Yesterday we planted something new at Patel Ranch: a Buddha's Hand citron tree. It is one tree, not a new orchard block, and that is the point. We are adding fruit varieties to our 20-acre family farm in De Luz slowly, one tree at a time, and learning how each one does here before we plant more.
See the planting in this reel on Instagram.
What Buddha's Hand actually is
Buddha's Hand is a fingered citron. Instead of growing into one round fruit, it splits into finger-like segments, which is where the name comes from. It is grown for fragrance and zest, not for juice.
- The rind is thick, fragrant, and full of aromatic oils
- There is almost no pulp or juice to squeeze, unlike an orange or lemon
- The zest is the part cooks use, along with candied peel and infusions
- A single fruit can perfume a room, which is why it is also used as a fragrant display fruit
If you have only ever bought citrus for juice, this one works differently. You buy it for what the peel can do.
Why we are planting it at Patel Ranch
Our core is still Hass avocados, and our Valencia oranges already earn their place for juicing. Buddha's Hand is a small, deliberate addition on top of that, not a change of direction.
- It diversifies what the ranch grows without taking over avocado ground
- It gives us another citrus to learn: how it establishes, how it handles De Luz conditions, and when it fruits here
- It fits the way we are rebuilding: small steps we can actually manage, then more only if the first tree proves itself
We are not reporting a harvest here, because there is not one yet. This tree was planted on October 24, and it needs time to establish before it tells us anything useful. More fruit trees are coming, but we are not naming the next ones until they are in the ground.
How we plan to use it when it fruits
When this tree starts producing, the uses are straightforward and practical:
- Zest for baking, dressings, and desserts, where a little goes a long way
- Candied peel, a traditional use for thick-rinded citron
- Infusing sugar, salt, or spirits with the fragrant rind
- Fresh fragrance in the kitchen, since the fruit keeps its scent well
That is the honest version: a useful, fragrant citrus with a narrow but real job, not a replacement for the avocados and oranges that carry the ranch.
What we are watching next
The next question is simple: does it settle in and grow well here? We will watch its establishment through the coming months, and we will share an update once it shows real growth or first fruit, rather than guessing at a timeline now. If you have grown Buddha's Hand in Southern California, we would like to hear what worked for you.
Keep reading
- From Our Grove to the Classroom: Fresh-Squeezed Valencia Orange Juice
- Fall Garden Update: Carrots, Beets, Radishes and Brussels Sprouts Wake Up at Patel Ranch
Taste it yourself
When the harvest is in, we ship hand-picked Hass avocados from our De Luz grove straight to your door. See what's available in the shop.