Growing Yuzu and Sudachi in South Coastal British Columbia

This video illustrates the viability of growing Yuzu and Sudachi - cold-hardy edible citrus with little or no winter protection in the mild winter temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest. Since these trees are hardy to -9°C and the fruit is harvested before winter (late October/ November), it is possible to grow them in the ground and unprotected in much the same way as citrus is grown in California. Planting the trees in a well-drained, full-sun and wind-sheltered site is best. The fragrant blossoms are highly attractive to foraging bees. The flavourful fruit has myriad culinary applications.
Other citrus videos: Growing Lemons and Limes in South Coastal BC • Growing Lemons and Lim... ... stay tuned for more coming soon!
Featuring Bob Duncan of Fruit Trees and More Nursery & Demonstration Orchard in Sidney (North Saanich) BC, Canada. Created by Allison Gratz. Music by Steppin' In It.

[@samuelnormandeau8770]

I studied horticulture and my dream is to have an commercial orchard of citrus in BC! Your pioneering work is invaluable and lays the groundwork to develop these new fruit crops in our region! Thank you Bob!

[@plantingthenorth7225]

Thank you so much Bob!

[@plantingthenorth7225]

Great job! WE LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

[@ArcticYuzu]

Thanks for this interesting lesson about yuzu and sudachi. Yuzu is fantastic little citrus, recommend it to everyone.

[@palmdaddy]

Just picked up a Sudachi!! Thanks Bob 👍

[@hapibeli]

Thanks Bob. Your and Verna's yuzu, sudachi,& Meyer lemons we bought are AWESOME!

[@joestropicals6760]

Just bought my Yuzu tree, can’t wait to plant it in my London Garden 🤗

[@user-sp7rd3jp6x]

I have a yuzu tree for 3 years in Vancouver. They are a bit finicky but once you get the hang of its needs and how to take care of it, it is a very rewarding plant. Spent $80 for the tree back then. Going to pick up a suidachi next.

[@mzelitez8797]

Where did you buy your yuzu tree? Sudachi?

[@sal-1337]

@@mzelitez8797 one green earth, in portland oregon

[@jaq_lin720]

Just got my hybrid yuzus tree from gardenworks today. Thank you so much for the using information!

[@TheEricrya]

Thank you!

[@eithieus1652]

Thanks so much. Love all your videos.

[@vnxettitw4879]

I just bought a yuzu tree. Great info!

[@gardenho3628]

I'll see you in the spring for a Sudachi, I have a perfect spot for it! 😊

[@zokowawa]

What a great video and experiment! A big thanks from the low countries (Netherlands) of Europe

[@rjbuckets8897]

Yo know of any good experiences in the Netherlands with this? I've got a little yuzu and a Ichang, both still in pots cause haven't figured out my plan with them yet. And I'm thinking if it doesn't work out with the fruits at least it should flower and the flowers are already delicious for teas.

[@zokowawa]

@@rjbuckets8897 No, I have no first hand experience and don’t know of any other growers who grew this in the Netherlands.

[@vnxettitw4879]

Great info!

[@GARAGEEP]

Great video! Just received 2 trees that are 18 months old. We’re rotating them in and out of a greenhouse until night temps are above 10 degrees celcius and hoping for fruit next year! We’re in the UK so it’s an experiment for sure!

[@CMooreStarts]

This looks likes wonderful trees for my garden here in Kitsap County.

[@olafemio]

Thank you sir, very helpful!

[@jesschampagne1310]

Thanks for this video. I’m keen to come get a Yuzu and sudachi as soon as you have them , to give them a try! It’s true in Japan they were everywhere. If anyone lives in the CRD la roux bakery in downtown Victoria regularly makes a lovely yuzu cream pastry which I highly recommend.

[@natemurphy4367]

So cool

[@AllYourRAw]

New video? We are blessed

[@josephjude1290]

About to get one for New Jersey great video and channel

[@jonathanstephens7015]

In New Jersey you’ll have to bring it in for the winter. You will get significant die back at 15 degrees. At 0 degrees you’ll be lucky if the roots survive.

[@natemurphy4367]

I live in western Washington and am very interested in growing citrus outside thanks for sharing

[@melanyyeap4144]

So timely that you have a video up! I think I got one of your yuzu and sudachi seedlings from Phoenix Perennials last year! One question, how long will it take to fruit from a yearling transplant? And how often should I fertilize them if grown in a pot? Thanks!

[@katalinaj3450]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I just put down an Ichandrin in the ground 3 weeks ago. Facing south in new well drained soil. I live in Portland, Oregon. Some leaves started to look weird, Will you please share info about disease, pest and how to treat them? I googled but could not find similar leaf curl that looks like mine and I am afraid of loosing this new baby. I wish I could sent a pic. Much appreciate it.

[@michaelfoort2592]

wow

[@bjohnson2003]

Thanks for the very good info. I'm in Seattle area, and will be trying those out soon.

[@kmcquack8989]

Yesterday I found some yuzu at a co-op in cap hill.

[@bjohnson2003]

@@kmcquack8989 I bought a yuzu fruit from uwajimaya and it had 49 seeds inside. some of them are sprouting now.

[@kmcquack8989]

That is so cool. I am doing that too right now. Do you think it will work out if we dont graft it to a rootstock?

[@bjohnson2003]

@@kmcquack8989 don't really know what you get when you grow citrus seeds, but it's one of the ways new and superior varieties are discovered. Often seeds grow true, meaning that they resemble the parent, but sometimes they're quite different. I would suspect that yuzu seeds would make yuzu plants, generally. Yuzu is sometimes used as a rootstock citrus in Japan, so it might be just fine growing on its own roots. I would suggest to keep it as a container plant and bring it indoors in winter for several years. When it's mature enough, it may indeed tolerate a winter outdoors in our climate.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

Yuzu, like many citrus have nucellar, mostly non zygotic, reproduction, and thus grow nearly 100% true to seed. Many citrus make excellent fruit from seedling.

[@RodebertX]

I will try to cultivate yuzu and kumquat on my north european balcony

[@richkirchner3718]

I have one growing in Hawaii and it's interesting - it flowers in Jan/Feb and fruit is ready in late August/September :-)

[@corlissyamasaki3476]

Rich Kirchner, is your yuzu tree in the ground? I have mine in a large pot and debating whether to put it in the ground once weather gets wetter. What part of Hawaii do you live in?

[@emarkjacobs]

wow. i will be in touch

[@9281053]

Hi Bob I am a fan and a neighbor of yours. I inherited a kiyomi tangor orange tree from a neighbor that bought it in Langford BC at a big box store and was killing it with neglect. I received it in the fall of 2021 and planted it with my other citrus I have planted along the south west side of the house and as you know we had a terrible winter on Vancouver Island last year but the lemon I bought from you along with mandarin orange, grapefruit , survived by your method of Christmas lights and protection. Now my question is I don’t know and cannot find information on my tangor orange online. Is that just a general name they give to orange trees periodically? I have high hopes for growing it in my Saanichton yard so any expert advice would be so appreciated. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us by the way.

[@Chompchompyerded]

I wonder if it would survive out on the Great Plains where the wind blows constantly?

[@rahimanbakar1]

Your video is great. Thank you. I would like to buy your Yuzu plants. Can you assist. Ontario, Canada.

[@Peekcasso]

Amazing video! Can the Yuzu grafted on to a trifoliate also survive -15°C? And can you graft from a grafted yuzu/trifoliate on to another trifoliate?

[@jonathanstephens7015]

Yes, you can take a scion from any grafted citrus and use it as budwood for a new rootstock.

[@petarbubalo231]

Hello, where would I be able to purchase quality trees in the US. Thank you

[@edwinleach7401]

Thanks for a very good video. Do you sell seeds or seedlings? Is there a problem of introducing citrus into Florida? Might be a problem.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

I guarantee you can find Yuzu growing somewhere in Florida. Look up rare fruit growers and you are bound to find them.

[@mykvass]

quite amazing are those black pots open at the bottom ?

[@TwoRiversFarm707]

I didn't see that your question was answered, so I'll jump in. Citrus doesn't like wet roots, so yes, the bottoms would be cut off the pots, then the roots "loosened" a bit, then planted.

[@mykvass]

@@TwoRiversFarm707 Thanks !!!

[@corlissyamasaki3476]

Are the yuzu and sudachi still in their pots and sunken in the ground?

[@Swiss.0011]

Is sudachi the same thing as a sudachi mandilón?

[@marinaimmigration]

Why are they in pots?

[@Failamane]

Do they need heat in the summer to produce fruit? Average high in summer is 67 where i live.

[@cosmicallyspeaking871]

Great information! Loved your demonstration & description. I don't know if i missed it but I'd like to know if these Yuzu trees were originally grafted on to different root-stocks when you bought them? How long did it take to fruit for the first time since you planted them? Also what's the age of these trees? 🙏💗🙏💗

[@-whackd]

Yuzu wouldn't need it, as I remember it did fine in the Korean winters which were down to -15c. However, if you're growing satsumas you might want to graft them onto trifoliate rootstock.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

I’d suspect these trees are on rootstock derived from poncirus trilofata or citrange (carrizo or troyer). These types of rootstocks convey cold tolerance, tolerance to somewhat moist soil and dwarf the tree. Yuzu does grow true to seed, meaning you will get another Yuzu if you plant a seed. Not all citrus will do they. Many citrus will create inferior fruit from seed grown trees. The biggest problem with seed grown Yuzu trees is it will take 18 years to get fruit. The Japanese prefer Yuzu from a seed grown tree, but most commercial operations go with grafted Yuzu for obvious reasons. The Japanese even have a special word I can’t remember. So, given all that I know, I would guess Bob is growing grafted specimens. I don’t know this for sure but that’s most likely. I grow both. I got 3 grafted specimens that produced fruit the first year. I also have several seedlings that are coming along.

[@Palermitanfiero]

Thanks very much for this video. I wanted to ask you a question. I live in the Mediterranean, south Italy, I wonder if the scorching summer temperature is a problem for Yuzu trees. The winters are pretty fresh, rarely freezing. Would a north or north east exposure help prevent a possible sunburn? I have got lemons, oranges and mandarines in my garden and they all grow very healthy.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

The heat won’t be a problem. I’ve never heard of any citrus that has problems handling the heat as long as it is well irrigated. I grew up in a desert and all the citrus frequently handled temps over 115 f degrees. As long as you live in a location where temps aren’t into the 120’s you won’t have a problem. Just give it LOTS of water during the summer months.

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

It’s really the combination of heat and arid drought that will likely kill citrus in hot desert climates, but not really the cold unless if you are in zone 8b or lower.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

I’ve had citrus die from cold in zone 9. Even zone 10 can have deadly frosts for citrus. When I was growing up in San Diego our zone 10 had a wicked cold snap that killed a significant percentage of all citrus groves.

[@julesshort9219]

I have a satsuma. How do I tell if the fruit is ripen when on the tree?

[@raykinney9907]

I squeeze lightly to feel the juice content develop. Together with color change, this seems to be adequate to time harvest. I'm new to citrus growing, so am sure to be making mistakes, but so far getting good results with Sudachi yuzu hybrid, Owari mandarin orange, Meyer lemon, etc.

[@blueknight2427]

Do have sudachi for sale

[@danibelle177]

Do you have to keep the roots dry in winter like Meyer Lemon or get root rot? Or are they more resistant to that?

[@jonathanstephens7015]

They are somewhat more resistant to that, however in the western region of the Pacifc Northwest all citrus roots will rot if not covered or planted on a berm. If you look at these trees in the beginning of the video you can see he has them on an elevated area and keeps the roots in a pot planted in the ground to elevate them even further.

[@johntownsend1837]

you sell yuzu trees? how much?

[@catejordan7244]

Is it evergreen? And does it make nice marmalade. Thanks

[@Marco-nx4hm]

Excellent marmalade. Can't wait for this year's harvest.

[@pumelo1]

If on your winter is not more than -9°C and winter is more humid it is OK. I tried to grow a rootstock Citrumelo swingle/-10--15°C/ here in foil house and lasted only 3 winters! Yuzu on Poncirus trifolita rootstock unfortunately will not stand ouer winter. A lot of citrus growers have tried it, the result is bad.

[@noleftturnunstoned]

Hello

[@lanaberticevich5233]

Hi Bob - do you sell Yuzu seeds? I would very much like to try growing them in Southern BC.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

When grown from seed the Yuzu takes 18 years to develop fruit. You are better off getting an Yuzu grafted to a trilofata or citrange rootstock. You will get fruit the first year. I got 3 and received about 20 fruit the autumn after I planted them. I’m in western Oregon.

[@FixMyBleep]

Grafted Yuzu is the best way to go, when you get seeds, you never know what you are going to get from them, or if the trees will produce fruit.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

Yuzu is one of the few citrus that grow almost exactly true to seed. That’s why seedling yuzu are the most coveted in Japan. In Tokyo retailers get up to five times the price for fruit from seedling yuzu trees. Something to keep in mind is that citrus seedlings more often than not will produce fruit that’s similar to the parent tree. Many citrus have a capacity for nucellar, non zygotic, reproduction. Because of this many citrus create approximate clones of themselves via seed born progeny. This prevents the mixing of genes from another tree. I have a seedling meyer that is fantastic, though the skin is thicker and more pitted then the cloned meyers. I highly recommend seedling citrus. Not only is the fruit often better, if you have a cold snap that kills the tree above ground, what grows back is the named type, not the rootstock. Just be aware that you could be in for a long wait, average wait time of 7 years for a seedling citrus to yield fruit. Plus a small percentage of seedling grown citrus will be sterile, will never produce fruit. Regardless, it’s still worth growing seedling citrus, just also grow a grafted specimen to have fruit while you wait for the seedling. Citrus farming is a long game. That’s why the Japanese have a saying that goes like this: “you plant yuzu seeds for your grandchildren’s benefit.”

[@FixMyBleep]

@@jonathanstephens7015 Thanks for the info, I hadn't realized the Yuzu will grow almost true to seed unlike other citrus.

[@justinh9347]

How long do they take to fruit? I've got one 5 years old and nothing. It is potted and no where near that size.

[@jonathanstephens7015]

He is growing budwood grafted onto trifoliate (flying dragon) rootstock. A seedling yuzu can take over a decade to make fruit. Though it is nice to know that yuzu seedlings make fruit that is nearly identical to the parent tree.

[@kmcquack8989]

Do they need to be on a rootstock?

[@d.t.4523]

No, they will grow on their own roots.

[@Camille_Boomer77000]

These videos are so helpful. I am also in BC, in Coquitlam and always looking for ways to grow what I consume instead of importing. Did you start from seeds or did you get a young tree from a nursery?

[@michaeljung9118]

You can buy Phoenix Perennials in Richmond B.C.

[@alvinhughes9115]

Can I buy a tree from you please??

[@ReclinerSports]

Do you have to graft?

[@jonathanstephens7015]

These are all grafted. But, no, you don’t have to graft. Yuzu grow true to seed so you can grow a seedling for the same quality of fruit. The problem is you’ll have to wait a decade or more for the tree to become mature enough to produce fruit. A grafted specimen will produce fruit in the second or third year.

[@abc_cba]

How would you explain the taste of Yuzu as compared to a Meyer Lemon ? Thank You. Cheers from India 🇮🇳

[@ArcticYuzu]

Yuzu is completely different. Much more sour and crispier. Meyer lemon is tender, got them both

[@abc_cba]

​@@ArcticYuzuthanks for responding. I have subscribed to your channel since the last 3 years, I wished if you could do more videos on Citrus now that it's Citrus season.

[@shervinp6410]

Thanks for the good video i live near Washington dc do you think i can have yuzu in my yard and can i buy some trees from you ? Let me know please

[@d.t.4523]

I might be able to help you. I am starting a new batch of trees from my seeds. What is your e-mail?

[@ArcticYuzu]

Trying to build a Yuzu farm up in snowy Far North. Wish me luck, You can join my journey on my channel. Have a nice one!