Victoria County Master         Gardener Association

Texans have been able to grow satsumas very successfully by planting them in patio containers

or even in their landscape - only if they live in South Texas. Many Texans have great success with the very cold tolerant tangerine, Citrus reticulata Changsha. One huge drawback with the Changsha tangerine is it is full of seeds.

Who came to the rescue?

Voila. The Changsats entered the scene. That is what Dr. Ying Doon Moy called the hybrids of the genetically-crossed Changsha tangerine with a mandarin orange (Satsuma) to produce a high quality fruit, which is mostly seedless and more cold-hardy than satsumas.

According to Dr. Jerry Parsons, who worked with propagating the Orange Frost with Dr. Larry Stein, "This was no small feat and has never been accomplished by any other plant breeder in the world.

Dr. Moy's hardy Satsuma-Changsha seedling crosses will provide delicious fruit to people who have never been able to reliably grow citrus in their area." Dr. Moy, who was retired from the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, passed away in 2012. Many Texas gardeners may be familiar with another Texas Superstar plant he developed called the Moy Grande Perennial Hibiscus.

Attributes of Frosty satsumas

The Orange Frost is grown by cuttings, so it grows on its own rootstock. If you plant it in the landscape and it freezes back, it has a chance to come back out. You know how you often see trees loaded with oranges and think you'd like some of those, but no one ever picks them? That is usually because the rootstock grew back out after a freeze, and they are undesirable sour oranges rather than the sweet, juicy Satsuma that was originally planted.

You get wonderfully fragrant blossoms on a dark green, small tree about 8 to 10 feet high and wide. If grown in a container it will stay about 4 to 6 feet tall.

You can start harvesting the Orange Frost fruit as soon as they start to get a little orange in their peel during October. You will want to pick them then when they are sweeter and juicier than after they ripen to a completely orange color after Thanksgiving.

They are easy to peel like all Citrus reticulata - tangerines, mandarins and satsumas. They usually have less than four seeds per fruit. The flesh is orange, tender and juicy. The juice is also orange.

Satsuma needs

Plant them in any type of well-drained soil.

Water them when the soil begins to get dry about an inch or so down.

They desire 8-10 hours of full sun but will perform adequately in some shade.

You can prune them after harvesting the fruit to control their size and shape, but pruning is usually not necessary.

Growing tips

Fertilizer

Do not apply fertilizer until the tree begins new growth after planting. Fertilize monthly through October. Scatter fertilizer on the ground at least a foot from the tree trunk and promptly water it in thoroughly. Nitrogen is the only fertilizer necessary.

Each year increase amount of fertilizer during February until October from one half of a cup the first year, to one cup the next year and then two cups the following year of 17-21 percent nitrogen fertilizer.

Weed control

Weed control is essential. If using mulches, keep them pulled away about 12 inches from the trunk.

And do not get the mulch deeper than 3 inches.

Freeze protection

During the first few years, protect them from a freeze until they are established. They have been known to survive down to 15 degrees, unlike other Satsumas that can only take temperatures down to 25 degrees. Covering with a cloth or using lights can help protect them from a hard freeze. This hardiness feature has allowed Texans as far north as Zone 8 to enjoy Satsumas.

Plant in early spring

It is best to plant them in the early spring if placing in the landscape so their roots can get well established before the hot, dry summer and the first cold, freezing temperatures of winter.

Developed by Dr. Moy in Texas, propagated asexually from cuttings by Dr. Parsons and Dr. Stein at Texas AgriLife Research, grown and marketed by Greenleaf Nursery in El Campo and sold at many Texas garden centers, this is a Texas tried and true Superstar for you.

The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com.