Kara

Description

Kara is a very late-ripening mandarin bred by H. B. Frost at the University of California — a cross of King tangor and Owari Satsuma made in 1915 and introduced in 1935. Fruit are medium to large, moderately oblate with a slightly necked base, and colour to deep orange in both rind and flesh when fully ripe. The rind is medium-thick and soft but peels fairly well, Satsuma-style; segments (10-12) separate without difficulty. Flavour is rich, sprightly and distinctive, though tart until very mature — leave fruit to ripen fully. In NZ it harvests around August-September, Late on the relative mandarin scale. The tree is moderately vigorous, spreading and round-topped, thornless, hardy to cold and productive with a slight alternate-bearing tendency; fruit is numerous-seeded (polyembryonic). Fruit retains quality on the tree but puffs somewhat, so pick at peak for fresh dessert use. Give it a sunny, frost-sheltered position and thin in heavy years.