Join Laurelle at Art's Nursery in Surrey in our new greenhouse dedicated to tropical edible fruit plants! There's always something wacky and wonderful in here...(Laurelle being one of them!! - haha). Currently, we have a fresh crop of various citrus plants including The Improved Meyer Lemons, Miho Wase Satsuma Mandarin Oranges, Variegated Pink Lemons, and back by popular demand - The Flying Dragon, a hearty Orange Tree.
We also have sour but sweet...Kumquat and Limequat Citrus Trees as well. Kumquat is a tiny little orange fruit and we recommend eating it whole - skin and all, the peel is edible and sweet and the flesh is tart! A Limequat is a cross between Keylime and a Kumquat. The Limequat has high yields. The fruit can be eaten whole or the flesh and skin can be used in desserts and as delicious natural flavouring in cocktails.
Care instructions for Citrus Plants are pretty much the same for all varieties. These tropical trees/shrubs enjoy full sunshine on your summer patio. Before frost in Fall, bring them back inside to a sunny south facing window. If you live in a darker suite, you can use grow lights which we have available here at our nursery. Give the plants good watering, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Some pests you can watch for, such as scale (a little limpet sucking insect) can be treated by wiping the insect with a Q tip soaked in rubbing alcohol. The most important takeaway for citrus care is ensuring they have ample light (at least 6 hours) whether it is natural or artificial.
We have a wonderful outdoor area full of both classic and unusual fruit trees and shrubs. Today we highlight a new arrival - Ziziphus Jujubes. This was a highly requested hard to find fruit, many customers shared with us that they look forward to it's many helpful benefits. These trees can grow quite tall, hearty, zone 5 and self fruitful. Jujubes have a sweet yet sour flavour, they are very similar to dates, enjoyed fresh or dried.
We also have Black Mulberry Trees that produce sweet and flavourful dark purple fruit that harness many health benefits. Interesting note: the leaves are fed to silk worms. Can be grown as a tree or shrub. They are hearty, zone 5.
Hippophae Ramnoides a.k.a. Sea Buckthorns produce clusters of beautiful orange berries in the Fall. They taste quite tart, tasting like a sour orange with pink hints of pineapple or mango. Can be made into an orange juice like drink, enjoyed in Eastern Europe as a substitute for orange juice. Hearty, zone 3, average soil. Will need a male and female plant to produce fruit.
Elaeagnus Multiflora a.k.a. Goumi Berry (not to be confused with Goji Berries), is a deciduous shrub that is easy to carry for. It actually improves your soil quality by adding nitrogen back into the soil. Look forward to bright red, sweet yet tangy berries in the Spring. These berries can be used for jams, jellies or cordials or even just fresh off the tree! Plant in full to part sun, average soil, hearty, zone 5.
These unusual fruits and more can be found in the outdoor tropical area and small fruit area at Art's Nursery in Surrey. Our team of experts is here to help you! We would be delighted to help you grow your own unusual fruit!