Saturday, January 18, 2014

Hanna Tokyo Pummelo

Citrus grandis (maxima) 'Hanna Tokyo'

Hardy to 10°F, -12°C 

There is one pummelo (pomelo, pommelo) that has been known to survive 0°F, -18°C degrees and come back. The Tokyo Pummelo, a.k.a. Hanna Pummelo, was brought back from Japan in the early 1980's by Dr. Wayne Hanna by way of seed. The mother plant was covered in snow and was full of fruit which caught his attention. He sent seed back to himself and planted it in his yard. Although a very vigorous grower it was set back some years ago after it froze back in 0°F, -18°C weather.

Fruit is the size of a grapefruit, mild flavor.

6 comments:

  1. How can I get this variety? I live in Hungary.

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    Replies
    1. Márton, you could ask at http://citrus.forumup.org/. I do not know of anyone who sells this plant. My 4 plants came from seed and they are zygotic. The low this past winter was -7C, and damage to the three year old plants ranged from total leaf loss to stem dieback. This was disappointing and worse than most of my hardy citrus. Because of their zygotic nature, it is possible that the hardiness was lost in an earlier selection.

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  2. Citrus.forumup is apparently down. Also, are you sure about Tokyo pummel? I have an email denying it from someone. Thanks! (I would love to grow it!)

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  3. I don't believe it can get 0° F (-18° C) and survive....it should be verified on the field...

    Anyway for Europe the following site has a big amount of Citrus..

    http://www.eisenhut.ch/pflanzenmenue-i/citrus

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    Replies
    1. Hardiness was reported by a grower. The claim is that it came back, so it probably died to the ground.

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  4. I cannot find Hanna's Tokyo pummelo anywhere, but at this blog. Do you have any references? How does it differ from the Ichang lemon/Shangjuan? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangjuan) (large flowers, thick seeds, long petioles, very aromatic)

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