Seedless Kishu mandarin
This tiny mandarin, originally from China by way of Japan, is one of the first to ripen in the fall and holds on the tree well into the new year. Usually no bigger than a golf ball, they are like eating citrus candy. As the name implies, they are totally seedless, delicious, and super easy to peel. Because of their small size, they will probably never be grown commercially, so growing your own is the only way you can enjoy this gourmet treat. This year, for the first time, Seedless Kishu trees are readily available to the gardening public.

Owari Satsuma mandarin
Owari is the most common and best of the Satsuma mandarin selections. All Satsuma mandarins are seedless, have good, sweet flavor, and are very easy to peel. The harvest season for Owari in the inland valleys is late December. Satsuma mandarins do not hold well on the tree, but washed fruit will store well in the refrigerator.

Nordman Seedless Nagami kumquat
This is a new variety; the first trees should begin to appear in area nurseries this spring. As the name implies, the fruit is seedless, making it user-friendly whether for fresh consumption or for preserves. The fruits are 1 ½ to 2 inches long and ¾ on an inch in diameter. They frequently hang in clusters, making the tree quite ornamental. Like other kumquats, the fruits color up in January and hang through the summer.