North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[nottke1 <nottke1@earthlink.net>]

I have a few hundred Hardy Orange (Poncirus trifoliata) thanks to a previous 
owner who did not keep them bush-hogged out of a cattle pasture.  I have 
eliminated about half of them so far.
Per some discussions on this site a couple years ago, I harvested ripe fruit 
in September from many of the trees, looking for ones with fewer seeds and 
less bitter pulp.  There was very little difference between all the fruit I 
tested.  It is intensely flavored, but makes good lemonade (1 tbsp juice to a 
cup of sugar and a cup of water).  I made some good marmalade from the peel 
and juice, but I have not bothered to repeat it.
The peel contains a sticky white sap until the fruit is dead ripe.
Cut branches and trunks, after drying for a week, are so high in oil content, 
they burn as if they had been soaked in gasoline!

>3) Oranges - Ponicirus trifoliata is listed as having fruit that is 
>inedible (bitter, I assume) or lemon-like. What are people's experiences 
>out there? Is it worth growing as a lemon substitute? Does the fruit 
>mature in sone 5? Does anyone have experience with any of the other 
>winter-hardy hybrids out there?
>

Jim Nottke
Zone 7a
west of Winston-Salem