The "ORIGINAL" ❄️ Cold Hardy Citrus 🍋 Swingle Citrumelo • 1907 Grapefruit Trifoliate Hybrid 🍋JUICY

Come along as we take a slice out of cold hardy citrus history with the original cold hardy citrumelo from 1907, the SWINGLE CITRUMELO. A cross created by Walter Swingle in an attempt to increase cold hardyniess in citrus and extend citrus growin gregions into more southern states. I hope you enjoy this juicy video

[@LobotomyTC]

I'm going to try growing one in Northern Michigan. Let's really put cold hardiness to the test.

[@toughcitrus]

@@LobotomyTC 💪🍊

[@PeterEntwistle]

Very cool! They look like big lemons! It's pretty incredible what Walter Swingle achieved. Thanks for the taste review too 👍

[@toughcitrus]

Absolutely brother, thank you for watching and commenting. Swingle is the 🍊citrus god father 🙏

[@quinnmores1007]

Great review! I got to try some Sacaton Citrumelo from Stan after watching your video and was really impressed…made a really nice lemonade. These Citrumelo hybrids are quite promising for Zone 7 and 8 backyard citrus, I hope one day they become more widespread in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic!

[@toughcitrus]

I couldn’t agree more. Lots of uses with them being so large and juicy. They are very comfortable growing all the way up into Raleigh Nc in fact the dunstan citrumelo is from Raleigh. I think we should pester everyone that sells trees to offer more citrumelo grafted trees and larger seedlings. I’m trying to get as many seeds to people as possible but established trees ready to flower but not 20 feet tall would be nice

[@quinnmores1007]

I am for sure going to be informing as many people as I can about the citrus that can grow in our area…I do wonder if any nurseries would be interested in selling hardy citrus

[@user-hi4sz9km1y]

Просто супер .😊

[@toughcitrus]

💪🍊

[@themulberries]

I've heard quite a lot of good things about the Swingle citrumelo despite what others might say. It sure seems like a decent lemon substitute for colder climates!

[@ross2398]

It is! It was my second favorite ahead of the Dunstan and just barely behind a more mild and sweeter cultivar.

[@themulberries]

@@ross2398 Next one I'm curious to try is 5star citrumelo, which I've heard good things about.

[@toughcitrus]

Absolutely, swingle was the first cold hardy trifoliate I got to try back in 2012, hershell from Madison citrus gave me some and been hooked ever since. The citrumelo fruit I don’t mind and I know a lot of people don’t care for them but they taste better than store bought grapefruit if you ask me. Cold hardy lemon substitute for sure 💪🍋

[@toughcitrus]

@@ross2398 I really like Dunstan too, I think it’s slightly sweeter than swingle or sacaton. But fresh off the tree the swingle is good in my opinion

[@toughcitrus]

@@themulberries I’m really looking forward to trying fruit of us802 citrumelo and 1516 citrumelo. But I’m like you, I know you mentioned that you have eaten so much wild trifoliate that you have a higher tolerance, all that trifoliate lemonade In Tennessee for me, I really prefer sour and don’t mind a slight trifoliate flavor. I think I ruined my citrus taste buds, lol

[@vitalii8822]

Hello! You are a good citrus grower! I love watching your videos. I would like more frost resistance from citrus fruits, I understand that this is unrealistic, since Poncirus can withstand up to -25C° and it freezes in my place in Ternopil. Thank you, and I wish you luck in your citrus industry!🌱🍊🍋

[@toughcitrus]

Thank you for stopping by and good luck with your citrus 🍊 in Ternopil!!

[@benoliver1269]

I have one of these in my backyard in Central Texas that a previous owner left behind. It's a little over 20' tall and I harvested about 80 citrumelos from it yesterday. If anyone has any recipe recommendations, let me know!

[@toughcitrus]

We use and make citrus lemonade and I have used citrumelo to marinate chicken 🍗

[@caspertheghost6260]

I thought citrumelos are sweet. I was told sweeter than grapefruit without the grapefruit bitter taste.

[@benoliver1269]

@@caspertheghost6260 The Swingle Citrumelo is pretty sour. I certainly wouldn't use the word sweet to describe it.

[@raregrowsNJ]

swingle is hardy in my z7a garden for the last 3-4 winters, survived 1f so far. It's from seed not grafted so I wonder whenever it fruits if it will be a clone or something new

[@toughcitrus]

That’s awesome buddy 💪🍋 hopefully you get something new and has good fruit. Nj citrumelo!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

[@Bacsimenauan]

Can I ask where are you in zone 7a? Can I contact you for further information so I can purchase one?

[@Bacsimenauan]

Can I contact you so I can buy one. Where are you in zone 7a?

[@Bacsimenauan]

Where are you in zone 7a? I’m in northern Virginia. Where can I get one?

[@piotrwojdelko1150]

I like thick skin for cold climate because it can protect fruits from frost damage .Is it possible to pick fruits after cold snaps like -15c or more ? Frost will kill the acids flavour

[@toughcitrus]

I know that some fruits can survive light frost with out turning mushy but hard frost will ruin any fruits that’s left on the trees. You need cool temps for color and a little extra sweetness but having the right varieties that ripen before the first hard frost is key. All the trifoliate hybrid fruit are really early to ripen like around late October, Halloween 🎃

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

I think you're crazy. Swingle citrumelo tastes like artificial lemon on burnt rubber. But it's easy to start from seeds and it makes a great rootstock for grapefruit.

[@toughcitrus]

Lol, I think dunstan tastes the best of the citrumelos that Stan has old trees of at his grove. Now the swingle is very important and and the history is as rich as the flavor in my opinion. Itreally is different looking and flavor than the sacaton or the dunstan. But still delicious and makes a good juice. I can eat a swingle out of hand, I can’t say the same about store bought grapefruit. I would eat a swingle over a satsuma any day . All sugar no flavor, where as the swingle had some sourness and a bite 💪🍋 tough citrus baby!!

[@caspertheghost6260]

How ome it looks like dirty yellow? Is that how it is when ripe? If it's unripe, is it sour like lemon?

[@caspertheghost6260]

Is dunstan citrumelo about the same as swingle?

[@edark94]

I'm amazed how different your taste reviews are to what I find online, most seem to call this fruit completely inedible 🤣. But I've heard if you juice it & leave it overnight, most "poncirus" flavours will disappear. Have you ever tried that by any chance?

[@ross2398]

Yes, better left out room temp for a few hours

[@toughcitrus]

I have read all the reviews and descriptions on the trifoliate hybrids too, inedible, etc. and then I actually tried these types I have read about for years, and found out they are actually pretty good. I think they taste better than normal grapefruits these hybrids. But I’m always on guard expecting some nasty tasting and then I’m like hey, that’s not bad, I need some of these at my place, lol 😂 💪🍊

[@truthseeker1364]

Does Mr Stan McKenzie have any of these from cuttings for root stock do you know ? Like in stock now.

[@toughcitrus]

I know he had a bunch of seedling sacaton few months ago and he said he should have some grafted sacaton and citremon this spring. Give him a call and ask him brother. He may have some ready or atleast working on and set a few aside for ya. McKenzie Farms [phone]

[@truthseeker1364]

@@toughcitrus thank u I have his number saved on speed dial for this spring lol just wanted to get my hands on this root stock seems like everyone is out of it . I want to graft on it as soon as possible.

[@bobsnyder5323]

Mine has taken 0⁰ with very little dieback. It's about 15' tall.

[@toughcitrus]

That is really good to know Bob!! 🥶Thanks for sharing that. I know the dunstan is from up near you in Raleigh 💪🍊citrumelo for the win!!

[@luisreynaga9169]

Dud i whant some seeds.

[@toughcitrus]

💪🍊 toughcitrus.com/seeds