We celebrate with this week’s blog the beginning of TAProots.net’s third year, with huge appreciation to Endrit Berberi for his technical artistry in presenting the previous 104 blogs since 1/1/19.
A highlight of midwinter at the Florida Home is the CITRUS harvest. We have watched the green fruit grow, weighting down their trees, yet not ready to pick. Even as they turn orange or yellow, I like to wait until we have some cold weather, preferably a frost, to boost their sweetness. Then, I sample a single fruit for juiciness and sweetness. Some varieties I pick earlier (the raccoons ate most of my Satsuma tangerines last year). Now in 2021, we are able for the first time to harvest 10 kinds of citrus simultaneously. Pink and Red Rio grapefruit have started our breakfasts for a couple of weeks. Meyer lemons are perfect for cooking or lemonade. Tangelos, Honey Murcotts, and Satsuma tangerines are part of lunch and Holiday gift baskets. Hamlin oranges are squeezed for juice. Limequats and Key Limes are great sliced in beverages or in Key Lime Pie, and Kumquats are now a favorite for fish dishes, marmalade, and eating off the tree. As someone from the North, I am forever astounded by a fruit family which ripens in the cold and dark of winter, keeps in storage for weeks, and has so many uses. CITRUS really are Florida’s gift to America.
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