Fruit Trees - Clementines

I'm looking for information from gardeners who've got Clementines.

I was lucky two years ago to discover the fruit, featured at Trader Joe's in 6-pound boxes or bags. Small (golfball size), smooth, shiny, intense orange color, thin-skinned, easy to peel, virtually seedless, and sweet as candy. I bought a bag or two a day as long as the season lasted and passed the fruit around to friends (though I ate most of it myself).

This year the story was quite different. I never saw any of the "true" Clementines I'd devoured the year before. Instead the stores peddled look-alikes that were decidedly inferior. Thick skinned, larger in size, clumsy to peel, 2-5 seeds per fruit, and NOT sweet enough for me. I don't know whether the long wet winter hampered the fruit development, or the problems finding pickers to do the work left the crops unpicked.

So I'm looking for info on the delicious, sweet Clementines. Has anyone succeeded in growing Clementines in northern California, zone 9 or 10?
--Scottie

I tried growing one and it eventually died--not sure if it's because it wouldn't do well here or because it was my first (and so far only) attempt at growing citrus!

You might try contacting Four Winds Growers--they grow all sorts of citrus and I believe they're located in Hayward or Fremont so they should know if Clementines will grow here or not.

And if you're looking for a substitute when you shop...have you tried Satstuma's? I used to always buy the Clems too, but once I tried these I never went back.