In Spain Macrophylla is used very frequently for retail nursery citrus plants.

Because they apply the following reasoning:

Retail nurseries=gardening people=ornamental plants

Macrophylla gives vigorous plants with green leafs, abundant crop and big fruits, but of poor quality. Nice plants but not good fruit.

However, in Spain the most used rootstock for commercial plants is Citrange Carrizo, not Macrophylla (except for lemons), there must be a reason...

If you want high quality fruits, graft onto C35.

"Can be thorny and moderately seedy". Those really arent qualities I would want in a mandarin. Is the flavor just out of this world?

The flavor is outstanding, one of the best mandarins out there. It is seedless. Odd that it would say "moderately seedy". I would contact W&N to make sure it is indeed, on Macrophylla, and if so, ask them why they chose that rootstock. That would be an odd choice by W&N, as most of their sweet citrus trees are on Carrizo/Troyer, or C35. Axier, the same here in California, regarding choice of sweet citrus rootstocks. C35 is swiftly overtaking Carrizo/Troyer in popularity. There may be a minimal difference in taste quality, I wouldn't get too worried about it. Wait until if fruits, and then decide how the fruit tastes to you.

Patty S.

Thanks for clearing that up patty. So is this not available for retail customers? Just commercial.

side note, I picked up 6 pounds of "Halos" for $4 yesterday. I really wish I knew which variety mandarin these are. Sure are tasty!

mike

I have two 88-2. They have almost no seeds, average 2 seeds total in 5-6 fruits - about the same as Tango. That qualifies as "seedless" by definition. They are good tasting but these trees were bought as #5 trees last year so I expect it to take another year or two to develop better taste.

After re-reading mksmith last post I thought I would add:

Halos and Cuties, produced by two former partners in Cuties, are the same fruit. They are both different Mandarins at different times of the year that are all very similar. As good as they are for commercial Mandarins, even my 1 year old 88-2 are better. Home grown is just so much better, even marginal home grown.

Maybe this is Steve's mysterious 'Sweet Lee'.

Could be, Dave. It was one of the best mandarins I tasted at the UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection tour a couple of years ago.

Patty S.

Thanks greg. Ya i know they are different types at different times. Just wish I knew which one I happen to be eating because I would add it to my collection.

mike

If you bought an 88-2 from WAN, it should match the two I bought from them last year. They were originally propagated by Monterey Bay Nursery.

I'm wondering about the reference to "received as budwood in 1968 from USDCS Indio" when 88-2 was developed in FL and released in 1988. Does that add up as possible? Also the description of "thorny" when mine are the opposite. Also the pebbly skin when mine are as smooth as a typical clementine.

Regardless, I needed stuff at Costco anyway, so I now have the only 88-2 that was in Costco Montclair. I also have the only Ortanique Tangor that they had as I'm really liking the one I have, which only produced 5 fruit last year.

Amazingly, they have lots of Gold Nugget and Kishu Mini. I guess we should figure out if there is an issue with rootstock. Everything I've ever heard about W&N has been extremely positive so I expect their trees to work out well.

Looks like a lot of citrus propagators like Monterey Bay Nursery are on hiatus because of citrus greening I'm guessing.

That line about budwood sourcing doesn't make sense to me either.

You went to Costo this morning in Montclair? And it sounds like you're planning to give this combination a try?

I too was surprised to see a lot of Gold Nuggets and SL Kishus as well, as W&N had given me the indication that it was going to be difficult to find these trees in Costco lol. Of course, I had to add another one of each when I saw them last month!

Ben,
I don't want to pretend to know anything about root stocks. I am just guessing that W&N knows what they are doing.

I went to my Costco after you said your Costco had them but before any discussion about root stocks. My Costco is 1 mile from me and the trees are $20. I needed some stuff anyway. Small risk vs reward if it works out. Compared to 130 miles to WAN in Poway, its about free. I just won't plant them until I get more information. I bought two other varieties from the same Costco a couple weeks ago but they must have received another batch.

I'm probably not planting anything in the grove until fall as I need to do it all at once and use a backhoe. I have 32 in permanent pots and about 27 in nursery containers. 7 mature trees in the grove. I've planted 5 in espaliers along the wall in between my house and the neighbor in a 10' side yard. Most of the ones in permanent pots may stay in them or get given to friends as the others get bigger and make enough fruit.

I certainly hope it may be the 88-2. It looks like what I bought and the article I saw about the Sweetlee said it was and earlier ripening version of lee.

Steve

Always appreciate your insight johnmerr; thank you! I will wonder at times, "What if this tree is labeled incorrectly?" Since I typically buy smaller trees, I won't know until it's way too late lol!

Greg, let us know if you do get more information about this tree. On another note, do you have any photos of what you're cookin' in your yard? :)

Concur with johnmerr's comments. Besides the known issues with fruit quality, which are very noticeable in sweet citrus, the rootstock is also very susceptible to tristeza and xyloporosis viroid as well as cold damage.

Overseas it is often only used in rapid multiplication of new cultivars for budwood because of its vigorous growth.

Thanks bounty! The case has become stronger for me to probably return this tree.

Greg, since it appears you're looking to hold onto it, you'll have to let us know what your findings are in the future.

If anyone is interested, as of Monday evening, there was still one left at the Costco in Rancho Cucamonga!

I checked the one I bought and it has blue paint so Macrophylla according to the chart. I guess i will look for further info. I might not commit space in my grove until I get some additional positive info. I can always pot it until it proves its taste.