Alemow – Citrus macrophylla & Furr C-57 – Citrus reticulata x trifoliata

Description

Description

This is a special opportunity to be the first to grow these Citrus varieties in New Zealand. We will never be importing these seeds ever again due to the cost and difficulty, so don’t miss out.

Alemow (Citrus macrophylla) is a rare species of Citrus (according to the Tanaka system) from Cebu in the Philippines, where it is believed to originate. It is believed to be a hybrid of Celebes papeda (Citrus celebica) and pomelo. If used as rootstock, it has superb compatibility with lemons and limes (some varieties of lemon are incompatible with trifoliata), and many other Citrus too such as kumquats, and is emerging as a very high performing Citrus that copes with high salt levels and seasonal flooding. The fruit are sort of like giant limes and can be juiced or used to make marmalade.

Furr C-57 citrandarin (Citrus reticulata x trifoliata) is a hybrid between a Sunki mandarin and trifoliata. It is much more vigorous than trifoliata, and has a longer growing season (as it is evergreen). It is tolerant to Citrus tristeza virus, very tolerant to Phytophthora and very tolerant of citrus nematode – which are the most important diseases of Citrus in NZ. It is super cold tolerant if you want to grow it on for fruit, as it can handle at least -15C once mature and so suitable for places such as inland Otago. The fruit can be juiced or used to make a marmalade.

Both of these varieties are highly apomictic, which means they clone themselves via seed! So 98% of your seedlings will be a true clone of the original variety, not random hybrids.

Seeds per packet:

• Single pack:
  • 25x Furr C-57 citrandarin (Citrus reticulata x trifoliata) seeds
  • 25x Alemow (Citrus macrophylla) seeds

• Bulk pack:
  • 100x Furr C-57 citrandarin (Citrus reticulata x trifoliata) seeds
  • 100x Alemow (Citrus macrophylla) seeds

Germination Instructions

Upon receipt of these Citrus seeds, soak them in water for a few days until they swell. In our test, about 95% of the C-57 seeds sank, and about 80% of the Alemow seeds sank. The C-57 seeds should have their water changed every day for a few days, as they will release a germination-inhibiting slime. The Alemow seeds won’t need their water changed. Both of these seeds were treated with a fungicide before export, so make sure to wash your hands after touching them.

Once the seeds have soaked for a few days, plant the seeds directly into a seed raising mix, and keep warm, and they will easily sprout after 1-2 weeks. For fresh Citrus seeds, you can expect 80%-90% germination.

References

– https://plantbiology.ucr.edu/media/1381/download [History of C-57 release]