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    Ways to Serve Grapefruit

    Grapefruit red half1

    Grapefruits in general are dived into natural types: there are common white or yellow-fleshed grapefruits, and there are pigmented or pale pink to ruby red grapefruits. There are also seeded and seedless grapefruits. Beyond flesh color and seeds, you can generally say that seeded grapefruits are more flavorful than seedless. Grapefruits have a sharper flavor […] More

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    Ways to Use Limes

    Lime on tree1

    Limes, lime juice, and lime peels can be used in marmalade, jam, sorbet, chutney, pickles, salad dressing, and desserts. Limes can be important additions in sauces, fish and meat dishes, and punches and cocktails. Lime juice in small amounts accentuates the flavor of other foods. In any recipe that calls for a lemon, lime can […] More

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    Ways to Serve Kumquats

    Kumquats1

    Kumquats have a sweet rind and zesty tart flesh. You can eat them raw out of hand like a grape or slice them and toss them in a salad. Kumquats look like small oranges. They are seldom larger than 1¼ inches (3 cm) across, about the size of a quail’s egg. The rind is thick […] More

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    Ways to Serve Citron—Buddha’s Hand

    Buddhas hand on white2

    If you have seen the fingered citron–known as Buddha’s hand, you will have not forgotten. Hanging from the tree, it looks like a bright yellow, multi-tentacled octopus, and sitting on a tabletop it looks like–well, the hand of the Buddha, that is the bright yellow version. Besides the Buddha’s hand, there is also a non-fingered […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Prune Citrus

    how to grow citrus

    Citrus—oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and kumquats—thrive outdoors where summers are warm and winters are mild. But citrus is not only for warm climates. Citrus fruits can be grown in cool regions in pots or planters that can sit outdoors in warm weather and be moved indoors in cool weather. Citrus fruits take months to ripen—six […] More

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    How to Grow Mandarin Orange – Tangerine

    bigstock Mandarines Ripe Mandarines Ha 271715890 scaled

    The mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) is a small citrus tree that resembles an orange. The name tangerine and mandarin are often used interchangeably for a group of small orange-like fruits that have an easy-to-peel rind. The mandarin orange is not one citrus fruit but many. Some mandarin oranges are called mandarins, some are called tangerines, and some […] More

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    Tangelos for Backyard Gardens

    Orange mandarin tree

    Tangelos are easy to grow in home and backyard gardens. Tangelos are hybrids of mandarins and grapefruits. The name tangelo is short for “tang” tangerine (a popular name for mandarins) and “elo” from pummelo (once the name used for grapefruits, but in actuality a separate fruit). Related articles: Tangelo fruits can vary in color and […] More

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    Tangors For Backyard Gardens

    Citrus bigstock 219160804 scaled

    Tangors are sour-sweet and full-flavored citrus. They are hybrids between mandarins and sweet oranges.  Tangors are sometimes mislabeled as oranges. Tangors have bright orange rinds and pulps. Though their rinds are thick, tangors are easy to peel. The name “tangor” is a formation from the “tang” of tangerine (a name often applied to deep orange-colored […] More

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    Kumquats for Backyard Gardens

    Citrus bigstock Kumquat Tree Together With Pe 226874857 scaled

    Kumquats and kumquat hybrids look like miniature oranges. Most kumquats are rarely more than an inch long. Kumquats grow best where temperatures are relatively high; kumquats prefer warm to hot summer days but also do best where nighttime temperatures dip into the low 50sF; these temperature differentials are essential during the ripening process to develop […] More

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    How to Grow Grapefruit Trees in the Home Garden

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    Tangy grapefruit can be eaten raw—by the half or peeled and sectioned, it can be added to green and fruit salads and compotes, and it can be juiced. Grapefruits require heat to develop their sweet-tart flavor. A grapefruit that feels heavy for its size is ripe and ready to eat or juice. Grapefruits are best […] More

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    How to Grow Lime Trees in the Home Garden

    bigstock Lime 7404360 scaled

    Limes are too tart to eat on their own, but like lemons, they add a refreshing tang to both sweet and savory dishes. Limes are grown mostly in Florida, California, along the Gulf Coast, and in Mexico. Limes are the least cold-tolerant of citrus fruits. They are best grown where summers are hot and winter […] More

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    How to Grow Lemon Trees in the Home Garden

    Lemons on tree

    Lemons have a low heat requirement and can be grown where sweet oranges and grapefruit won’t ripen. Lemon trees thrive in cool-summer areas of the citrus belt. They will even produce fruit indoors in northern cold winter regions. Lemon trees are well-suited to dry-summer regions. Lemon trees are vigorous plants. They do not dwarf well. […] More