Rootstock Request, Blueberry Pruning and Baa Baa Bark Sheep
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Tangelo tango: Move it or lose it?
I’m biting the bullet on citrus. I’ve got a rescued Minneola tangelo, faded label, in the ground about three years and not very happy with its situation and my neglect. The rootstock is helpfully shooting, so I can ask you what rootstock it’s on, then, using your excellent advice, decide on whether I want to relocate it, or start again.
Gregg M, Strathfieldsaye, Vic
The rootstock is Poncirus trifoliata. Trifoliata means three-lobed leaf and I can see the distinctive leaf shape in your images. The leaves are turning orange because this rootstock is semi-deciduous. “Flying Dragon” is a dwarf variant of trifoliata, and it has curved thorns. I’m pretty sure you have the standard trifoliata, as the thorns are straight. That’s good news because I normally recommend that rootstock. It’s the most tolerant of cold, poor soil and poor drainage. “Flying Dragon” tolerates all those things too, but it is incredibly slow to grow: the trees do stay very small but they produce very few fruit. Citrus is the one tree for which I don’t advocate using dwarf rootstock!
I’d wait until tomato planting time to lift and transplant the tree. It will cope with the transition better at that time of year. If you need it out of its current position sooner, then it might be worth keeping it in a pot in the greenhouse until November. Or if you aren’t that wedded to it, then just go ahead and complete the move now. It will probably survive, but waiting until tomato time will give it the best chance of surviving.
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Blueberry snipping suggestions
Could you please advise when and how to prune my blueberries.
Carin G, Malvern, Vic