Update #3 - November 20, 2010 - an etrog grove

I am happy to report that quite a few of the etrog seeds have germinated and are taking root. Attached is a picture from my office. There are 6 sapplings in small planters, and 2 in a cup of water with Miracle Grow, soon to be trasplanted. I have set aside a small corner with a plant light, set on a timer, providing light and warmth to my "etrog grove". There is a small Israeli flag and a model of a Kfir fighter jet, with Stars of David on its wings, symbolically providing protection for my "small slice of Israel" chutz l'aretz (outside the land).

I have explained to my co-workers (mostly non Jewish) what an etrog is, and they frequently stop by to see how the sapplings are doing.

It's mid November. The weather outside is still fairly mild. There has been no snow yet, and no bitter cold temperatures. The leaves are mostly down. I probably have one more session with the leaf blower, and that should do it for this season.

My younger daughter, Alisa, who is 23 and spending the year in Israel is due back for ten days, right before Thanksgiving. She offered to bring some dirt back from the Holy Land for my etrog sapplings.

Look for my next post in early December. I will include some pictures of the sapplings at home in Fair Lawn.

Shavua Tov (Have a good week)

Update #1 - A New Esrog Tree Takes Root - Nov 2010

I tried to grow an esrog tree last year, in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, using the seeds from my esrog following the end of the holiday of Succos. One seed took root, and the sapling grew to almost a foot in height. During the past summer, I had the sapling outside for a good part of the summer, which featured several periods of extreme heat. Apparently, such high temperatures (close to 105 degrees) are too extreme for a young esrog tree; the leaves withered, and the tree died.

I decided to try again this year. I planted quite a few seeds in different pots, and now have six small esrog saplings ranging from one inch to about five inches in height. I also have one nice little esrog plant growing under a plant light, with timer, of course, in my office in Secaucus, New Jersey. The picture included in this post is the esrog plant in my office.

I will try different combinations of light and heat. Hopefully, at least one of the saplings will grow to maturity, which takes about seven years to bear fruit.

It's early November, 2010. The leaves are mostly on the lawn, and winter is approaching. That means gray skies, cold winds, snow and sleet. So it's especially nice to have the esrog saplings to take care of during the winter.

Look for my next post; hopefully before Thanksgiving

Shalom.