The Tropical Fruit Forum

Flying Dragon start growth later than the standard trifoliata. I have a
Rubidoux in my back yard that is almost in full bloom. The FD is just not starting to show signs of bud break.

The banked trees are quite large today and still producing. I moved several in 1993 when we moved to Lumberton TX. Have not lost a single tree.

I use a grass fertilizer, 15-5-10 with the trace elements. I t has worked very well for me.

Do not know why anyone grows calamondin when they could grow Kishu.

I think the grower is growing these from rooted cuttings.

There is another very small mandarin, Kishu, that is a great one. Have never seen a person that did not like it.

This is good information, I have XIE  Shan in my yard. It is one of the best satsumas. Did not now it be the other name until now.

One thing that was learned from Fletcher Granberry in 1969 was to do the fall budding in the fall after the daytime temp had dropped below 85 degrees F. The first good rain after labor day. Met him in 1969 and he died in 1973. He wrapped his buds with cotten string and coated the bud with warm wax. He banked the bud with good sandy soil Thanksgiving, uncovered the bud Good Friday and topped the plant about an inch above the bud. The plants were sold in early November for $1.00 each. The complete row  was sold and had to dug and gone from his place by November 10th. If the plants froze they would freeze on the buyer and not the grower. He sold very nice field grown plants.

The Rich 16-6 is slower growing than the Rubidoux, several Louisiana growers are going to Rich16-6 and Flying dragon for orchard trees.  As most of the citranges get older they tend to bench and decline, plus on Flying dragon they plant more trees to the acre and do not have to harvest fruit of of a ladder. One grower I personally know had a worker fall of a ladder a couple years ago so he is going with the smaller trees.

I like to let the trees branch 24 tp 30 inches from the soil so the fruit is not touching the ground.

I wonder if the Gold Nugget is being marketed under another name to prevent paying the royalty?

The Brown Select is a satsuma that was from the LSU  center center at Port Sulphur Lousiana. It was a selection of Dr. Ralph Brown. It is no longer in operation. The Louisiana Early and Early St Anne were also his selections. Star farm, Belle Chase Louisiana had obtained budwood of these cultivars and had them budded and banked with soil during one of the severe freezes. The citrus center lost their trees. We have Star Farm  to thank for these still being around today. The Brown Select was named after Dr. Ralph Brown. He was the superintendent of the Louisiana citrus center for over 30 years.

How may flying dragon seed do you want?  Call me at 409 755 3546
Take Care,
Bonnie C