Texas Gardening: Fruit tree survival in zone 8, 0 by morganc

morganc wrote:
Hi Gene,

We live in Austin Hill Country and we have two lemon trees, one Satsuma Mandarin orange, and a lime tree. The Satsuma we bought last year in a five gallon pot and put in a larger pot for the patio. It was loaded with bloooms and baby tiny oranges, but it kept blowing over when we had wind, and knocked off tiny bud oranges, so I transplanted to larger mega heavy container that would not budge. We harvested about 14 oranges...simply fabulous. I learned it was hardy to 25 degrees, so only if it gets colder do we move it on to a covered porch. So far so good.

Our lemon trees are Meyer and Ponderosa Dwarf. Bought two years ago and planted on south side of house in ground. If we get wicked freeze we cover with a Planket...otherwise they're on their own. No fruit from the Meyer yet, but the Ponderosa has given us few, but HUGE lemons....the size of grapefruit.

The lime tree, planted on the south side and treated like the lemon trees has given us a few limes.

We will be moving a Loquat Tree from in front of the citrus so they can have more air and sun this spring.

We moved from California three years ago to Austin. There we had both Meyer lemons and ever-bearing lime trees. Had to give them away we had so many...so I'm spoiled and want my citrus again.

The pic is of the Satsuma in the cobalt blue pot.

I figure you might be able to grow most here if you baby them....we'll see.

Pam