Author Topic: Turunji - A Citrus You Eat Like An Apple (Read 5068 times)

Millet · « **on:** July 11, 2020, 02:27:18 PM »

Citrus medica ‘Turunji’ never ceases to amaze the gardener with its over sized fruit. Related to the Etrog, the inner white rind is deliciously sweet and can be eaten like an apple. Remember to train the plant when it’s young to develop thick branches to support the weight of the fruit. We recently picked a 7-pound fruit measuring 14" long on a two-year-old SEEDLING. I grew a Turunji years ago. Might be a fun cultivar to cross pollinate with a Finger Lime. It is a fast bloomer from seed. I think I will order another one, just for the fun of it. Much of this post was taken from Logee's catalog.

https://www.logees.com/citrus-turunji-citrus-medica-2261.html

strom · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2020, 02:39:17 PM »

Wow.. this looks fun! A short plant with unique fruit. I just called around a few nurseries near me here in so cal since logee's can't ship here, and none have it

Walt · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2020, 01:22:38 PM »

Large fruit and precocious. I ordered one immediately. What I got was a graft, not a seedling. It was in a 2 inch, 5cm, pot. And the plant was 18 inches tall. 42 cm? I've never seen such a big plant in such a small pot. But it seems quite healthy.
What I read is that C. medica seed is zygotic.

Millet · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2020, 02:42:20 PM »

Walt, exactly the same as the one I received. I bought two.

Vlad · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2020, 10:08:59 PM »

So what does the "deliciously sweet" inner white rind taste like? Other than it is sweet. Is this really worth growing?

Millet · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2020, 10:12:52 AM »

Vlad, I cannot personally say, as I just purchased the trees. What I know is from information published by Logees. Anyway, it will be fun growing them. According to published information the tree can fruit in as little and 2 years even from a seedling. The Turunjis from Logees are grafted, not seedlings. We shall see what we shall see. Whatever, the tree is only $14.95.

Dirt Diva · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2020, 11:26:26 AM »

Related to etrog ...

Recipe for use and how does it taste?
My family recipe for the Italian dessert Cannoli calls for citron, also related to etrog, you use the flesh, candy it then dice and put into the cannoli filling. . .
DELICIOUSLY sweet !

It would be worth growing if only for that one dessert

alas, I am in Texas and they can't ship here

Happy Gardening,
P J, the Dirt Diva

franklazar26 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 29, 2020, 11:01:48 PM »

I wanted to purchase one of these, however I thought the size of the fruit will lead to a tree I won’t have space for haha. I settled with the Tiger Navel instead.

brian · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2021, 12:09:23 PM »

did you get any fruit on your Turunji? I just saw this in the Logee's catalog and it reminded me of this thread.

Millet · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2021, 05:07:03 PM »

Brian, no fruit yet, not even a sign of a beginning flower. (3-24- 21). However, I had a Turunji tree years ago, and it did fruit quickly, but did not keep track of how old it was at the time of fruiting. I've been keeping my greenhouse cooler to keep the propane bill down. However, the days are getting warmer so the tree should be putting growth faster.

SoCal2warm · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2021, 06:50:45 PM »

The outer peel and inner white pith of a citron is much more tender and less bitter than lemon, so much so that one can reasonably eat them. The peel is not entirely without bitterness but just has a much higher degree of edibility than a lemon peel.
The inner pith doesn't have any bitterness and is even very slightly sweet (though bland), which is a good thing because citrons tend to have a very thick layer of pith. This is in contrast to something like a grapefruit where the bitterness is concentrated in the pith and one generally wants to make sure they don't eat it, and makes extra effort to pull away the pith from all the segments.
I still don't think most people would enjoy eating a citron out of hand like an apple, but it is not impossible to do so, if one enjoys sour things.

Vlad · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2021, 09:40:32 PM »

It seems that I got the last one from Logee's.

Walt · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2021, 04:19:07 PM »

Milet. Has your Turunji fruited yet?

Millet · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2021, 10:15:27 AM »

The tree has grown but has not yet fruited.

Luisport · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2021, 03:55:31 PM »

Hello everyone! There are any source for this variety in Europe? Thank's!

W. · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2021, 08:46:07 PM »

It does not look like Logee's has gotten this one back in stock, yet. Other than a guy on eBay selling them for over $70 with shipping using Logee's stock picture, I could not find another source for Turunji online. I guess I will be waiting for Logee's to propagate more of this variety.

strom · « **Reply #16 on:** July 12, 2021, 06:03:56 PM »

I hope UCR gets it someday so I can grow in So Cal

matt_citrus · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2021, 06:20:12 PM »

Anyone noticing heat/sun wilting sensitivity In the new growth? Seeing some leaf tip dieback in the hottest conditions.

Millet · « **Reply #18 on:** July 12, 2021, 10:58:33 PM »

Had a little leaf tip on mine when the temperature reached 103 and stayed there for an hour.

vnomonee · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2022, 07:19:50 PM »

Mine died of root rot when it had just formed flower buds but I was able to get two cuttings to take.

Anyone confirmed what the fruit is like?

Millet · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2022, 03:42:04 PM »

The Turunji (2" pot) that I purchased from Logees just 1 year & 8 months ago has already flowered. The flower looks somewhat like a lemon blossom as it is lightly pinkish.

W. · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2022, 08:12:29 PM »

Logee's now states that this variety is "Currently not in production" on their website.

vnomonee · « **Reply #22 on:** March 16, 2022, 08:25:16 PM »

They don't have the smaller size, but they do have 6 of the larger size. https://www.logees.com/citrus-turunji-citrus-medica.html

Quote from: W. on March 16, 2022, 08:12:29 PM

Logee's now states that this variety is "Currently not in production" on their website.

Vlad · « **Reply #23 on:** March 16, 2022, 09:46:25 PM »

The citrus in 2" pots I have bought from Logee's have been severely root bound. I had to remove all soil from the root balls and cut away large circling or "J" shaped roots. I had to do that to two Turunji's I bought from them and both now have yellow leaves, which I believe is due to root problems.

vnomonee · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2022, 10:28:50 PM »

That is how mine went, from Logees except I bought the biggest size. Leaves started to go yellow, then dropped, and then the roots rotted. I was able to take 2 cuttings from the top of the tree and had to start over. Before it died, I did notice the root mass was very tight in square shape of the container when I first up-potted it. I would check the roots for rot before it's too late

I had asked about grafting it to something in a thread back in December, there is picture of the larger sized one. https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=45903.msg447982

Quote from: Vlad on March 16, 2022, 09:46:25 PM

The citrus in 2" pots I have bought from Logee's have been severely root bound. I had to remove all soil from the root balls and cut away large circling or "J" shaped roots. I had to do that to two Turunji's I bought from them and both now have yellow leaves, which I believe is due to root problems.

Nick C · « **Reply #25 on:** March 18, 2022, 05:57:26 PM »

Just noticed some flower buds on mine today

vnomonee · « **Reply #26 on:** March 18, 2022, 07:21:15 PM »

nice! I read somewhere that the fruit develop quickly, keep us posted

TropicalFruitSeeker · « **Reply #27 on:** March 18, 2022, 08:27:08 PM »

Hey all,
It looks like Logee has some back in stock. I picked one up.
https://www.logees.com/citrus-turunji-citrus-medica.html
EDIT : just saw someone else post this further up. ! Apologies.

vnomonee · « **Reply #28 on:** July 24, 2022, 06:59:30 PM »

My turunji is back from the dead via cutting. Battling spider mites now.

Did anyone get fruit yet?

Nick C · « **Reply #29 on:** July 24, 2022, 10:25:46 PM »

I have one small fruit hanging on for a few weeks now but it hasn't grown in size so I'm sure its gona fall off eventually

vnomonee · « **Reply #30 on:** December 16, 2022, 06:47:56 PM »

Any update to plants and fruit? I lost both cuttings in the picture again, rotting of the roots yet again and the bigger plant had some kind of rot on the trunk at the end of the summer. None of my grafts took either. I have a new round of cuttings and those are rooted now (again lol). Sigh. It's the only plant that I keep losing same growing conditions and soil mix as all the other citrus.

TropicalFruitSeeker · « **Reply #31 on:** December 16, 2022, 07:05:05 PM »

I have in a 3g pot, but its leaves curl at the end. They get all rubbery in spots (picture 1) and then curl up and are misshapen (2nd picture). . Any advice would be appreciated. I water after dirt dries out, I have sprayed it several times with organic pesticides and not visible bugs on the tree. It keeps flushing out new leaves so I admire its spirit to not die.

vnomonee · « **Reply #32 on:** December 16, 2022, 07:08:06 PM »

If it's not insect related could be ph of mix and or nutrient issues. I never got to that stage since I keep losing my plant but I did have a pretty bad spider mite infestation in mid summer.

TropicalFruitSeeker · « **Reply #33 on:** December 16, 2022, 09:03:36 PM »

Quote from: vnomonee on December 16, 2022, 07:08:06 PM

If it's not insect related could be ph of mix and or nutrient issues. I never got to that stage since I keep losing my plant but I did have a pretty bad spider mite infestation in mid summer.

If mine ever holds some fruit I'll send you some seeds! I could try rooting some cuttings once I feel its not going to die on me.

vnomonee · « **Reply #34 on:** December 16, 2022, 09:32:32 PM »

appreciate that! it's said to flower from seed pretty early so lets test out that theory

actually just finished grafting a little piece of the saved cuttings that are now rooted to a spare ponderosa lemon that I didnt want to keep, so I top worked it and stuck a good bit of scion into the bark and now have a grow light as close as I can get it on the whole plant

TropicalFruitSeeker · « **Reply #35 on:** December 16, 2022, 10:09:23 PM »

Good luck! I always feel like I'm fumbling around in the winter. Between underwatering/ overwatering/ feeding / pruning things in the greenhouse without stressing them out and watching them be stressed out from coming in....It's a battle fellow zone pusher, keep up the good fight.

Nick C · « **Reply #36 on:** December 17, 2022, 01:18:46 PM »

Mine didn't set any fruit this past season but its just starting to push buds again

Tortuga · « **Reply #37 on:** December 26, 2022, 12:09:34 PM »

I’ve never had any luck with Logees. Their prices are top tier for the smallest starter plants. They seem to ship “whenever” without acknowledging the weather during shipping.

The last citrus I ordered from the was a Buddhas Hand. I received two grafted individuals in ONE two inch pot very root bound!

Vlad · « **Reply #38 on:** December 26, 2022, 10:27:28 PM »

I have the same complaint about Logee's. Every citrus tree I bought from them has been severely root bound in two inch pots. I had trouble untangling the roots and in one case, there was one thick root that encircled the small pot and I was unable to untangle it. I have stopped buying trees from them.

Tortuga · « **Reply #39 on:** December 27, 2022, 07:09:05 PM »

I actually picked up a nice ~1 year old plant at a greenhouse I visited in Chicago. It was $7.99 in a 4 inch pot. They even had some to try!

Walt · « **Reply #40 on:** December 28, 2022, 10:19:12 AM »

Sounds like Turunji is a bit harder than some citrus on their own roots. Or perhaps they are too often pot bound by those that sell them. I am in the process of loosing mine I bought from Logees. I think I'll try to save it by grafting in some extra roots using Ponciris seedlings. Mr. Hong in Wichita KS gave me 100 Ponciris fruit last fall and they average about 30 seeds per fruit, so I have plenty to spare. I also have seedlings from the last 2 years, more than I have scions for.
Here is where I got the idea.
https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=48828.0

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Author Topic: Turunji - A Citrus You Eat Like An Apple (Read 5068 times)