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Try not to laugh at me: when are citrus fruits in season?

 
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Islay



Joined: 11 Aug 2009
Posts: 38
Location: West Sussex
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 9:24 am    Post subject: Try not to laugh at me: when are citrus fruits in season? Reply with quote
    

I've just realised I have no idea. I know you always get oranges and things at christmas, but is that an indulgence? When is the best time to buy, say, spanish oranges and lemons?

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 9:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Seville Oranges are in season in January. Don't know about ordinary ones.

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My orange tree is just coming into blossom now, but it may be a little confused living in Wales!

We went to Malta once in mid-February and the lemon trees were absolutely laden with fruit.

(From keeping my own citrus plants, I do see that they keep the seemingly-ripe fruit on the tree for a long time - months even - so the period in season is probably longer than it is for, say, stone fruit.

OP



Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I was on holiday in Spain a few years ago - in the February half-term - and the harvest seemed to be in full swing, people were giving away oranges and lemons in baskets at the roadside.

borischarlton



Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 179

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

In a previous life I went to Greece in August and picked fab lemons off the trees.
Rob

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Citrus need a drop in temperatures to trigger their colour change, so if you want yellow lemons and orange oranges they will change colour in winter time, so Jan/Feb sounds about right for the start of European fruits. However, from growing them myself they seem to last for months on the tree so the harvest could go on for a good few months so I don't know when they're out of season.

VM



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 12:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think we have them at Christmas because they are harvested during winter. My guess is that late spring to mid-summer here would be when they aren't in season in countries where they're traditionally grown. But yes the season does seem to be longer.

VM



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I seem to remember seeing lemons on trees in Sicily in autumn but not earlier in summer.

Islay



Joined: 11 Aug 2009
Posts: 38
Location: West Sussex
PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

So I don't need to feel too guilty for buying them any time from autumn to spring, probably. Was just wondering why I always make marmalade in January, and now I know!

Went



Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 12:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

By far the best time to buy citrus fruit is Autumn/Winter - most citrus have all three stages of growth on at any one time i.e. flower, next years fruit and this years fruit. There is a huge difference in quality and taste as we have found out since living here. There is nothing like a naturally ripened orange that has not been sprayed with dye or waxes. The sweetness is second to none.

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 09 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

On the other hand, limes seem to be in season around now, i.e. August. Probably imported from a long way away, but this is when they're cheapest.

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