Pros & Con's of FD Rootstock + Bears Lime

9 years ago

Hello, guys I've learned so much about citrus reading this forum and would like to learn more anyways

1.
- What are the pros and cons of a flying dragon root stock?
- I know they keep the tree dwarf size
- I heard that rootstock grows slowly so does that effect the canopy growth

2. Id also like to learn a little more about my bears lime
- heres what i already know john said citrus dont have a due date to bloom so blooming will depend on many factors (Thanks John)
- Their blooms are all white compared to the meyer which has a purplish bottom
-Any information would be glady taken to help me learn more about bear lime's.
-Any differences between the mayor and bears lime? besides the obvious. i would like to know about their natures.

Thanks

Featured Answer

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

9 years ago

Flying Dragon is really the only truly "dwarf" root stock. It will keep the tree very small, and mature more slowly. I would say on the "drastic" side. I don't have anything on FD in my yard, as it is just too dwarfing for me. And, there can be some rootstock/scion incompatiblities over time, with benching and failure, so FD is not used as much as it was a while back. It would not be my choice of container rootstock, either. I would opt for either Cuban Shaddock (what Four Winds uses for most of their citrus), or C35.

Most citrus do have a "due date", as they tend to bloom during the late winter/early spring. Lemons and limes tend to have more than one bloom cycle, and Meyer lemons are so prolific you can have lemons on your tree ripening are various times nearly all year 'round. Bearrs limes tend to ripen all at the same time, as George mentioned, and they don't hang on the tree well like other citrus can - they drop when they get really, really ripe. But, I love my Bearss lime, because they are big, and they are very juicy. LImes in general are the most frost-sensitive citrus cultivar, with Mexican limes being the most sensitive, more so than Bearrs limes (which are actually not 100% limes, but has some lemon in it's genetics). There are some lime "snobs", who will only use Mexican (Key) limes, and diss the Bearrs lime. They are probably the same group of people who also diss the Meyer lemon for not being a "true" lemon. I don't have a lot of time for those people, frankly. Both of these cultivars are excellent cultivars, and very, very dependable.

Meyers are not 100% lemons, and thus are more frost tolerant than, say, a Eureka, Lisbon or Santa Teresa Femminello lemon, since the Meyer has either orange or mandarin in its background. The other really great quality that the Meyer has from it's orange/mandarin background is the fact that it is much juicier than true lemons, almost twice the amount of juice, in fact. I love that about the Meyer lemon. All lemons tend to have a purplish cast to their flowers, especially when in the bud state, and their new leaf growth will also have a purplish tinge. Other citrus have white flowers and regular paler green new flush. This is sort of a trademark feature of lemons, compared to other citrus cultivars. I love my Meyer lemon tree, we just grilled swordfish tonight, in fact, covered in 1/4 slices of Meyer lemons and capers, which get sweet on the grill, it gives the fish an absolutely delicious, lemony flavor, and stay very juicy. And, I'm having a tall glass of homemade Meyer lemonade as I type. I have Meyer lemonade nearly year 'round in my refrigerator, and we get family calling us prior to our annual 4th of July party every year, checking to make sure we'll have our homemade Meyer lemonade on ice. Family love it, and we send home sacks of Meyer lemons to them as well.

Patty S.

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Comments (6)

uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)
9 years ago
Well, i have rather limited experience with FD and its only in-the-ground.

I am planning to pull my Cara Cara on FD and pot it. It has been in the ground for 2 1/2 years. I wanted a small-ish tree to 6 ft. but its extremely slow growth (on well-drained and heavily fertilized clay) has been agonizing. I will assume that the growth rate is more acceptable for pots.... and decent soil.
Pro- assumed good for pots / Con- very slow growth rate.
Comment: with all the bugs and other critters attacking my citrus, i need growth!

As far as my Bearss Limes... they are freeze sensitive and the fruit is harvest-able beginning in August, but really does not ripen until late November.... and all at once. Absolutely delicious though.

With proper cold protection and heat/sun, you can get Meyers to bloom more often and produce multiple crops per year. Do protect them from freezes... they are just a bit more tolerant than the Bearss... but not much.

- George
MileHighGardener
Original Author
9 years ago
I was quite surprised when i found out FD rootstocks slows down the scions growth. Does the growth drastically slow down or just by a bit. Do bears lime fruit all year like the meyer lemon? Also thanks for the info Gerorge.
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MileHighGardener
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the very informative information Patty! i totally appreciate it.

So should i be upset that my bears lime is grafted onto a FD rootstock? Does it make it a inferior tree now?

Also any other exclusive genetic/physical traits(features) between the Meyer Lemon and Bears Lime?

You would be surprised at the genetics these citrus share in their DNA all closely related how cool! i do believe the Meyer is a hybrid related to the orange.

Great story Patty, there not even my trees but boy am i thrilled about hearing how your trees produce i don't have a Meyer lemon tree but it sure does sound like a great cultivator. I am glad the Meyer was saved from disease back in the 1950s i think? When it was artificially selected and then became the " Improved Meyer".

Thanks Again
tcamp30144(7B N.ATLANTA)
9 years ago
This might help.
Trace

Here is a link that might be useful: rootstock information

This post was edited by Tcamp30144 on Fri, Oct 31, 14 at 1:52
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
9 years ago
No, MileHigh, not necessarily inferior. It will just always be a smaller tree, much slower growing, and possibly produce less fruit due to beling smaller and growing more slowly. I would watch for graft issues such as benching at about year 5 or 6, or signs of graft failure.

Other genetic trait differences between Bearss and Meyer besides the fact that they are two completely separate cultivars? I think really the comparisons should really be made between Bearss and other limes, and Meyers and other lemons, not between the two cultivars. Kind of like comparing an orange and a grapefruit - they are different, very different.

And, gave you those comparisons and differences. Bearss, due to having some lemon in its background, is less frost-sensitive than the Mexican (Key) lime. It is larger and more juicy, but those that are "lime snobs" will claim it is less "limey" and inferior to the Mexican lime, which I dispute.

Same with the Meyer - more frost-tolerant due to having either orange or mandarin in its background (researchers are not sure which), the fruit itself has thinner skin, less bitter skin, and will often be round (shape can vary on the tree, from round like an orange, to being pointed like a true lemon), has a more orangish yellow cast, and is jucier. Meyer lemons also are not quite as sour as true lemons, and it also has a bit of a piney flavor, more pronounced if overripe. Lemon snobs will diss the Meyer by saying it does not have a really true "lemony" taste, and some folks really do not like the piney note. The only thing I will say I like in a true lemon, over a Meyer, is the peel for cooking or baking. If I need lemon zest, I prefer to use a true lemon for my lemon zest.

And yes, I am very glad the original owner of Four Winds Citrus was able to develop the Improved Meyer lemon. It is a wonderful cultivar, definitely has its place in the citrus cultivar lineup. I love cooking with it, love the lemonade, and really love my limoncello I make from my Meyer lemons.

Patty S.

Pros & Con's of FD Rootstock + Bears Lime

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

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uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)

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Pros & Con's of FD Rootstock + Bears Lime

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

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uncle molewacker z9b Danville CA (E.SF Bay)

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tcamp30144(7B N.ATLANTA)

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

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