Madison Citrus Nursery - the best trees I have ever ordered!

[tigachu]

Hi everyone, I went back and forth with different nurseries to purchase my 3 gallon Shiranui tree from and decided to go with Madison after searching this forum and I am so happy I did. I was a bit apprehensive initially because the shipping was more expensive than I am used to but I placed my order on June 17th and received my tree on June 21st! That is the fastest shipping I've seen so far. the tree is so green and healthy with lots of new growth! I also purchased their soil mix and potted it up in a 16.5 inch terracotta pot.

[Travillion]

Congratulations on a new, healthy tree! I've never ordered from them because I'm in a restricted state, but I've only heard good things about them. I wish I could replicate their potting mix. Last time I looked, it was over $70 just to ship. I can't justify that for all my trees.

[tigachu]

Thank you! Their mix seems quite fluffy and isn't loaded with perlite.

Congratulations on a new, healthy tree! I've never ordered from them because I'm in a restricted state, but I've only heard good things about them. I wish I could replicate their potting mix. Last time I looked, it was over $70 just to ship. I can't justify that for all my trees.

[Millet]

About a year ago I ordered a red grapefruit tree from Madison Nursery.  It was the best citrus tree I have ever received, and I have ordered over 20 different citrus trees from various other on line nurseries.

[tigachu]

I remember reading one of your reviews of their nursery - it helped with my decision my new tree is health with lush green foliage. I just need to keep it alive in my grow tent this winter, ha!

About a year ago I ordered a pink grapefruit tree from Madison Nursery.  It was the best citrus tree I have ever received, and I have ordered over 20 different citrus trees from various other on line nurseries.

[brian]

I agree, they have great trees and an amazing variety of cultivars, they put the other mail order nurseries to shame.

[Vlad]

They are my go to nursery. All trees I have gotten for them were much better than trees from other nurseries (Including Four Winds) and prices are very reasonable.

[nofspeppers]

Just wanted to add that I ordered from them last year. The trees were larger than expected with well established roots. They were top notch in every way, and the trees I have from them are still going strong. Highly recommend them!

[brian]

I am disappointed in the Fourwinds rootstock, it seems overly vigorous and I have lost a lot of trees that were well cared for to unknown reasons, while my trees on trifoliate seem consistently healthier.

But, some years ago Fourwinds was the best mail order option around

[tigachu]

If my NZ Lemonade from four Winds doesn't make it, I am going to order a new one from Madison, for sure. I just wish Madison also had the Yosemite Gold in stock too. I'm hoping to score a few cold hardy trees from Mckenzie Farm this fall that I can plant outside - I'll close to running out of room in my grow tent for this coming winter 

[sc4001992]

Brain, what is wrong with the Four Winds rootstock?

I had purchased many trees from them in the past and didn't seem to have any problems with their trees. Isn't is good to have rootstock that is vigorous?

[CarolinaZone]

If my NZ Lemonade from four Winds doesn't make it, I am going to order a new one from Madison, for sure. I just wish Madison also had the Yosemite Gold in stock too. I'm hoping to score a few cold hardy trees from Mckenzie Farm this fall that I can plant outside - I'll close to running out of room in my grow tent for this coming winter 

I have bought from McKenzie. I am not saying do not buy from McKenzie. I don't know hat he has at this point that you can't get online.

[bussone]

If my NZ Lemonade from four Winds doesn't make it, I am going to order a new one from Madison, for sure. I just wish Madison also had the Yosemite Gold in stock too. I'm hoping to score a few cold hardy trees from Mckenzie Farm this fall that I can plant outside - I'll close to running out of room in my grow tent for this coming winter 

I have bought from McKenzie. I am not saying do not buy from McKenzie. I don't know hat he has at this point that you can't get online.

He's got Prague and Morton and almost always has Thomasville available.

His Thomasvilles are cheaper than Madison's.

[tigachu]

If my NZ Lemonade from four Winds doesn't make it, I am going to order a new one from Madison, for sure. I just wish Madison also had the Yosemite Gold in stock too. I'm hoping to score a few cold hardy trees from Mckenzie Farm this fall that I can plant outside - I'll close to running out of room in my grow tent for this coming winter 

I have bought from McKenzie. I am not saying do not buy from McKenzie. I don't know hat he has at this point that you can't get online.

He's got Prague and Morton and almost always has Thomasville available.


I emailed him a couple weeks ago to inquire about the Prague and he told me that he may have some for the fall. I hope he does - I want to try planting it outside to see if it survives our Virginia 7a weather
His Thomasvilles are cheaper than Madison's.

[brian]

Brain, what is wrong with the Four Winds rootstock?

I had purchased many trees from them in the past and didn't seem to have any problems with their trees. Isn't is good to have rootstock that is vigorous? 

In my eyes there are two problems.  The first is that many of my trees from them seem to randomly die for no obvious reason, but this could be entirely bad luck... and the ones that died were all in containers.  It does seem to me that this happens to FourWinds trees much more often than my other trees.  I once read a report that for whatever reason the cuban shaddock rootstock shows decline after ~10yrs which is probably about right for my fourwinds trees.

The second problem, being overly vigorous, I think is very much a bad thing.  My in-ground grapefruit and orange trees would  put out massive (yet fragile) new growth.  To keep them from taking over my greenhouse I had to aggressively prune multiple times per year which significantly reduced fruit set.  At first it was good in that I got a huge crop before I had to start pruning, but every year after it was a negative.  I understand that on flying dragon rootstock you may never have to prune and they remain quite productive at a short size.  A commercial grower might prefer a big vigorous tree but for a hobbyist like me I can only eat & give away so many fruit at once before the excess becomes wasted.

[caladri]

Brain, what is wrong with the Four Winds rootstock?

I had purchased many trees from them in the past and didn't seem to have any problems with their trees. Isn't is good to have rootstock that is vigorous? 

In my eyes there are two problems.  The first is that many of my trees from them seem to randomly die for no obvious reason, but this could be entirely bad luck... and the ones that died were all in containers.  It does seem to me that this happens to FourWinds trees much more often than my other trees.  I once read a report that for whatever reason the cuban shaddock rootstock shows decline after ~10yrs which is probably about right for my fourwinds trees.

The second problem, being overly vigorous, I think is very much a bad thing.  My in-ground grapefruit and orange trees would  put out massive (yet fragile) new growth.  To keep them from taking over my greenhouse I had to aggressively prune multiple times per year which significantly reduced fruit set.  At first it was good in that I got a huge crop before I had to start pruning, but every year after it was a negative.  I understand that on flying dragon rootstock you may never have to prune and they remain quite productive at a short size.  A commercial grower might prefer a big vigorous tree but for a hobbyist like me I can only eat & give away so many fruit at once before the excess becomes wasted.

Maybe a commercial growers of landscape trees, but the agricultural industry overwhelmingly prefers short and not too spreading (but also not too densely compact) trees to ease harvesting, and increase planting density.

(I like vigorous growers for making the most of my weak and short growing season, but I concede that that's uncommon among citrus growers.)

[poncirsguy]

I need vigorous trees for my short season.

[Dr Bob]

Has anyone had the chance to purchase Bud wood from Madison Citrus? I have a few smaller trees but due to space have been thinking of grafting several varieties on 2-3 trees. I haven’t grafted before, and also didn’t know about the quality of budwood there. Looked s good deal, though!

[Millet]

Dr. Bob, I have purchased trees from Madison Nursery, but I have not purchased bud wood from them.  Welcome to the forum.

[Dr Bob]

Thank you! Not trying to hijack this thread, figured I would ask if anyone has experience with them. Very glad to hear the quality of their trees are great, have looked at several in the last year but haven’t pulled the trigger.

[brian]

I have not tried budwood either, only trees. 

Because they seem to take great care of their trees, it suggests their budwood would be good quality also.

[Nick C]

Has anyone had the chance to purchase Bud wood from Madison Citrus? I have a few smaller trees but due to space have been thinking of grafting several varieties on 2-3 trees. I haven’t grafted before, and also didn’t know about the quality of budwood there. Looked s good deal, though!

definitely a good deal, ordered a bunch of budwood from them last month. I've grafted a ton of different trees but still struggle with citrus for some reason. Experimented with some bud grafts this time.

[bussone]

If my NZ Lemonade from four Winds doesn't make it, I am going to order a new one from Madison, for sure. I just wish Madison also had the Yosemite Gold in stock too. I'm hoping to score a few cold hardy trees from Mckenzie Farm this fall that I can plant outside - I'll close to running out of room in my grow tent for this coming winter 

I have bought from McKenzie. I am not saying do not buy from McKenzie. I don't know hat he has at this point that you can't get online.

He's got Prague and Morton and almost always has Thomasville available.


I emailed him a couple weeks ago to inquire about the Prague and he told me that he may have some for the fall. I hope he does - I want to try planting it outside to see if it survives our Virginia 7a weather
His Thomasvilles are cheaper than Madison's.

Stan has Pragues available again.

[a_Vivaldi]

Not sure since when, but Madison now has a "Erem x Shek" cross available. Anyone have any idea what that tree is like? I'm guessing this is a new cross.

https://madisoncitrusnursery.com/products/erem-x-shek-citrus-tree-for-sale

[Millet]

The tree is a cross between an Australian Desert Lime and a Shekwasha.