The Farm Report - Hardy Oranges

 The 2026 Hardy Orange crop is in! 

 

As you all know, my husband and I met and lived for a short time in Tampa Bay Florida. Aside from meeting him, the other positive aspect of our time were the abundance of citrus trees we had in our yard.  We are now well-established residents of the East Bay of Rhode Island.  When we first moved here, I learned of a “Trifoliate Citrus X”, also called a “Hardy Orange”.  Intrigued, I ordered two young trees from a grower.  The Hardy Orange will survive in Zone 7, Zone 6 if in a protected area.  I planted one in the lee of the house, protected from hard Winter gale, the other has been relocated to an area of the yard where it is equally protected from wind.  

The trees thrived and over the past 22 years have produced an annual bounty of tiny oranges. The oranges range in size from slightly larger than marbles to about the size of a ping-golf ball.  Side bar - in the past, I used juice to make bitters for a martini. 

But by far, the BEST is what I call, "Hardy Orange Marmalade - Marmalade, not of the feint of heart!".  This year, the two trees produced almost 5 pounds of fruit, and that netted me 13 jars of the delectable treat!

Let's just say - It is an... acquired... taste, but one I wholly savor!

In our greenhouse, I have three more trifoliates, still needing to mature; one more orange, and two "Hardy Grapefruit" that are just a little too tender to plant in the yard.   Perhaps in a year or so?

Onward,

Rade