Violette des Vallées (Citrus sinensis) - Late Spring update

[@backyardsnackyard]

What an attractive tree!! I look forward to seeing the fruit. The name makes me wonder if they will be deep purple. How delicious! Loved how the bee was right on cue😄

[@MoebiusUK]

Thank you, Dani. Yes, that bee actually started flying around my face and I was momentarily distracted but luckily he moved onto the flowers.😂 There are some online photos of the fruit from this variety, that look purple. I'm not sure how genuine they are though. It'll be fun to find out.

[@lyonheart84]

Nice upright canopy on that stem, another variety I haven't come across Dom, you really picked yourself some unusual ones. I assume that translates as Violet of the Valleys although I'm not sure why it will have been called that 😁

[@MoebiusUK]

Cheers, Brett. I think your translation is correct. I'm not sure why it's called that either but I guess it's possible that is a place name in France. Another possibility is that the fruit develops a violet hue, which I have seen in some online pictures (*that I think are photoshopped). It isn't a well known variety but this appeals to me. I like a mix of the well known, like Moro Orange and Eureka Lemon and lesser known varieties like this one.

[@PeterEntwistle]

A very beautiful-looking specimen, Dom! Hopefully, it sets a few fruits for you this year, it would be interesting to see how the fruits look 🤞

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, Peter ... I really like the shape on this one and a few fruit would be amazing. It's a blood orange which is always fun. Just need a long, hot summer to really bring it along.

[@НатальяПлескач-й5ч]

Спасибо 🍊🍊

[@MoebiusUK]

Большое спасибо за просмотр.

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Fabulous canopy and healthy looking plant Dominic. Wish my blood orange was looking in such good shape.

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, Mike. This is one of those trouble-free citrus varieties. It's on a spanish rootock called 'FA-5' which is a cross of Cleopatra mandarin x P. trifoliata ‘Rubidoux’. I'm really happy with the plant so far. I just need it to hold onto one or two fruit so I can do a taste test.

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

@@MoebiusUK Looking forward to your progress Dominic. Having a great rootstock in my opinion is a key element in growing citrus outdoor in our damp, cold conditions in the uk.

[@MoebiusUK]

@@myexoticfoodplants6727 I agree, the FA5 rootstock is stated as being tolerant to flooding, so should be fine in our rainy climate.

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

Thats a super fancy name! Beautiful tree 🌳

[@MoebiusUK]

haha Yes, the French and Italian names have a certain flair to them. Thank you, I'm happy with the state of this tree considering I keep it on a wall and rarely bring it down for inspection. I took the opportunity to give it a rainwater and seaweed feed before putting it back.

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

@@MoebiusUK yummy seaweed feed for your tree

[@MoebiusUK]

@@VirginiaFruitGrower 😂😂 No expense spared for my plants. 😂

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

@@MoebiusUK 😆 I respect that!

[@raregrowsNJ]

looks like a good blood orange variety, hope you get some fruit to set!🤞

[@MoebiusUK]

Thank you. Yes, definetly keeping my fingers crossed for a hot, mediterranean-like summer. I'm happy with the progress of the plant so far but would be over-the-moon if it manages to produce something approximating a 'blood orange;.

[@garycard1456]

A nice and healthy plant, Dom. Do you have it in the original substrate it came in? Mine inevitably deteriorate unless I bare-root to remove the original heavy clay loam and pot-up in my aggregate mix. Is that Strulch on the surface? I'm using sphagnum moss. It acts as a moisture-conserving barrier, preventing the roots closest to the surface from getting too hot or dessicating in the direct sun. Thanks to the post-Brexit customs bureaucracy, these are now unobtainium. It's annoying.

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, Gary. It's doing quite well so far. No, it's not in the original substrate. This plant was bare-rooted and potted up in a peat and perlite based mix. I try to do this with all new citrus. Yes, that's Strulch on the surface that was applied last year. It had broken down a bit so I took this opportunity to give it a top-up of fresh strulch while I had the plant on ground level (it usually resides on a wall).