Thanks for the info Barath! The more information we can gather the better we can advance our hobby to the next level. So far there has been a couple people that seem to have positive results with double rootstock avocados but i’m as interested in the failures as I am with the successes. Has anyone done a double rootstock avocado that has died or perhaps one of the seedlings died?

If Double rootstock Avocado are truely more dwarf or shorter in stature, more disease resistant(Phytopthora) , more precocious or less prone to alternate bearing, this can be game changing. Even if just one of these variables is achievable, that is an advancement we can be proud of.

Simon

Behl, that could be one of the factors affecting the growth. We have noticed that vigorous varieties such as Valencia Pride, Lemon Zest, Sweet Tart and several others seem to grow more vigorously here in SoCal but the droopy growth habit remains on many of these varieties.

The Florida Turpentine rootstocks can grow ok as Frank mentioned, if you take special care to ensure the pH of the soil is slightly acidic but this is hard to do in many parts of SoCal where soil pH is generally above 7. With a pH this high, many of the micronutrients are locked and require pH lowering amendments or a heavy layer of mulch which encourages microbial life. The waste, excrement, byproducts, exudates of the microbial life affect the Cation exchange capacity and Anion exchange capacity which allows the trees to uptake more nutrients from the soil.

If one were to utilize soil, water, leaf samples such as what would occur on a large scale agricultural setting, there would probably not be any issues using Florida rootstock. There are tensionometers that can be utilized to tell you when and how much to water and many other technologies that can be utilized to succeed with growing Mango here in SoCal but I’m more focused on helping the average backyard hobbyist gardener succeed with growing Mango here.

The cost and complexity in regards to the above mentioned techniques is enough to scare new would be Mango growers away from this hobby and I have been bringing up the potential issues regarding Florida rootstock trees ( when grown in SoCal) so that others can avoid all the problems that may arise from selecting the less than ideal rootstock.

So far from my observations and back yard experiments, Mango seedlings are the best way to grow Mango trees. Mango seedlings grow with vigor, are much less droopy, do not have issues with pre mature lignification of thin branches and will not be stunted from flowering because they are not grafted with mature scion wood.

Simon

It should work but it won’t have as much genetic diversity. I like to use one polyembryonic and one Monoembryonic variety.

Also be aware that Lavern may be selling Turpentine rootstock Mango trees soon. I was notified by a friend that visited the nursery.

Simon

Thanks for sharing the video. The technique looks very simple.

Simon

I’ll take 3 perforated and one non perforated. Thanks Behl!

Simon

You might also want to consider painting the trunk to prevent sunburn since there isn’t much Foliage on your tree.

Simon

Eric, my seed grown Mango trees are the healthiest Mango trees I have. The seedlings show no signs of gummosis or die back and there is hardly any need for staking unless I over fertilize and push growth too hard.

One very important thing to note is that I received word that Lavern Nursery has recently begun receiving shipments of Turpentine rootstock. I’m not sure if they will be sold with a new tag or if they will continue to sell those as Manilla? It would be great if anyone here with connections to Lavern Nursery can confirm or deny this bit of info.

I must reiterate that not all Turpentine rootstocks perform poorly here. Seedling Turpentine rootstocks grow fine for Leo Manuel and I have been experimenting with them since last year and they grow similar to other random seedlings I’ve planted.

Simon

You’re in Florida so your situation is different than mine but I remove the entire panicle plus the base of the stem where the panicle attaches to the branch because the base where the panicle attaches to the stem often becomes dried, calloused and a source for fungal growth.

I’m not sure if flower inducing weather( Cold) has passed Your part of Florida but if it has, you can prune off the panicle now. The amount of cold weather and other triggers to flowering such as age of previous flush is variety specific but a good way to know if flowering is over in your area is to observe trees around the neighborhood or in your own yard. If the majority of mango trees around your area is pushing new vegetative growth, blooming is probably over so it’s safe to remove the panicle without much worry of another re blooming unless a cold front is in the forecast.

Here’s more about mango flowering: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1677-04202007000400007&script=sci_arttext

And pruning mango: http://www.growables.org/information/documents/MangoPruningStrategies.pdf

Simon

Monsters deliciosa has large leaves

Simon

It’s a slow grower in my yard and the flavor is mild compared to the other newer Zill varieties. I would rather plant Sweet Tart, Lemon Zest, Piña Colada, Peach Cobbler, etc...

Simon

Sam, please keep us updated on your tree. The graft looks great and the additional rootstock looks like it’s grown so much. Hopefully production will pick up once your tree gets a little larger.

Socal10b, can’t wait to see the update.

Vernmented, are your double rootstock trees all seedling trees? Let’s see some pictures!

Simon

Hey Xue, do you have any trees for sale?

Simon