Growing Citrus in North Texas

[GrannyJ]

Hi, I have been watching the videos and love Mark’s humor and how he shares his trials and errors with us. My question is I would like to grow citrus fruit, but we have had spells of ice and snow occasionally and often get freeze warnings in winter and want to know if Valencia oranges could survive a Texas winter? I am north of Dallas, about 45 minutes south of Oklahoma and considered a climate growing area of an 8a. Any help is appreciated. 😊

 

[JP 1983]

Valencia is unlikely I think, but you could certainly grow Satsumas (Citrus unshiu), which are a cold-tolerant, seedless and easy-peel mandarin (my 3rd fav. mandarin, inferior only to Gold Nuggets and the legendary Sumo mandarin which is the best citrus fruit ever). Or, if you are daring, Changsa (Citrus reticulata subsp. 'Changsa'). Changsa supposedly get even more cold tolerant if you grow them from seed, but you're looking at 5-7 years before you get fruit if you do that yourself.

 

[GrannyJ]

Thank you for the info. We currently have a Meyer lemon trre in a container and will bring inside in the winter and plan to plant it in the ground in about a year. Going to move it to a larger pot. I will see if I can get the other citrus seeds and try to grow them. Appreciate the quick response!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Welcome to the forum @GrannyJ . I agree with what JP has said. Valencia oranges don't do well with temperatures below 10C from what I hear. Thankfully there are many other varieties that could suit

 

[MadJen]

Hi, I have been watching the videos and love Mark’s humor and how he shares his trials and errors with us. My question is I would like to grow citrus fruit, but we have had spells of ice and snow occasionally and often get freeze warnings in winter and want to know if Valencia oranges could survive a Texas winter? I am north of Dallas, about 45 minutes south of Oklahoma and considered a climate growing area of an 8a. Any help is appreciated. 😊

Hi from Oklahoma! I too am trying to get started on fruit trees. I planted two pears and two apples two years ago. The pears died, but the apples are nice and healthy if I can just keep the grasshoppers away, they completely stripped my fruit trees leaves once this year to they both grew a new set thankfully!!! This year has been terrible when it comes to grasshoppers.

 

[JP 1983]

I will see if I can get the other citrus seeds and try to grow them.

Satsuma is best grown from cuttings. Theyre a beautiful mandarin you'll enjoy. Ive had no encounters with Changsa but they're apparently not the greatest in the flavour department, which is why it was a second option.