Citura Tangerine

The tangerine fruits are growing nicely. They are shiny and deep green. They are slightly smaller than a ping- pong ball. There are nine other teeny fruitlets from the most recent flush. Some are shiny and plumping.  Others may yet abort.  The whole tree looks healthy.   I have discovered that I really don't need to water much, perhaps once biweekly.

Dragon fruit garden

I trellised all my larger dragon fruits. The dragon fruit in front, the small one, was grown from seed. It is the only ceiling dragon fruit that I have left. The rest perished during the tough winter. Someday I will have fruit.

Citura Tangerine

The tangerine tree is growing quite well.  I hand pollinated most of the first flush of blooms until the summer rains came.  When the second flush of blooms came, it was still raining.  I was unable to hand pollinate.  I don`t expect a lot of fruit to come of that second flush, but some of the fruitlets look like they might form fruit.  Other blooms have already fallen to the ground.  The fruitlets from that second flush are concentrated on one main branch.

  

  

The larger fruits are about the size of a small cherry tomato.  I

 am surprised that the tree is carying so many little fruits.  I hope this does not lead to alternate bearing.

Lowes Dragon Fruit

The mystery hylocereus undatus from Lowes is still alive.  The plant is beautiful, though it does not grow as vigorously as the Physical Graffiti.  On the other hand, it grows much better than the Delight dragon fruit plant.  I still wonder what type of fruit the mystery plant will give.  I hope it is good.

That`s my grandpa Casper`s cactus in the background.  The dragon fruit is in th foreground.

Growth, Physical Graffiti

The Physical Graffiti dragon fruit has doubled in size since the begininning of the summer.  I am going to over-winter it in the house this winter.  The pitaya cannot tolerate cold temperatures.  Perhaps I can get some fruit next summer, Lord willing.

Dragon fruit

The winter was harsh on my hylocereus undatus plants.  I saved some cuttings which are now growing branches.   The physical graffiti plant is growing the best,  although it has spots on it.

Flowering again

The citura tangerine is flowering again. Two crops of fruit on the same tree is more than I expected.

Tangerine Fruit Filling Out

The Citura tangerine tree fruit is plumping up quite nicely.  Whereas the began about the size of half and pencil eraser, they are now the size of a good-sized marble (not a big marble mind you).  In addition, the tree has had a vegetative growth flush since flowering.  I want to air-layer the tree when I get a chance.  That way I will have a backup in case something should happen to the original tree.

Citura Tangerine Fruit

The fruit is growing nicely.

Citura Tangerine Fruit

It's amazing to watch the beauty of a plant.    It's even more spectacular to watch a tree that you have labored over for three years carry her first fruits.   This little tree has 15 tiny fruits out of more than 42 blossoms.   That's about 1/3 of the blooms.  I wonder how many will make it to maturity.

Pineapples

The white pineapples as well as the other two store-bought pineapples are looking good.

Gurney's Citura Tangerine Flowers

My Gurney's tangerine is flowering. I have had the plant since the winter of 2010. I struggled the first few years to with the shape of the tree. It wanted to grow into a bush, whereas I desired an upright, single-trunk tree. It has been a good grower, only a little reticent to take the desired form. I did some research on "Citura" tangerine. I believe this must be a name used by Gurney and a few other nurseries. I don't think there is such a variety in the larger horticultural world. Since the tree is citrus reticulata, I know that it is some sort of mandarin. The fruit should be small, loose skinned, and sweet. I hope I get some to ripen. I'm excited.