My Thriving Citrus Collection
Here in the Northeast, citrus season is just about over, but I still have an abundance of delicious fruits growing here at my farm.
Citrus fruits come in a variety of flavors - sour, tangy, and refreshingly sweet. Among the most recognizable are oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. Less known are the smaller members of the citrus family, the calamondin and the kumquat. I love them all and find it so satisfying to walk into my citrus hoop house and see them thriving.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Less that two weeks ago, I harvested a bucket full of delicious citrus fruits. Citrus season in this region typically peaks from November to January, but I still have lots of fruits growing so nicely in my hoop house.
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- My citrus hoop house is located along the carriage road not far from my chickens. The citrus will stay in this structure for about seven months until the temperatures outside reach about 60-degrees Fahrenheit.
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- Citrus plants dislike abrupt temperature shifts and need to be protected from chilly drafts and blazing heaters. Dwarf citrus trees require at least eight to 12 hours of full sunshine and good air circulation to thrive.
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- I have many lemon trees. The Meyer lemon was first introduced to the United States in 1908 by the agricultural explorer, Frank Nicholas Meyer, an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture who collected a sample of the plant on a trip to China. Citrus limon ‘Meyer’ is my favorite lemon because this thin-skinned fruit is much more flavorful than the ordinary store-bought. I love to use them for baking and cooking.
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- And this dark green familiar citrus fruit is the lime, often used to accent flavors in various Mexican, Vietnamese, and Thai dishes. Limes are also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
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- The navel orange is a variety of orange with a characteristic second fruit at the apex. This variety developed by a mutation in an orange tree, and first appeared in the early 19th century.
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- These are Minneola tangelos. These fruits are a cross between a grapefruit and tangerine. The skin of the tangelo is typically bright orange and juicy, with a sweet-tart taste.
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- And these are ruby grapefruits, known for their vibrant color and high lycopene content.
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- Citrus flowers are either solitary or clustered – and one can practically smell their beautiful aroma.
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- But watch out for any thorns. Some of the most common citrus trees to sport thorns are Meyer lemons, most grapefruits and key limes. Thorns provide protection from predators, specifically hungry animals that want to nibble away at the tender leaves and fruit.
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- It’s important to store the plants so none of them touch. This prevents a lot of diseases from being transferred from specimen to specimen.
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- In my hoop house, I am able to take advantage of vertical space, propping up some specimens on tree stumps to maximize storage while also keep trees from touching.
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- Citrus trees also prefer to be kept in humid environments.
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- Blood oranges are known for the deep blood-red color of their segments. The fruit gets its pigment from the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is also found in raspberries and cherries. Depending on the variety, the blood orange can be sweet or tart.
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- The Valencia orange is a sweet orange variety named after the well-known oranges in Valencia, Spain. They are juicy and have a sweet and tangy flavor.
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- Calamondin, Citrus mitis, is an acid citrus fruit originating in China. Calamondin is called by many names, including calamondin orange, calamansi, calamandarin, golden lime, and musk orange. The fruits of the calamondin are small and thin skinned. Its juice can be used like lemon or lime to make refreshing beverages, or to flavor fish and various soups.
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- Also small is the Nagami kumquat, Fortunella margarita – the most commonly grown type of kumquat. The tree is small to medium in size with a dense and somewhat fine texture. These trees are quite cold-hardy because of their tendency to go semi-dormant from late fall to early spring. Unlike other citrus fruits, which have thick, pithy rinds, kumquat peel is thin and soft, and perfectly edible.
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- And this is a beautiful Citrus limon ‘Ponderosa’ or ‘American Wonder Lemon.’ The plant produces a thick mass of highly fragrant flowers, which become tiny lemons. The lemons get bigger and bigger, often up to five pounds and bigger than the palm of one’s hand.
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- My gardeners check the citrus house every day to look at the condition of the plants, water or feed them if needed, and pick any fruits when they’re ready.
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- It is actually quite easy to grow citrus indoors as long as it can be kept in a sunny windowsill or in a bright corner of a room. Hope this inspires you to try it and enjoy your own juicy, nutritious citrus fruits.
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