It's almost seedless quality and ease of peeling makes Pixie Mandarin a favorite for the home gardener. The flavor sets the high quality standard for the mandarin. Though admittedly slow to come into full fruit production, Pixie has also proved to be less prone to drastic swings in yearly production when mature. The range of adaptation was expanded by home gardeners experimenting with Pixie in colder areas of Zone 9, where it has proved to be a great performer. The exposure of the variety by commercial growers also increased the demand from the home garden market. More and more growers from the region followed on the success of Pixie Mandarins sales and today the Ojai region is renowned for the mandarins they produce. They were impressed by the flavor of the Pixie and began planting acres. In the late 1970's, citrus growers on the coast of California around the Ojai area sought to extend the selling season of mandarins. Then for another 15 to 20 years, the Pixie sat waiting to be appreciated. Also, Mandarins in the mid-1900's were considered a Christmas fruit and the Pixie was not ripe until late January, well after the traditional market for the Mandarin.įinally, in 1965 UC Riverside breeders James Cameron and Robert Soost released the Pixie, but with the recommendation that it be best suited for home gardeners. It could take 4 years before a grower would see a commercial size crop. In either case, the result was decades of observation at the UC Riverside Citrus Center with no better recommendation for the selection than it possibly being suited for the backyard grower.īecause the Pixie sets light when young, it wasn't considered well suited for the commercial market. The Pixies is either an open pollinated seedling of the Kincy of which the parent variety is unknown, or it is a seedling that came from the original cross. This generation resulted in the Pixie, and the parentage is somewhat clouded. He crossed it again, but this was not as well documented. The result was a selection he named Kincy. He was hoping to get the late ripening of the King and the flavor of the Dancy. Frost first crossed two Mandarin varieties, King and Dancy. The Pixie Mandarin was developed by Howard Brett Frost at the University of California, Riverside Citrus Research Center in 1927. The Pixie Mandarin Tree is a cute little Citrus that packs a whopping amount of flavor! Hurry and order now before they sell out! Reap the rewards of growing your own homegrown fruit anywhere in the U.S.! Provide a slightly acidic site that’s enriched & well-drained.Learn about Caring for your Citrus Tree in our Garden Blog.Protect from cold & drafts - Provide at least 6 hours of full sun per day.Prune to any size - ideal container plant.Grow the Pixie in the ground if you live in Zones 9-10, or cultivate it in a container in Zones 4-10. It requires moderate moisture to maintain its health and ensure a bountiful harvest. Well-drained soil is required for the Pixie Mandarin Tree. Compact Size & Vigorous Upright Evergreen Growth.These are ornamental lovelies that light up both front, side and back yard locations of your landscape! With their brilliant foliage, scented white blooms and glowing orange orbs dangling from your tree, there’s always something to enjoy! Northern gardeners too, can pot this tree up and keep it on porches or patios, and just bring them indoors for the winter! The dark, leathery green leaves and upright foliage of this exquisite Mandarin variety give it a rain-forest vibe that many growers and passersby appreciate. Growers certainly appreciate the tropical look on their properties. Pixies, like all Citrus fruits, are a great source of vitamin C, known for their antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. Pack them in lunchboxes, keep them in the counter for healthy snacking for the whole family, or add them to fruit salads and platters. The Pixie is a delight for kids, since it's both kid-sized and easy to peel, making it a snack they can easily serve themselves. The Pixie Mandarin is a citrus fruit that is completely seedless, making it even more desirable to both kids and foodies in general. The Pixie Mandarin has a mild, sweet taste with lots of juice and deep orange flesh. What the Pixie Mandarin (Citrus reticulata 'Pixie') lacks in size, it makes up for in sweet, indulgent flavor! These tiny little fruits are ever-so-popular - beloved by kids, adults also love their sweet, juicy goodness.
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