Author Topic: Best Satsuma variety for Southern California? (Read 6414 times)

CherimoyaDude · « **on:** January 23, 2021, 07:25:47 PM »

What is the best Satsuma for California (10a)?

containerman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2021, 08:04:34 PM »

What satsuma's have you tried that you like ?

I would go with whatever one you prefer.

CherimoyaDude · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2021, 08:37:46 PM »

I've only had the ones generically labeled "Satsuma" at the store -.where can I try specific types? Which should I look for?

containerman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2021, 10:33:49 AM »

check out your local nursery but if not usually costco . home depot or lowes will carry Owari and Okitsu. I picked up both of those varieties from costco and I've seen them at home depot.

EricSC · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2021, 01:13:48 PM »

I found the "Satsuma" taste varies a lot. The top 2 pics below were taken in a local Japanese store。 The looks slightly round and baggy.

I had similar looking "Satsuma" which I bought in other stores before. They were baggy, ok but not very sweet, and somehow slightly dry with tough cell skins.

But If you look the third pic which are the fruits from my home Satsuma tree. They look much flat, sweet (likely Brix 10-11), and not baggy. I am sure if I keep them on tree longer they will be baggy, then dry.

Millet · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2021, 03:03:25 PM »

Owari and Xie Shan both of which are top quality seedless Satsumas. Ponkan, which contains a few seeds is among the largest
size satsuma is also excellent .

EricSC · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2021, 01:21:26 AM »

Millet,

For Ponkan, did you have the fruit dryness problem? it was mentioned before the fruits sometime are dry.

Eric

Laaz · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2021, 08:56:51 AM »

I have never had a dry Ponkan unless you leave it on the tree too long. The flesh is more firm than satsuma with a open center & has decent juice content.

Millet · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2021, 11:30:09 AM »

Eric, my Ponkan tree is an in ground tree, and is about 10 years old. I have NEVER had a dry Ponkan.

sc4001992 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2021, 12:15:51 PM »

Same here, never had problem with dry fruit (no juice) of Ponkan. I have been eating my fruits from November to now, still have another dozen to eat on the tree.
I like the taste of Ponkan more than my very sweet Gold Nugget or super sweet Honey mandarin (VI-133). Right now the Ponkan is tasting better than the Shiranui/Sumo fruits. I will need to wait another month for the Shiranui, Kiyomi, Murcott, and Iyo Mikan to be fully ripe.

Tlaloc · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2021, 01:16:15 PM »

Hands down it would be the shiranui and a close second the kishu.

EricSC · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2021, 10:11:44 PM »

Tlaloc， sc4001992，Millet，and Laaz，

Thanks for your inputs, which firmed my plan to purchase the buds for grafting in coming spring.

I did get the Kiyomi grafted but it will take 2-3 years to get reasonable fruits. But Kiyomi may not as sweet as Ponkan.

Eric

sc4001992 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2021, 10:42:25 PM »

Eric,

Yes, Kiyomi is a large fruit but not very sweet, nothing like Ponkan.

EricSC · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2021, 07:15:36 PM »

sc4001992,

I got 2 Kiyomi buds life on a rootstock. maybe I should add Ponkan on it too.

Eric

sc4001992 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2021, 12:45:34 AM »

EricSC, Maybe I can send you a ripe Ponkan and Kiyomi for the cost of shipping if you would like to try them.
I will check the cost and send you a PM.

One nice thing about the Kiyomi tree is that branches are very sturdy and even though the fruits get large as Orange, it has no problem holding them on.
I use some of my Kiyomi branches for grafting other satsuma and intereting varieties that I want to grow fast.

EricSC · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2021, 11:40:07 PM »

sc4001992，
Sure，　Lets　do it. It is very easy to transfer fund through Bank of America.
Eric

Lovetoplant · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2021, 10:47:11 PM »

Quote from: sc4001992 on January 27, 2021, 12:45:34 AM

EricSC, Maybe I can send you a ripe Ponkan and Kiyomi for the cost of shipping if you would like to try them.
I will check the cost and send you a PM.

One nice thing about the Kiyomi tree is that branches are very sturdy and even though the fruits get large as Orange, it has no problem holding them on.
I use some of my Kiyomi branches for grafting other satsuma and intereting varieties that I want to grow fast.

So ponkan is the sweetest among your mandarins? Would any other tangerine be sweeter? Thank you

sc4001992 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2021, 11:30:43 PM »

No, Ponkan is not the sweetest. Read the above post where I mention the other sweeter ones.
Just picked another Shiranui/Sumo today and the taste is getting better.

EricSC · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2021, 01:12:34 AM »

sc4001992，

Will be interested to hear your Iyo Mikan description. I remember someone mentioned Iyo Mikan has unique flavor/taste but not every one likes.

containerman · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2021, 10:49:11 AM »

I have 2 more dekopon fruit I'm leaving on the tree until March. I'm doing the same with my Shasta and Tahoe Golds, my Tango's and then comparing them with my Gold Nuggets side by side in March.

sc4001992 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2021, 03:29:47 PM »

Containerman,

I have not tried to wait until March, seems to late for me here.
I would be worried about the taste of your Gold Nuggets in March, it might be getting overripe. Will be interested in hearing the results of the taste of that one. I usually eat my mandarins all by Feb.

I'm planning to eat my Shiranui/sumo fruits all on Feb 22. I'll let a few Ponkan, Honey (CA), Murcott, Shasta, Kiyomi, Iyo Mikan, and Gold Nugget hang until first week of March just to see how they taste as well.

EricSC · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2021, 05:30:27 PM »

sc4001992，
In 2020 I started to pick Gold nugget in March, and end in May, the sweetness increased with time with no obvious overripe or texture or dryness changes. Probably because I left the fruits on tree too long, the tree didn't get much flowers in 2020 spring.

Will be interested to hear your comparison for Sumo, Ponkan, Honey (CA), Murcott, Shasta, Kiyomi, Iyo Mikan, and Gold Nugget.

Eric

Lovetoplant · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2021, 08:15:02 PM »

sc4001992

You mentioned that you have Honey(ca). Is it California honey tangerine tree? I have a semi-dwarf cal honey growing in my yard roughly 25 years purchased from Green Thumb Nursery. It's fruits are tiny(2.5-3" at most), seedy, hard to peel skin and quite acidic to taste.
If yours is Cal Honey, are the fruits shared same characteristics like mine?

Oh another thing, I love the taste of Florida honey(Murcott) tangerine, very sweet. I couldn't find any plant for sell so I saved its seeds and planted them. They start to fruit after 8years, but didn't taste good.
TIA for sharing your opinion.

sc4001992 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 05, 2021, 01:02:33 AM »

Yes, the CA Honey is as you describe for the size of the fruit and its hard to peel, has many seeds. But my fruits tastes better than what you describe. It does have acid taste but also super sweet so I like it. My tree is old, 15yrs.

I just did another fruit tasting again tonight so you can look over my taste rating, best tasting is #1, worst is #6
1) Gold Nugget
2) Honey (CA)-many seeds
3) Kiyomi
4) Iyo Mikan
5) Murcott (there are 2 varieties I grow)- First type has very dark orange skin, easy to peel. Second tyoe is yellow skin, super thin, sticks to flesh. This second one tastes much better than the first one.
6) Washington Sanguine Blood Orange (VI-521) - flesh does not turn color, looks like a valencia.

After this tasting, I plan to get rid of the Iyo Mikan grafts (over 4yrs old) and Washington Sanguine (8yrs old).

EricSC · « **Reply #24 on:** February 05, 2021, 01:20:02 AM »

sc4001992，

So guess Sumo will be 1+, and Ponkan will be 1-? Satsuma will be 3+?

News:

Author Topic: Best Satsuma variety for Southern California? (Read 6414 times)