That is awesome andrew!! Its amazing how trees seem to beg for us to take them home.

Mike

Last week stopped by a large commercial citrus nursery in Dade City Florida and they had a bunch of trees in 250-300 gallon pots. The trees were HUGE, 8-10 inches thick at the base and 10 feet tall or so. At $300 a pop (wholesale) that would get a little pricey. I ended up leaving with 4 trees in 3 gallon pots for $12 each (wholesale):)

Hi Bamboo rabbit,
Just curious. How tall were those trees? $12 each? Don't I wish!

Hi Mike,
Thanks! Yeah I am pretty stoked!

Andrew

Andrew,

You mean the small trees? About 4 foot or so tall in the 3 gallon pots. Retail price on them was $20 but I was with a friend who is a commercial citrus farmer. They were quite nice trees. Bought a Ponkan, Sunburst, Temple and??? can't think of what the 4th one was now. It was 10 200 yard long green houses filled with nothing but citrus.

Hi Bamboo. Man...4ft trees even at $20, I am paying more than 4x's that for my 'Star Ruby'! Makes me sick but not too much I can do about that, unless I want to drive back from Florida, and considering what the other costs would be to do that, it wouldn't be worth it.

I just need to be greatfull as I know it isn't easy for most people to find trees like this outside of the citrus growing states.

Andrew

Things are always cheaper if you are local. I know I hear of people paying $20 for 3 year old blueberries, here I can get them for $3 each. Just the same as plants that are local to you I would have to pay through the nose for.

I know larger trees look more tempting, but you'll be better off with a healthier, longer living tree if you buy them in 5 gal pots. Not bigger than 15 gal. pots. I just listened to a fantastic speaker last night at the San Diego Hort Society meeting, Robin Rivet, who is a Certified Arborist, Master Gardener, and urban forestry administrator in San Diego county. She stressed repeatedly that trees in the big 24" boxes will have a limited life span, and you're much better off purchasing a smaller tree whose roots haven't become bound in the pot, or damaged due to having to live in such a small area. And, any good grower will tell you the same thing - buy the 5 gal tree as it will surpass the 15 gal tree in a year. So true! Save your $$, you'll be able to buy more varieties and have healthier trees in the long run!

Patty S.

I here ya Patty, and I f I could have found a smaller tree I would have bought it but it isn't in anything larger than 10 gal. i am so excited. Can't wait to get it home!

Andrew

Well, you're at the 15 gal and under mark, so you should be good to go! I know it's neat to see a thriving tree in a 15 gal container, I admit, I'm as much a sucker for that as anyone. What actually curtails me, is the dang hole I have to dig!! I put digging holes right up there with washing windows and ironing - the dreaded tasks I avoid at all costs. It is sure a heck of a lot easier to dig a hole for a 5 gal tree than a 15 gal tree, and I'm usually the one digging the hole, since my husband's tendonitis gets really, really aggravated, so I loath to ask him. Plus, our soil can be hard as cement when it's dry, so it can take either a pick ax or an impact shovel to get a hole dug, unless I dig right after a good rain. Look forward to your photos, it's so exciting to get a nice specimen!

Patty S.

Hi Patty,
I feel your pain on digging holes. I would rather have to weed, water, fertilize, dead head, etc...EVERY DAY, than to have to dig holes! I have had 2 back surgeries in 3 years. THe 1st was 3 years ago and that was the major surgery. The second was last November, which was a breeze compared to that 1st surgery, even though I thought it hurt far worse that 2nd sugery.

Digging holes just sucks! I grow mango, guava, all kinds of tropical rare fruits, plus plumerias, Angel trumpets, figs, did I mention my HUGE passion fruit vine? Most I try to bury in the ground(pot and all), because if I have strong enough winds some of the pots will tip over. I can only move them up into pots that are so big, otherwise there just not maneageable, and too difficult to move indoors. This grapefruit tree will more than likely be root pruned(and trust me, even though I know how to do it, it still makes me suck my breath in!) at some point.

Thanks Patty and to everybody here for being so kind and helpfull!

Andrew

Patty

Our soil here can get hard as cement also. Im sure you know this since you mentioned digging after it rains but what I do is dig about 6" down and then fill it will water for a day or so. it will really loosen the soil a bunch.

Andrew

wheres the pics already? LOL.

Mike

Hey Mike,
PATIENCE LOL! I dont even have it yet..hopefully this weekend!

ANDREW

Mike, I do try that, but even that doesn't seem to help. I'll dig down about a foot, fill it with water. Let it drain, then fill it a second time. It helps a little, but for some reason, nothing is the same as a long, soaking rain. But, short of that, it's the filling of the hole that will allow me to dig the hole. Dave, my hubby, doesn't have the patience, so he drags out the pick, the chisel, the sledge hammer and the impact shovel! I think this falls into the category of "a guy thing", lol!! Heck, if he wants to kill himself over a tree hole, well, I get the hole dug! He's been very very good about that, so I really can't disparage him too much. He came in one day and said, "Hey I dug a nice big hole for you. I figured it would be better for the tree if I loosened up the soil about 3 times as big as the pot, so the roots could have an easier time moving out." Wow, what a smart guy, he figured that out by himself. Not a gardener per say, married to one, but just good common sense. My trees really love him :-) Me, too!

Patty S.

I HOPE I had nothing to do with this Andrew!lol

That's awesome! I can't wait to see your pics buddy! And you know what. I'll bet you are going to be thrilled growing this one, almost as excited as growing your Mango!
They smell so nice and they are so easy to fruit. They are also much more tolerant of pest, drought, and or over watering! Yahoo.lol

At least I can't pick on you for saying "You are never buying another citrus again", like Patty and I.lol

Mike

HEy Mike,
I wouldn't say you TOTALLY influenced me...LMAO! The thing is...I had a Ruby Red years ago but I didn't have the higher quality lighting that I have now, so sadly, I lost it. I have this problem...if I lose a fruit tree, actually any plant, I want to try again.

My other issue is that this was the ONLY 'Star Ruby', that they had available. I wasn't really in the position to buy another but when they told me I could make 2 payments on it, that was all it took to convince me to get it. Also, I love this fruit. Out of all the grapefruits we can get locally here in my area, it's my fav. I just hope I can give it the heat it will need to sweeten the fruits.

Man, I wish you could go to Potratz and see there citrus selections! Now, there almost all gone. They really move fast and it's first come, first serve with them.

I am very thrilled about my 'Maha Chinook' mango tree. It's flushing again Mike, and FYI, not under natural light. I don't have too many areas in my house that get strong enough light but even under lights, it will thrive. Also, this is very important for you to know. The mango will not bloom for us, until it gets some cool nights. For me, they bloom first thing once they go outdoors for the spring, and the fruits will usually ripen outdoors before you have to bring the tree indoors.

I know you told me that you are waiting to see if I am succesfull with getting mine to fruit BUT there are all ready people that live in very similiar climates as ours. I urge you to go to the Tropical fruit forum and check out cherriblossom. She has all ready fruited 1 very small mango tree that she has potted. She lives in PA, close to NYC, so if she can do it, YOU CAN TOO! JUST BUY IT ALL READY! LOL!

Andrew

Andrew,

I have been there (Potratz) :) Erie county is my hometown. I still get back up there once or twice a fall to go steelhead fishing, I don't miss those winters one bit.

I think that after a million or so years of evolution, it is no accident that my body temperature is 98.6!

Andrew!

Ok, ok...........Nothing to do with Citrus, but where do I get the 'Maha Chinook'? Seriously..lol
I am getting one this spring. I already have a Guva one:-0)

I can't wait to see the pics of that start ruby! My little one, and I mean little, is already flowering again.

Josh..You're crazy.lol

Mike

HEy Bamboo,
WOW it truly is a small world huh! I love Potratz. They have carried everything from citrus, to orchids, to mango trees, and pineapples. I get excitted every time I go there.
MY dad is a big fan of fishing for steal head too.

Hey Mike,
I highly recommend Plantogram.com I will warn you though...the Maha Chinook is $99.99...not cheap at all but I will say the fruits are worth every penny! I got the rare chance of trying one the same year I got my tree. My friend Harry from the tropical fruit forum sent me one with an order of sapodilla fruits. That mango just melted in my mouth, and the best part was the seed to flesh ratio. There practically was NO seed! It's almost paper thin.

IF you want to try a good mango(some say excellent, though I have yet to try it..) get a Pickering. There a truly dwarf variety and can be kept potted indefinetly for a very long time. I have seen pics of them in ground that were over 10 years old and they were still only maybe 7ft high! The tree is supposed to be very productive and the fruits are supposed to taste like Pina colada!

Andrew

Andrew,

Not to side track but mango is one thing i do want to try but here in zone 9 it is too cold. My plan is to still have it in the ground but use a dwarf and have a heated dome to put over it on the 1-5 nights a year we have when it gets cold enough to damage it. Would you recommend the Pickering for that?

From everything I have read on the Garden Web's Tropical fruit forum, it is supposed to be a true dwarf mango...there are not too many that are true dwarfs. I have yet to get one myself so I cannot comment on it but I am hoping to get one this summer! Just what I need another tropical fruit tree!
Andrew

Not to side track either..lol

But Andrew, is there a link you could refer me to, so I can see if anyone is having success with getting the actual tree to bear 'fruit' and eat, SWEET FRUIT.

If I am just barely able to get my citrus to fruit and eat, but I do thank goodness, would Mango be even tougher?
I know thay grow well in pots in hotter climates, even as far south as Virginia, I think.
But, if they require sunlight, and I mean STRONG sun like Desert Roses thrive on, then I have no chance at this type of tree. You know we can only get sunburn for 4 months of the year, and our kind of sun is rather 'cheap' in the intensity department.
Heck, even my Fig trees don't get enough LONG days and intense hot sun to fully ripen at times.

Just link me Pal. I would love to read up on this one.
By the way, did you get the Ruby yet? Yum.
Once I feel comfortable about this, I am ordering a Mango for sure!

Mike

I will have to do some research on that first and then let you know Mike. I know of 1 person in PA that had fruit but I never saw her repost about the fruit quality.

Okay, I found Kristi's post on her mango trees. She just bought them and they fruited that same summer! She doesn't update it thought to say if the fruit was sweet or not but I cannot imagine it not being sweet.

Mike, I have desert roses too and I think they may just be more finnicky in regards to heat requirements but then again mine are seedlings.

If you want to wait, my Maha Chinook should be fruiting this season(if all goes well..keeping my fingers crossed!), and I can let you know how the fruits taste. I cannot believe you don't get enough heat for figs to ripen properly! No wonder why you have struggled with plumeria...I feel for ya buddy!

Here is a link that might be useful: Mango link

Andrew, I get some figs that ripen on the roof of my house in full hot sun.

If I don't carry some of them over into November or stick them in my greenhouse, they just stay green.
I do have some that do ripen, but then I have to get going very early, like let's say March in my greenhouse or in a very sunny window.

I have lost so many seedling on the DR, I gave up.

Thanks so much for the info on the Mango. I shall have to look that up when I am home. Somewhere I read that many that have grown Mango this far north in our area have been able to fruit their Mango, but with a very bland taste compared to growing them in the south.

Thanks again buddy and I hope your back is doing ok for you:-)

Getting into Orchids now.lol You should see how many I have blooming Andrew and they are VERY fragrant!
Mike

Did you ever get your tree yet?

HEy Mike...next weekend I will go there...its a 45 minute drive from me and I all ready have my weekend planned out.

Thanks,
Andrew

Hi Andrew... I really think you are going to make me come up to this "Protratz" when i visit Erie again... Ill call you Andrew before i come, so we can go together, then we can blame each other,,,LMAO! Mike..come with us!!! We could have a great time!!!

We arethe "enablers" LMAO...what are good friends for?

Gladto her of your new purchases ANdrew!!! You know i support you in what ever you decide too do!!!

How is the Dane? I keep meaning to ask?

I will look at my schedule and see if we can meet up in Erie for some shopping!!! What do you think? Sounds like fun!!!

Happy Belated Valentines Day to you both!

Katherines hubby will be heading out ..back for his third tour back to the middle east. We are all going down for the sending off of the troops with the 82 Airborne. Im happy and so proud of them both, but nervous becuse he might not be home in time for the new addition : ) Sooo

I guess i will take his place Yikes!!! But i will be fine... Im excited... still cant believe it though!!!

Thanks Mike and ANdrew for all of your support. I really do appreciate all that you do for me and my family!!!

You guys are the best!!!

xoxoxox

Laura

Hi Laura,
OMG that would be awesome. I could only compare meeting you(Mike you too if you made it) in person to meeting a long distance relative. You really have been such an amazing person in my life. I support you Laura because you have shown me nothing but love, kindness, and generosity. You called me to check on me after my surgery. You and Mike sent me a really nice card, after my surgery that was really uplifting and you both have no idea how that meant to me!

Man, I am so sad to here that Katherine's hubby is leaving now but I know this is a familiar fact of life for them both but what terrible timing! Your too young to be a grandma!

The 'Dane' is sort of in limbo, even though I have it under my grow lights. Yesterday I dragged a few of my tropical fruit trees to the shower and I noticed that the 'Dane' did have leaves emerging on it. I am wondering if I should just send it down to you. I think it will grow much better and faster in VB, and considering what we paid for it, it may be a better decision.

Jose just said "I guess were going to go shopping in Erie?" Guess he wants to meet ya too! Darn it Laura, now you have me all to excited about this trip!

Take care and call me when you have free time. I will be home late afternoon today.

Andrew

Aw... You now how much we care for you!

Laura, hey, I think that would be nice if you could watch your grandchild come into this world! Mom did it a few times and boy is she close to her grandchildren.

One hand washes off the other and I can tell you that both YOU and Andrew have been good to me too. Many have and I am ever grateful I even heard of this forum. You know, come to think of it, I forgot how I found this forum.

Shopping with you and Andrew? That could be dangerous. We may have to take Josh along to keep us under control.lol

I too am sad to hear of her husband leaving while at the same time I am happy she has you to lean on. You are a great Mom and friends to us.

Andrew, I hope your back is doing good these days! I'll bet you can't wait to get your new tree, let alone go on a shopping spree.lol

Mike

Well it's here!! We went out today and got it. Man that was a beast to get into the car! The pot was the worst part...I think my back is going to be P O'd at me for a few days....time for some meds and the heating pad but most impotantly....IT WAS WELL WORTH THE PAIN!!

This tree is GORGEOUS! IT has tiny fruits all over it, which will probobly drop...also tiny little clusters of flower buds. I will hopefully be able to post some good pics of it this weekend.

Well, I need to go and rest for a bit.

Andrew