Citrus Notes

At this time of the year, citrus trees are our biggest selling item by far.  We have been fortunate over the last few years to be able to stock Flying Dragon and Flaming Dragon citrus.  This refers to the type of Poncirus trifoliata root-stock that the plants are grafted onto, with Flaming being the regular sized trees and Flying the dwarf.  Dwarf trees are really popular, especially for potted citrus plants or for those with a limited planting space.  They grow up to half the size of the regular trees (if planted in the ground, less in pots,) but can produce almost the same amount of fruit.  Amazing.

Here’s a list of what we still have in stock.  Each tree is $17.50 except for Ponderosa Lemon and Limequats which are $20.00.

Lemon Trees

Meyer – Easy to grow, this medium-sized tree  will reach approximately metres x 1.5 metres in around 3-4 years.  Reliably produces a good crop of sweet, less acidic  fruit.

Lisbon – Grows into a large tree.  More acid in the fruit gives it a tartness that is fantastic for savoury cooking.

Yen Ben –  A sport from the Lisbon, this is the main commercial variety that you can buy in New Zealand stores.  Juicy, small fruit with good tartness.  A smaller tree than the Lisbon.

Ponderosa – This is one BIG lemon and it grows on a large tree that can reach 5 or 6 metres when mature.  A tangy and very juicy fruit perfect for anyone that uses a lot of lemon juice.  Fruit can be left mature on the tree for months, handy for when other types are not producing. A spectacular looking tree often grown also as an ornamental.  

Lime Trees

Tahiti Lime – Also known as Persian or Bearss Lime, this sweet, seedless lime is usually picked or purchased green, although it turns yellow as it reaches maturity.  A perfect all-purpose variety.

Kaffir Lime – The leaves and the rind of this variety provides the aromatic, tart flavour found in dishes from South-east Asia, which is where it comes from.  The juice is more acidic than that of the Tahiti Lime.  One of our most popular plants. 

Limequat – New to us this year, this cross between a key lime and a kumquat is perfect for those who make marmalade.  Fruits copiously from a young age and remains a small tree.  Very juicy, can be eaten whole or use as you would any lime.

Mandarin Trees

With 3 or 4 different varieties of Mandarins you can enjoy this fruit nearly all year round.  We have stocked many different varieties over the years and have found the following to be the most popular.

Encore – Very sweet and juicy, easy to peel thin skin.  Quick growing tree that produces plenty of fruit November to February.

Clementine Corsica – Always a favourite, clementines now have very few pips and are easier to peel.  Lovely round fruit that starts ripening in July.  Fruit not picked will stay ripe on the trees for months.

Burgess Scarlet – Produces beautiful tasting fruit, with loads of flavour.  Ripens in September to October.  Only available on dwarf stock.

Satsuma – Very popular, well-known Satsuma are large, sweet and easy to peel.  Ripens from June to July.

Orange Trees

Blood Orange – Delicious medium-sized fruit that ripens July to August.  Richly coloured juice with good flavour.

Seville Orange  – Beautiful large tree with dark green foliage, this is a very bitter, old-variety orange used for marmalade.

Navelina – Good all-purpose eating orange.  Nice size with good flavour.  Ripens in June/July.

Grapefruit Trees

Cutlers Red – Rich red skin colour. Good taste and size.  Ripens  July to August.

Golden Special – Our most popular grapefruit, this produces lots of large, juicy fruit.  Easy to peel and great for marmalade and juice.

Tangelo Seminole – Has a beautiful taste and very juicy fruit.  Great for the kids.  Ripens from August to October.

Uglifruit – Great to eat, these are currenly experiencing a resurgence in popularity.  Large tree and large fruit, these have thick skins but are very easy to peel and their orange flesh has a lovely taste.  Ripens September to October.

 

How To Grow…Vireyas

Vireya Rhododendrons are not difficult to grow, especially in the more temperate areas of New Zealand where they may be freely grown outside in garden beds.  For cooler parts of the country they may be kept in pots and moved to a more protected spot indoors over winter.  They do not like frost or extended periods of very cold weather.

Growing Mediums – In their natural environment they are epiphytic, growing in the crooks and branches of trees, or if growing on the ground they cling to the cracks and crevices of slopes and banks.  They do not like their roots to be deeply covered in thick soil, instead preferring a light, free-draining mixture.  We plant our outdoor plants into ordinary bark mulch and our potted plants into a bark, peat and pumice mix.  They seem to respond well to both of these.

Water Needs – Over the drier summer periods water thoroughly, ensuring that the water drains away.  Let the plants dry out to the point that the soil around them is barely moist and then water again.  Over winter they do not require much watering as the ground is generally moist anyway.

Feeding – Do not overfeed your plants.  Give them a regular, low-dosage of fertiliser, and an occasional foliar feed.

Growing Position – Some Vireyas will take more sun than others and some become more tolerant of the sun as the plants mature.  Morning sun is fine as long as the plants are protected from strong, full afternoon sun.  We grow most of ours in filtered light.

Pruning and Shaping – Vireyas have a reputation for becoming leggy.  Avoid this by pinching out the tips of younger plants to encourage bushiness.  Keeping them low encourages new shoots to come up from the bottom of the stems.  If your Vireya has already become leggy then prune it back hard after flowering.  It, also will eventually shoot up from the bottom.

Planters and Baskets – Some Vireyas have a  drooping habit.  Take advantage of this and plant them in planters and baskets.  Many of the smaller leaved varieties such as Silver Thimbles or Tom Thumb look great treated in this way.

Vireya Rhododendrons

We love Vireyas.  They are brightly coloured, have beautiful foliage ranging from dark to light green through to reds and purples.  They are small shrubs, reaching around 1.2 metres at most.  They look fantastic when they are mass planted and once established won’t give you much trouble.

I have posted a new page showing the varieties that we currently have for sale, obviously this will change often.  We only have a few of each variety at any one time as we only choose the strongest of those propagated. 

Anatta Gold

Cherry Liqueur

Dawn Chorus

Haloed Gold

Highland White Jade

Just Peachy

Lemon Lovely

Scented Sun

Shantung Pink

Simbu Sunset

Star Posy

Sweet Wendy

Tropic Fanfare

Yellow Bunny