“Pre-existing — 'it was here when I moved in.' Commenters helped ID it.”
Background
'Minneola' (Matt's 'Minola' spelling is almost certainly this cultivar) is a tangelo released in 1931 by the USDA Horticultural Research Station in Orlando, Florida (Swingle, Robinson & Savage), a cross of 'Duncan' grapefruit and 'Dancy' tangerine, named for Minneola, Florida. In the gift-fruit trade the necked fruit is sold as 'Honeybell'. It is one of the most commercially important tangelos in the US.
Distinguishing traits
Large, bright reddish-orange fruit with the classic tangelo 'neck' at the stem end (not every fruit shows it); thin, easy-to-peel rind; very juicy sweet-tart flesh blending tangerine and grapefruit flavors. 7-12 seeds typical; not strongly self-fruitful — cross-pollination with mandarins (Dancy, Algerian, Kinnow) improves set. Matures beginning January (December-February peak); tends to alternate-bear.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- Low (~100-200 hours below 45°F).
- Cold hardiness
- Fairly cold-hardy; ~25-27°F; more hardy than most grapefruit types.
- Heat tolerance
- Adapts to hot subtropical conditions; standard desert citrus watering regime; protect young trees from extreme western sun.
- Water
- Deep watering 1-2x/week summer; consistent moisture; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen late in the season.
- Soil
- Well-drained, pH 6.0-7.5.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun.