Finding cold hardy citrus in Texas

[christianmom]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and would like to grow something in the ground that needs no protection from frost in the winter, in Central Texas zone 8b. From my research I could grow something like Dunstan, Thomasville Citrangequat, Sacaton, US-852, etc., or any of the trifoliate hybrids rated for zone 8a or lower. I take it flavor is going to be sour, possible poncirus trace flavors, but that's ok, at least for the juice (lemon substitute to make lemonades in the winter). That Arctic Frost Satsuma scam claims, not going to work here long term without protection no matter what commercial nurseries claim. The 2021 freeze killed plenty of mature trees here in Texas, it was rough. The problem is, I cannot find a single source to buy citrus trees of this kind here in Texas. Talbotts Nursery sometimes sells Swingle (this a trifoliate hybrid), but not in stock right now. We cannot import any citrus plants from out of state. If someone knows where to get truly cold hardy citrus in Texas please let me know. I feel the citrus industry in Texas needs to start selling some of the truly cold hardy stuff that we can use at the very least as lemon substitutes. They would totally be game changers for people who want to grow citrus in their own yards, north of the citrus groves of South Texas. I noticed there is a certified budwood program from Texas A&M available to the public, but the list of what you could get doesn't include Dunstan, Thomasville, Sacaton, etc...only Yuzu looks like something I would go for on their list and I already got an Yuzu. Any thoughts or comments on what I wrote here would be appreciated.

[a_Vivaldi]

Are you allowed to bring seed in across State lines?

[manfromyard]

If you can receive seed, then you can buy or trade with other members of this board. Otherwise, it'll be difficult. There were other Dallas residents on the older citrus boards and the subtropical palm board, but haven't seen them since the migration.

[Perplexed]

Seed should be legal. Thomasville grows true to seed most of the time and flowers from seed in about 5 years, not too bad.

[christianmom]

I am not sure seeds are legal to be imported into Texas unless you buy them from a nursery that complies with USDA regulations. Let me quote Texas law on this.....quarantined items include seeds of citrus per 21.5 (a) "Quarantined articles include the quarantined pests; any living or non-living rootstock, leaf, root, stem, limb, twig, fruit, seed, seedling or other part of any plant in the botanical family Rutaceae, subfamily Aurantioideae...."
But in section 21.6 exemptions are given to commercial citrus fruits AND seeds that comply with USDA regulations ...let me quote "(d) Exemption. Commercial citrus fruit and citrus seed treated as prescribed in the USDA Treatment Manual in T203-p, having to do with seeds of citrus (Rutaceae family) to prevent pest transmission are exempt from the requirements set forth in this Subchapter A, Citrus Quarantines."....
 Does that mean I could buy seeds from nurseries outside of Texas that comply with USDA regulations? Does that exclude hobby growers sending seeds from out of State? I don't know.

[kumin]

What are the specific regulations? Is it as simple as seed treatment?

[christianmom]

Kumin, good question, I dug up USDA Treatment Manual....pg. 555-6 under D301.75-11(b) seeds of citrus must be cleaned of pulp, dipped for 10 min in water at 125 F or above and dipped for 2 min in a solution of sodium hypochloride at 200 parts per million. I'm not sure what section T203-p is, the doc is over 900 pages long and I haven't found "T203-p" yet...

[manfromyard]

Ok, so here is what I would do so as not to run afoul of the law..

Talbott's nursery is in Texas. Go order about 3 or 4  Swingle or whatever citrumelos  from them:

https://www.talbottnurseryandpoultry.com/Citrus-trees-s/1895.htm

Then go to TAMU and get yourself some budwood from them:

https://www.tamuk.edu/agriculture/institutes-and-other-units/citr/budwood.html

Keep 1 citrumelo for seed and sour orange use.
Graft yourself a Nippon orangequat on another.
On the last one throw on a Yuzu or Sudachi or something else you want.

TAMU don't appear to have citrangequats, but those are good to get started with...

[manfromyard]

If Talbot's is out of citrumelo or trifoliate, try calling this place and see if they will sell you rootstock since they claim to propagate their own trees.

https://uscitrusnursery.com/

[christianmom]

manfromyard, I like what you suggested here, thank you.