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Satsuma Orange, 1st Year
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Posted by seamommy 7bTX (My Page) on Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 13:54
| My Satsuma tree bore about 15 nice little oranges and they are moderately sweet but they lack the tang I was hoping for. I am growing them in 20 gallon terra cotta pots, watered 2-3 times a week with rain water, and have them in a mixture of potting soil, compost, greensand and lava sand. They are healthy, pest free and have put on new growth this season. I just moved them into the greenhouse this weekend, but they spent Spring and Summer on the back porch where they received 8-10 hours of direct sun daily.
How can I get better flavor? Change the soil mix, more sun exposure, add nutrients to the soil or water? All of the above? Cheryl |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| It has taken 9 years for my in ground satsumas to make decent fruit. Try oranges or grapefruit. They are much faster than mandarins. |
RE: Satsuma Orange, 1st Year
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| So are you saying that the flavor might improve as the tree matures? I can't grow them in the ground here in my zone and don't have space for a full sized citrus tree like an orange or a grapefruit. My greenhouse isn't big enough for full sized trees. I might be able to handle them if they have dwarf varieties though. I also had a Mexican lime this year and am not quite sure what to make of the fruit. They were about the size of a walnut and about as juicy. Think there's any hope for that plant or is it just a big weed? And by the way MrTexas, Happy Birthday! Cheryl |
RE: Satsuma Orange, 1st Year
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| mrtexas. I've eating some pretty sweat container grown citrus in less time. Regards |
RE: Satsuma Orange, 1st Year
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| I happened to see your post here and want to pass along what an employee at the San Antonio, Texas Antique Rose Emporium told us very recently. They have three Changshas. One of them gets watered by the sprinkling system and the other two do not. The better irrigated one had tastier fruit, she said, and fruited earlier. In fact it had no fruit left for us to taste. The other two, which did not get supplemental water in last summer's drought, (but got some pretty good rain about a month ago) still tasted pretty good to me, but as you say, not as tangy as they tasted last year. Don't know if that works with Satsuma trees or not. Maybe last month's rain diluted the juice and therefore the tangy taste. Just an idea to consider. Maybe someone better aquainted with citrus trees will know. Changsha trees without supplemental water:
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RE: Satsuma Orange, 1st Year
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| Ok, here is my opinion. Seamommy, are you talking about fruit that you picked of your tree this year? If so I think you picked your fruit too early. I never start to pick Satsumas here in Austin until after Thanksgiving. Another factor can be what variety you are growing. Owari is the best one I grow and I think a few others types are not as flavorful. Mr.Texas, 9 years? This is very surprising. I have known alot of growers in the state and I havent heard of it taking that long before. I know you are an extremley experienced grower and I cant help but ask are you just pickier than the rest of us as far as quality? For me my Satsumas started producing in the third year and were pretty darn good. Just me. Scape |
9 years for....
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| It took 9 years to get satsuma fruit with thin skin. Up until this year the skin was thick and the fruit puffy. |
RE: Satsuma Orange, 1st Year
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| That is interesting. My oldest Satuma is an Owari and it is about 6 years old. It started fruiting almost right away and I have always thought it was very high quality. It is exiting to think it could get even better. I also have a Miho Satsuma that is fruiting for the second year this year. So far I have not been that impressed with the flavor. Not bad but maybe a little to mild. Perhaps this will improve with age also? Thanks,
Scape |
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