Meetings

November 21 Meeting: Winter's Sweet Harvest with Persimmons

Join us as our very own Isabel Barkman uncovers the secrets of cultivating bountiful persimmon trees that yield nature’s candy! Learn to identify the non-astringent Fuyu-type varieties that can be eaten fresh and crisp versus the Hachiya-type varieties that must be fully ripe and mushy or processed before eating to remove their astringent tannins. Isabel will also explain why some varieties develop better flavor when they have been pollinated and contain seeds. Isabel is well-know in CRFG circles for her grafting expertise as well as for her volunteer work at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center. Photo: Pixabay This will be an in-person only meeting and will not be recorded. Thursday 11/21, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Red Hill Lutheran Church 13200 Red Hill Ave, Tustin, CA 92780 Click here for a Google Map. We meet in the CLC Fellowship Hall.

Isabel will be bringing persimmons from SC REC for the tasting table. Attendees are encouraged to bring fresh fruit from their garden and other snacks to share.  Donations to the opportunity drawing are also appreciated. For more information contact Gus Kim [email protected]

October 17 Meeting: Citrus Scion Cultivars: Past, Present and Future

A speaker not to be missed! We are very excited to present Dr. Tracy Kahn of the Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside who will be speaking on citrus, old and new. The 25-acre grove with about 4,500 trees of nearly 1,100 cultivars and species of citrus and citrus relatives is one of the leading citrus germplasm collections in the world. When we enjoyed our field trip out to the citrus collection last February, Dr. Kahn educated us on all manner of citrus varieties, hybrids and origins and was most generous with sharing her knowledge.  The presentation will focus on classic and new citrus scion cultivars available to grow in California, resources on how to obtain registered budwood from the CCPP (California Citrus Clonal Protection Program) and rootstock seed and a glimpse of new cultivars being developed by the UCR Citrus Breeding Program that may be available in the future. Tracy is an Academic Administrator, curator and Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection Endowed Chair at UC Riverside. To learn more about the Citrus Variety Collection click here. In 2011, Dr. Kahn co-authored 'Tried and True or Something New?', a terrific  introduction and fun read covering citrus varieties recommended for the home gardener. Click here to download the pdf. This meeting will be held on Zoom exclusively so you can stay comfortably at home, but bring a notepad and pencil and prepare to learn!

Dr. Tracy Kahn Curator of the Citrus Variety Collection at UCR OC CRFG members toured the Citrus Variety Collection last February