The Tropical Fruit Forum

Citrus => Citrus General Discussion => Topic started by: Pancrazio on April 14, 2014, 07:59:57 AM

Title: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Pancrazio on April 14, 2014, 07:59:57 AM
I'm willing to give this pomelo a try; i have read that it is a pretty cold hardy one, for a pomelo. I was wondering: how much? Can it survive to sub zero temperatures (let's say the kind of temperature that a sweet orange can take)?
Also, i have heard that there are two different plants with this name. What kind of plant can i find in europe? I soppose not the one with the red pulp.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: HMHausman on April 14, 2014, 08:45:44 AM
Not sure how much cold it can take, but at my house it has withstood 28 F for a short period of time without any damage to leaves.  Not sure if this helps.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Radoslav on April 14, 2014, 08:56:53 AM
Also, i have heard that there are two different plants with this name. What kind of plant can i find in europe? I soppose not the one with the red pulp.

quite opposite, the pink fleshed pomelo is in European collections.
As you wrote there are 2 types.:
1 . original japan Hirado Buntan with pale greenish-yellow pulp
and
2. Florida selection of Hirado Buntan with pink flesh.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Pancrazio on April 14, 2014, 08:59:38 AM
Yes, it does help. At least now i know i should be able to have it survive in my greenhouse. However I wonder if it can survive to lower temperature (let's say 21F) once dormant. 

Also, i have heard that there are two different plants with this name. What kind of plant can i find in europe? I soppose not the one with the red pulp.


quite opposite, the pink fleshed pomelo is in European collections.
As you wrote there are 2 types.:
1 . original japan Hirado Buntan with pale greenish-yellow pulp
and
2. Florida selection of Hirado Buntan with pink flesh.

Thank you. Can you comment on their taste? I'd prefer to get a sweet pomelo, if it is possible.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Radoslav on April 14, 2014, 12:22:54 PM
Thank you. Can you comment on their taste? I'd prefer to get a sweet pomelo, if it is possible.

I  have never eaten it. I grafted it once, but graft failed. You can ask at Oscar Tintori Nursery in Pescia, they sale it, they also sale 2 local pomelo selections, pomelo "rosso di Ischia" and "rosso di Sarzana"
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Pancrazio on April 14, 2014, 02:00:02 PM
Yes, Tintori is very close to my house i have been there so many times. So, i hope to get the pale fleshed one.
If someone can add something on hardiness, I'm glad to hear all the experiences!
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Hershell on April 14, 2014, 09:29:17 PM
To me it seems to be as hardy as oranges bet it was protected by the house until the fruit got ripe. The fruit here is not red.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: jabotica on April 15, 2014, 04:36:15 PM
Hi Pancrazio. Here in south central Florida USA,I have hirado bentan -pink varity- for ten years and in that time I have
had more than more one year around 20 or less degrees with out much damage. I HAD SOME SEEDLINGS THAT
WERE HURT MORE BUT NOT KILLED. DURING THAT TIME i HAD A TEN FOOT MAURESIS LYCHEE KILLED
THESE TREES ARE OUT IN THE OPEN . I would say go foe it
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Pancrazio on April 15, 2014, 07:37:09 PM
Thank you for your reports. I will look forward for it, and i hope to be able to get a fruit at least reasonably ripe. They take quite some time, i heard.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Radoslav on April 16, 2014, 12:53:15 AM
Here is Hirado Buntan in Germany.
http://zitrusgarten.net/homepage/Bilder-Z/Beschreibung-Z.htm (http://zitrusgarten.net/homepage/Bilder-Z/Beschreibung-Z.htm)

You need to click on Hirado Buntan link on left column.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Chas on April 16, 2014, 01:20:41 AM
Here is Hirado Buntan in Germany.
http://zitrusgarten.net/homepage/Bilder-Z/Beschreibung-Z.htm (http://zitrusgarten.net/homepage/Bilder-Z/Beschreibung-Z.htm)

That's pretty cool! ;D
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: elsedgwick on April 17, 2014, 10:53:56 PM
I have two young Hirado buntan (Florida pink) trees.  One, on Trifoliate, came through ~26-28 F with no signs of stress.  Another, on Swingle, underwent ~75% defoliation after temperatures reached ~21 F, although it was protected by a single layer of medium-weight frost cloth over a structure made of electrical conduit, so I don't know how cold it reached inside the tent.  It has since leafed out quite nicely, but I haven't noticed any blooms.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Pancrazio on April 18, 2014, 07:57:02 PM
Thank you guys. It seems a plant worth a try, given that it appears really forgiving, given the fact that we are talking about a pomelo. I'll try it on poncirus trifoliata flying dragon.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: HMHausman on April 19, 2014, 03:27:29 PM
Thank you guys. It seems a plant worth a try, given that it appears really forgiving, given the fact that we are talking about a pomelo. I'll try it on poncirus trifoliata flying dragon.

Not sure what that root stock effect will be on fruit quality/production.  I thought these were generally propagated by air layering.  I don't really know for sure what mine are, but I don't see any evidence of grafting on my two trees.
Title: Re: Hirado Butan hardiness
Post by: Pancrazio on April 19, 2014, 08:35:02 PM
I have also heard that air layering and cutting are the preferred method for citron multiplication too. The nurseryman who told me so, said that citron tends to show some problems related to benching when grafted, so they usually prefer to air layer it. Maybe this is the reason why pomelos get a similar treatment. I don't know. The only things it comes to my mind is (since I'm not growing in a frost free zone) the induced dormancy from the poncirus may result in an hardier specimen, which is pretty nice. Also the dwarfing effect from the cultivar "flying dragon" may result in a manageable pomelo plant.