruit still green. Mine blooms several times, but fruit set is interrupted by a 4 yr old that thinks balls grow on trees. Still, I get several a year. Meyers too sweet for lemonade, the acidity isnt high enough. The roots are super sensitive to handling so if in a pot, dont mess with them too much. I throw a blanket over the pot outside if frost occurs