Non grafted citrus from nursery?
I am getting spoiled by success! Thanks to the amazing folk on this forum, my citrus is blooming and fruiting and looking so much happier! I can't believe I was asking advice about chopping down and removing my trees on this past February!
However, now I am getting greedy, and wondering why my navel orange is not showing the same signs of being fed at last! I tried to find a graft line to make sure i hadn't in past years let the rootstock grow instead of the graftee and can't see one! Following the discussions on this board makes me wonder if I have a non-grafted citrus, in which case I might be looking at a tree too young too flower? Is it likely a large wholesale nursery (this was bought and planted by a landscaping company that graded our yard for us) would have a non-grafted plant? Aren't they more expensive in terms of man hours to grow to maturity? (It is about 7-8 feet tall, about 4 feet around, and 4 years in the ground in my yard.)
Meanwhile here is my busy, hardworking Meyer lemon. ( I know y'all will tell me to thin out the flowers, but I am so happy to see blooms at last!) This one is about 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and has been in the ground in my yard for about 3 years).
KC
Comments (8)
Related Discussions
Can I graft a citrus tree now?
Comments (3)You can T bud them if the bark is slipping on your tree. I've only T budded, no grafting. If your tree is actively growing the bark should be slipping. However, this early in the yr you might not have good new-season budwood on the three scion donars. You might be able to use last yrs wood as budwood. Give it a try. If you fail you can try again later. The Fruitnut...See MoreThis bark graft from Wilson Nursery,..not very good.
Comments (16)Right, tony. I do feel as though 'shaving' a bit off each lateral surface of that long sloping 'back-cut' exposes more cambium for potential contact & callusing. Did a number of oaks & mulberries with that simple bark graft yesterday. Apples/pears - you can almost just throw the scions at the rootstock, or get them in the same room together, and you're virtually assured of success. I use a modification of that technique for most of the nut trees I graft(mostly pecans/hickories), especially when grafting relatively small-caliper scions onto rootstocks 2-4X their diameter - but instead of completely beheading the rootstock, I just cut about 3/4 of the way through, and break the top over, leaving it attached as a 'sap-drawer', then place my simple bark graft. Once the scion is pushing growth, I'll come back and snip off the 'hanging top' of the rootstock....See MoreNon-grafted trees by mail order
Comments (3)Gardner, I know you're trying to be helpful, but Logees is the worse place to buy citrus trees..and I used to be a big customer of Logees. About 4 yrs ago I ordered a variegated lemon and they sent me this half-dead 2" cutting..I was furious. They also sent some other tropicals I wasn't too happy with. One place you can try is Parks Seeds and Plants. Someone I talk to just ordered from them and received a nice size plant..the only problem is I don't know if it's grafted or not, so you'd have to write them. Toni...See MoreWhat's your opinion of this citrus graft?
Comments (2)Opinions are subjective; they are not necessarily truths. In my nursery (Meyer lemons on Macrophylla rootstock), we would prune off the top of the rootstock as soon as the bud/scion begins to sprout. Other growers like to leave the rootstock and the scion to grow side by side and only cut the rootstock near the time they are going to sell the tree. You are right in your assumption that the rootstock has been recently pruned away. In a couple of years you may not see any difference. IMHO what you have is not grounds for replacement; but it is good to know the seller is willing to replace it if you are unhappy....See Morekcandmilo
6 years agokcandmilo
6 years agoEvan, thank you! As always, I learn so much from you!
Here is a picture of the trunk, just in case y'all see something I missed.
The bits cut off at the ground at the very base were a blackberry vine that somehow grew in there. I didn't know what else to do but cut them off at the base and hope it would go away :)
evdesert 9B Indio, CA
6 years agoKC no problem, that's why we're here so we can learn from each other. Can you dig down below the mulch it looks like your graft could be just below the surface, not sure though. Here's the area I'm talking about that looks like it could be a graft line.
Evan
kcandmilo thanked evdesert 9B Indio, CAkcandmilo
6 years ago
devsense