World of CitrusConestoga 006 Citrange
Seeds from C-35 citrange were sown on April 12th, 2018, for the breeder’s southeastern Pennsylvania cold-hardiness trial. Conestoga 006 belongs to its surviving selections. The pollen parent of the seed lot was not confirmed.
Initiated and directed the open-pollinated C-35 citrange seedling breeding and selection project.
The trial seedlings were field-planted on June 12th, 2018. The breeder reported that the original planting had no winter protection during its first cold trial.
Established and managed the outdoor cold-hardiness trial.
Conestoga 006 belongs to the surviving selections from the 2018–2019 C-35 seedling trial. The breeder reported a trial low of −11.8°F (−24.3°C); that reading was taken about 30 inches above the snow. Most seedlings died, and 69 survivors were retained by June 2019. This does not establish an individual injury-free temperature limit for 006.
Retained Conestoga 006 following the severe 2018-2019 outdoor survival trial.
Following the January 2025 low of −8°F (−22.2°C), the breeder reported very minor damage to the latest growth of Conestoga 006, 010 and 026. This was a grower’s trial observation, not a universal survival threshold.
Conducted the multi-year outdoor cold-hardiness evaluation.
Sources: [1]
On October 8th, 2025, the breeder tasted 006 alongside four other selections that had survived the previous winter’s −8°F low. He described 006 as very productive and earliest to ripen, with highly acidic fruit, some bitterness and an earthy flavor. It was his least-favored sample; 010 and 026 were not yet fully ripe.
Evaluated and documented fruit maturity, productivity, flavor, acidity, and cold hardiness.
Sources: [15]
The breeder named the group of surviving selections Conestoga after the river near his property. The exact date when selection number 006 was assigned is not established.
Established the Conestoga series name and assigned selection number 006.
Sources: [10]