Cocktail grapefruit tree: a profile

Cocktail grapefruit tree: a profile

My neighbor had a citrus tree that she called a grapefruit, but it made curious fruit: it was the size and shape of a grapefruit but the rind was golden yellow, unlike any grapefruit I’d seen, and the flavor was so sweet that it tasted artificial. How could this be a...
Who’s eating your citrus leaves?

Who’s eating your citrus leaves?

Holey citrus leaves! I’ve got more than usual this year. You too? What small critters do you see more of during this cool and rainy spring around your yard? I see far more snails and slugs and earwigs than usual. But it is snails that are feeding on my citrus...
The Gold Nugget mandarin tree: a profile

The Gold Nugget mandarin tree: a profile

“If I only had one citrus tree to live on for my entire life, this is it,” said our guide through the collection of about 1,000 varieties of citrus selected from around the world. That’s quite a claim. But, coming from Ottillia “Toots” Bier, we would be wise to...
The Shiranui mandarin tree: a profile

The Shiranui mandarin tree: a profile

Nothing about the story of Shiranui is straightforward. There is mystery and there is hype. Even my own Shiranui tree (above) is complicated. But let’s start with the name. In stores, Shiranui mandarins are sold under the trademarked brand name...
Meet Frank Meyer, of the Meyer lemon

Meet Frank Meyer, of the Meyer lemon

I spotted this sign in a Starbucks the other day, featuring a coffee that is claimed to have Meyer lemon in its flavor profile, and I wondered how that would make Frank Meyer feel. Initially, he might shake his head because he clearly requested that no plant be named...
When to pick oranges and tangerines

When to pick oranges and tangerines

A friend asked me how to know when to pick the tangerines from his tree. My first thought was, it’s obvious, you pick them when they taste good. But then I remembered that for some people gardening is full of rights and wrongs; he was afraid there was a correct...
Citrus, ants, and HLB: the latest research

Citrus, ants, and HLB: the latest research

Yesterday, I attended a citrus pest management field day at Rancho Guejito put on by the University of California. The focus was on the disease Huanglongbing (HLB) and ants. I’ve attended many similar lectures and research updates on these topics over...
Grafting onto citrus rootstock suckers

Grafting onto citrus rootstock suckers

Citrus trees often shoot up branches from down low on the trunk. If low enough — below the graft union — then these “suckers” are from the rootstock. In a sense, these are dangerous, and it’s important to remove them immediately. See...

Pin It on Pinterest

Join Waitlist I will inform you if I can harvest more of these avocados. Please leave your email address below.