Where to get Flying Dragon rootstock

[tve]

Over the past years I've been grafting mostly onto C-35 in order to get sizeable trees for my home orchard. I now want to experiment a bit with potted citrus and it looks like FD is the best choice. Now the question: where do I get FD to graft onto? Do I have to order seeds from somewhere and wait 'til next year or does someone know of a source for graftable trees at a reasonable price. I live in CA, so shipping is an issue.

[SoCal2warm]

Ultra dwarf citrus is likely to be grafted onto FD rootstock.

There's also the California Citrus Clonal Protection Program, which you can order graftwood from. Then you would have to try to root it. (Hopefully doing your research first so you don't waste your time and money)

You can also order seed for rootstock here, but they are mostly wholesale and do not sell in smaller quantities:
http://www.citrustreesource.com/Products/Seed.aspx

Since you are in California, it's more difficult and expensive for small businesses to operate because of all the regulations, so that's one of the reasons you are not going to find lower prices (in case you were wondering and wanted my opinion).


I actually found Flying Dragon for sale at the local nursery, but in WA state.

[tve]

Thanks for the info. My success rate at rooting C-35 hasn't been all that high (I don't have a knack for that, evidently) so I'm not sure I want to try rooting FD budsticks from the CCPP... I also recall reading that rootstock from cuttings makes for weaker plants than from seeds, but maybe that's nonsense.

[tve]

Something I'm wondering, how long does it take at minimum from planting FD seeds to having a graftable rootstock plant? If I germinate the seeds asap can I hope to graft next spring?

[Laaz]

Usually 2 years for trifoliata & flying dragon. Same year or the following for swingle.

[mrtexas]

Your best bet is to ask for seeds in the fall. Here near Houston flying dragon is
ready Sept 1. Can be stored but needs to be dried, dusted with fungicide, and stored in the
refrigerator. I wouldn't trust typical sellers to store correctly.

You could get bud wood and graft to rootstock. In my experience that didn't speed up
fruiting when I did it flying dragon on seedling flying dragon.

[tve]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like it's gonna be a couple of years before I get to graft onto FD 
I ordered 20 seeds, I'll see how that turns out. Worst case I'm out $12...

[mrtexas]

Usually 2 years for trifoliata & flying dragon. Same year or the following for swingle.

Have you heard of or grow tiny dragon?

[Laaz]

Never heard of it.

[Laaz]

Just did a search, looks pretty cool but pretty much only good for a ornamental. I've gotten rid of most of my trifoliata trees except for my fast flowering & a variegated flying dragon.

[Millet]

TVE, note that approximately only 50 percent of Flying Dragon seedlings are true from seed.  You will have to cull the non true varieties out.

[tve]

TVE, note that approximately only 50 percent of Flying Dragon seedlings are true from seed.  You will have to cull the non true varieties out.

Thanks for the reminder! I was just reading in an old citrus grower forum thread from Malcolm_Manners:

"FD is notorious for making lots of variant seedlings. I heard a good paper on the subject at the International Society for Citriculture's conference in Orlando, years ago, at which the guy recommended using only the zigzagged stem, curved-thorns types, and discarding the rest, if you wanted the typical dwarfing that FD gives." http://citrusgrowersstatic.chez.com/web/viewtopica4e2.php