BLACK FRIDAY-The Citrus Guy Style!

Here we are, on the brink of another holiday buying season, Black Friday.
The day that all retail business owners fear and love at the same time!

There are many jokes out there about how we were so thankful for everything we have on Thursday, Thanksgiving, only to cause chaos, riots, and blood baths, at department stores the next day.

Look, I get it.
The holidays get expensive and you want to save as much money as possible, yet get everybody on your list something special.

Why not get them the gift of education?
Gardening can be relaxing, healthy, fun, and even useful if you grow your own food. So, get the gift that can help do all of these things.
Books.
Yes, you read that right, books!
Technology is great if used properly, but sometimes just having a book in your hands is even better.

Let me share links with you on some books that I think would make great Christmas gifts or Hanukkah gifts.
These are shameless self plugs and are Amazon affiliate links.

#1-How To Grow Citrus Practically Anywhere- A book for people outside the traditional "Citrus Belts" that want to grow their own Grapefruits, Oranges, Limes, Etc. A how-to book on the ins and outs of growing citrus trees in containers, including fertilizing, soil mixes and of course, cold protection. Want to see more of what is inside? Check THIS out!

#2-Growing Camellias for Contemplation and Competition- Growing camellias can be fun and relaxing or a boost to your competitive side. This book will take you into the world of both by teaching you how to grow them to enjoy and showing you how the world of flower show competition works. In the first part of the book, Mr. Sheriff covers growing them in the ground and in containers. When and what fertilizers to use, pests problems you might encounter, and general growing tips. In the second part, he discusses where to find the information to enter shows, how to find shows, and what is needed to compete. Including dozens of photographs and speaking in a non-technical way, Mr. Sheriff offers you one of his lectures in book form, with extra benefits. He discusses the various forms of camellias such as singles and formal doubles. Gives a list of nurseries to purchase camellias, how to propagate them yourself and how you can get involved in a camellia society near you.
You can check out the different chapters and their content HERE

#3-A Beginner's Guide to Lowcountry Gardening and Landscaping- A book for newcomers to the Lowcountry of South Carolina to help them figure out what grows there, what doesn't and where to find the best information. To learn more about this book, check out this ARTICLE

#4-Plants Are Our Friends-A Children's Picture Book- Plants are called our friends because friends share things. We give and share things with plants, such as carbon dioxide, the air that we exhale. Plants give us oxygen to inhale and food to eat which allows us and other things to survive. Children need to be exposed to the connection that all life on earth has with plants. This picture book asks your child if they are friends with plants. It tells them what plants do for them like how they share food, create places to play, and make pretty things to look at and smell. This book also tells them how plants are important for other animals by providing homes and food for them. As you read "Plants Are Our Friends" to your children, or if they are reading it themselves, it offers ways to interact with them by asking questions that will cause them to think and showing ways that plants are beneficial. The intentions of this book are numerous.1) To get kids interested in the world around them and how it impacts them.2) It motivates them to seek out a different perspective on why there are plants and what they do.3) Hopefully, it will get them to lay the electronics down for a little while and see what nature has to offer. Our future depends on plants, not just for beauty and fun, but for survival. Farmers rely on plants to grow to make all kinds of things. Children need to be exposed to nature so that they will understand that apples, for instance, do not just come from the grocery store. This book will also help teach that friendship is not a one-way street. There should be a give and take, that is what makes a good friendship.

An article and some reviews can be found HERE.

Well, there you have it, four books for that gardener in your life, or beginning gardener.
I would be honored if you were to give any or all of these books as gifts this holiday season.
If you live anywhere close to where I am, and you follow me on Facebook, I have been known to sign copies when I am doing events.

2020 looks to be an exciting year! I hope to be able to do lots of different events, lectures, and who knows what else. Follow me on social media, you NEVER know where I will crop up next!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website

If you have any questions about this article, my books, or anything garden related, you can also send me an e-mail- TheCitrusGuy@netzero.com OR .net

Happy Growing!
Darren

Citrus Info for the Holidays-Calamondins

     As I prepare to make a permanent move to North Carolina, I would like to assure folks that I will still be The Citrus Guy and available for questions and some lectures. This move will give me a chance to prove how well my book, "How to Grow Citrus Practically Anywhere" really does work. Which is available online via the link.

      I will, however, basically be starting over with my own collection, due to the fact that I currently live in Charleston County, South Carolina and with the Quarantines in place, I sold all of my trees. Not to fear though, the Southeastern Cold Hardy Citrus Expo (follow them on Facebook) is the weekend prior to Thanksgiving and I plan on getting a bunch of seeds there.

     I also have a few friends online that I like to order from. One of which is my good friends at Lemon Citrus Tree the other is Stan McKenzie, also a good friend of mine and he can be found at McKenzie Farms

     One of the trees/seeds that I will be in search of is a Calamondin. It was my very first citrus tree that I got back when I first started this whole Citrus obsession. It is also known as Calamansi.

     What is a Calamondin you ask?

     Most likely of Chinese origin. Botanically it is × Citrofortunella microcarpa making it a Kumquat hybrid. The Calamondin is thought to basically be an Orangequat resulting from a cross between a sour, loose skinned Mandarin and the Kumquat. The peel is thin and smooth, yellow to yellow-orange and easily separable. It was introduced in Florida in 1899.

They look like this:

                                             Image courtesy of Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery


     Calamondins make excellent container-grown specimens and the fruit can be used for many things. Marmalades, Chutneys, or they can be halved or quartered and served with iced tea, seafood and meats, Some people boil the sliced fruits with cranberries to make a tart sauce. They were commonly used in Florida before limes became plentiful.

     My favorite use is to substitute it for lime or lemon juice and make gelatin salads, desserts, custard pies or chiffon pie. A Calamondin Meringue Pie is my ultimate favorite. You eat the entire fruit, peel and all.

     Calamondins are usually fairly easy to obtain. If you can't find one, check with your Citrus growing friends or look online. Calamondin trees may be easily grown from seeds or as rooted cuttings. You can easily get fruit within 4-5 years from seed and as early as 2 years from cuttings.

     The flowers are self-fertile and require no cross-pollination. They are as cold-hardy as the Satsuma orange. The tree seems able to tolerate a wide range of soils. There is also the possibility of having ripe fruit and flowers at the same time. When it comes to growing them, treat these tasty little fruits just as you would any other Citrus tree.

There is even a Variegated Version:

                                     Image Courtesy of Four Winds Growers citrus nursery.

     The fruit is variegated when it is young, but will turn orange when ripe. I have discovered that the seeds from the variegated variety almost always seem to come up albino, so they don't seem to work well. Best to buy these plants or vegetatively propagate them.

     I have had both of these trees and really enjoyed the fruit they produced. Hopefully, this will entice you to find them and grow one for yourself! I have listed a few of my favorite places to obtain citrus trees from throughout this article,  please contact any of them for your citrus needs and tell them "The Citrus Guy" sent you.

     The holidays are coming and my book and a citrus tree or two might just make the perfect gift!

     If you have any questions about this or any of my other writings, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at TheCitrusGuy@netzero.com
You can follow me on Facebook
And check out my recently redesigned Website.

Happy Growing!
Darren