Juanita, 5* , Thomasville and Citsuma Prague

[Will]

Hi,
I recently got fascinated by cold hardy citrus. I am growing palms, bananas and olives for several years now but it's only till now that I got completely hooked by citrus.

Does anybody here already have experience with the above mentioned varieties?

[mikkel]

You can find a lot of information about 5Star Thomasville and Prague here in the forum. Probably also specific threads about each of them.
I don't know Juanita, but I have seen posts about it here or in other forums.

[tedburn]

as Mikkel said there is a lot of information in this and in "The Tropical Fruit Forum". And I think also a lot of members have experience but for answering adequate you shold ask more concrete.
Your question by now I can answer with yes concerning Thomasville and 5*.

[Florian]

In my opinion, Juanita is just a Dancy. As they say in German: paper is patient (i.e. somebody once said it was very coldhardy and everybody else just copied that information).

[tmcclendon]

Juanita - I grew this for many years on the Georgia coast, where I never experienced any temperatures that would test its hardiness. My impression is that Juanita is a type of Ponkan, which I also grew and appeared identical to me.

Thomasville citrangequat - I have grown this for many years and have grown dozens from seed. They all have come true, with some slight variations. The tree is hardy at least to 10F, always looks a little rangy except when grafted, which seems to improve the appearance. Fruit is versatile - use as a lemon/lime in September-November, lemon from December-January, and the fruit become edible out of hand in late January, when they taste like a common orange. Makes great marmalade/preserves.

Citsuma - this is my first year growing it in middle Georgia, so I don't know first-hand about hardiness, but reputed to be hardy to 5F. Fruit are allegedly very good. I have two on my small tree, and I am looking forward to trying them although I realize that fruit quality will improve as the tree matures.

5* - never heard of that one!

[es]

The Juanita I purchased at a specialty nursery I trust is definitely a Ponkan-type, and virtually indistinguishable from a Ponkan tree I purchased at a commercial nursery.  When at their best, they are probably my favorite citrus.

Thomasville citrangequat: I've used juice for marinades/cooking at all stages of ripeness, but it doesn't really suit as a substitute for a true lemon for fresh use.  They are are certainly edible, without resinous Poncirus taste, but I rarely eat them when other citrus are available.  It's one of those varieties I would grow if I were further north and couldn't grow much else, but I mostly grow as a curiosity because I am growing it in Thomasville, Georgia, where this variety first fruited.

I am in far southern Georgia (US).  Both Juanita and Thomasville citrangequat have come through several consecutive days with ~8-10 hours below freezing and maximum lows ~20 degrees(Farenheit) with little damage.  Juanita did fare a little better than the commercial Ponkan I have, which lost a few branches up to ~ 1/4" diameter, but that could well have been the influence of rootstock (Poncirus v Swingle, respectively).

No direct experience with the other two - I am looking to get Prague Citsuma, as I have heard only good things. 

[Sylvain]

> Citsuma...are allegedly very good.
In fact, pure satsuma!