Satsuma Orange tree?????

Every time I order this tree, I get this message saying USDA won't let them ship to Texas. This tree is on the Texas SuperStar list. I'm confused. I can't find a local nursery to sell me the tree. I can't drive out of state and bring it back. So how does one acquire this tree?

Find a grower that sells and is licensed in TX or purchase locally. Right now I have seen them at Lowes, Home Depot, Sutherlands, Ace Garden Centers. You should have someone locally that can provide one. They should be in bloom now also. We are pretty remote in east TX and I found one in store as well as a Mexican thornless lime and Meyer Improved lemon.

Lowe's here in California has Satsumas. I would try your local Lowe's, Home Depot and Walmart if you haven't yet. Lowe's carries the Owari Satsuma here, which is the hardiest mandarin.

Miho satsuma was the one I chose. I researched and found it to be suitable for this locale. I've had it one year and a decent crop of tasty satsumas.

You can not order any citrus from outside Texas due to the horrible Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid problems in Florida. They are afraid that interstate shipping could spread it. You should support this quarantine since Texas has been spared as of yet.
I had a Kumquat shipped from outside the state because the person told me it wasnt under quarantine. They were wrong. US department of agriculture showed up at my door and made me dig them up and they burned them. That is how serious the problem is right now.

However, the Satsuma is probably one of the most commonly sold citrus here in Texas. You will probably see them at Lowes and Home Depot right now. If not, they will be there in Spring. Get the Miho or Seto. My Miho at home took 14 degrees at home with no damage and the one at the orchard took 11 degrees and lived with freeze burn.

Wow. I didn't know there were hardier varieties. It's nice because I think they are the best tasting citrus anyway. Are the Mihos and Setos good for canning as well?

There you go again, talking about these Miho Satsumas that can take our cold weather up north.
So I went back to Bob Well's nursery today and picked one up. I will probably keep it in a pot until after
the last frost. I am going to plant it in an area with just citrus and maybe Build a frame to cover them in the Winter for added protection. This is so much fun. Thanks everybody.

Give Lowe's a try. They should be getting theirs in soon.

Also, if you feel a real need to buy online here is a place for you.
http://www.citrustreesonline.com/
Good Luck

You might contact your local extension agent. We had them at our local Master Gardener sale last month. Someone there might know a local nursery that sells citrus. Arbor Gate also had them for their sale, so maybe you can still get one there.

And we'll have them again at our Spring plant sale on Saturday, March 20th, Annette.

"I" might even get one then! The citrus seem to be the only thing the squirrels don't bother!

Thanks ceejay

CrazyMary ~ please share the information on canning them. And what would make the cultivar suitable for canning?

Here is where I got mine; http://www.bobwellsnursery.com/

I love Dave's Garden!!

YAY for ARBORGATE!!! Headed there today. Thank you all so very, very, very much! Lowes and Home Depot here didn't have anything but the Brown Select. I want to share an email with you all from a friend of mine that works for the USDA:

"There is a quarantine between states due to the virus Citrus Greening and Citrus Trystatia, which are both viral diseases that curl the leaves and damages the fruit rendering it damaged. Trystatia is spread via an insects saliva the citrus physillid,the disease is only to be known a few parts of the state but we destroy alot of citrus from California and Louisiana due to this quarantine. Although there a a couple places in Texas to buy one, try brazoscitrusnursery.com they are located in west columbia and have many different types of citrus satsumas."

podster: I'm new at canning and was going to give it a first go round this year. I know that the most suitable cultivars for canning have firm, medium sized fruit with thick membranes. This makes sense, because you want the wedges to stay together as you use boiling water to remove the membranes.

I was hoping someone else knew some good canning procedures. I guess I didn't make it clear that I was new at the canning part.

Brazos Citrus in West Columbia is a wholesale only nursery.

They were kind enough to point me to Arbor Gate. Very helpful folks :) Ended up with a Meho and Owarri

I hadn't really thought about it but I do buy canned mandarin oranges. After your post, I was reading in a food preservation book and saw it had citrus listed. They recommended canning segments with as much as possible of the white membrane removed. If left, it will develop a bitter taste. Also remove seeds. Pack raw in jars and cover with boiling juice or a thin syrup. Leave 1/2 inch at the top, processing for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath canner.

This recipe is the same for most citrus. Please post how it goes if you tackle it. My Satsuma has trouble keeping up with me eating them all raw. Not enough to worry about canning. lol

Yes, we tend to gobble them up quickly. They don't last long in the frig, so I wanted to give this a go.

Picked mine up at a local Botanical Garden sale in Fort Worth. Have you checked Martha's Bloomers to see if they have them? Maybe they can order them if they don't.

I saw the first shipment of citrus come into one of the nurseries this weekend. I expect Lowes and Home Depot to get their shipments in the middle of March to April. I was very excited to see the new cold hardy Avocados too. Exciting stuff.