Author Topic: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County  (Read 805 times)

greg_D

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Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« on: December 29, 2024, 05:31:14 PM »
Hi everyone!

I'm looking to make a multi-variety tree. It would be in-ground. I think I would ultimately want it to have Meyer lemon, Valencia orange, New Zealand Lemonade, and a number of Asian citrus varieties (yuzu, kishu, etc).

I've been looking at published reports about rootstock performance but would also really appreciate any insight from members here about which rootstock might be a good choice.

I live in Los Angeles County (summer days can sometimes hit 100+ F, freezes are unheard of). Having a long-lived tree is important to me (for example, I don't want to have to inarch yuzu or something like Japanese growers have to once their plants start to decline on trifoliate).

Does anyone have any suggestions? Or are there any rootstocks I should avoid?
« Last Edit: December 29, 2024, 05:36:41 PM by greg_D »

Millet

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2025, 02:09:57 PM »
Depends of the type of soil the tree will be planted in. Is your soil clay, loam, sandy loam or sandy soil?
« Last Edit: January 02, 2025, 10:15:53 AM by Millet »

greg_D

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2025, 06:20:58 PM »
Depends of the type of soil the tree will be planted in. Is your clay, loam, sandy loam or sandy soil?

Thank you for the reply. In most places it seems to have a lot of clay, and in a few places it's sandy. I would assume it's going to be a decent amount of clay.

jbirdfunk

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2025, 11:06:33 PM »
The basic one that comes to mind that I think is compatible with all those is C-35. I've been happy with trees on it here in San Diego.

Millet

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2025, 10:23:48 AM »
I agree with jbirdfunk concerning C-35.   Sour Orange would also be a good root stock for your soil type.

greg_D

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2025, 12:53:27 AM »
The basic one that comes to mind that I think is compatible with all those is C-35. I've been happy with trees on it here in San Diego.

I agree with jbirdfunk concerning C-35.   Sour Orange would also be a good root stock for your soil type.

Thank you! I'm doing the 'jar test' to verify soil composition and also will test my soil pH.

Considering that I'm planning to make a multi-variety tree, would it make sense to leave the leader intact and just graft the branches?

greg_D

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2025, 01:25:05 PM »
An unexpected update: our soil is actually very sandy. I did the 'jar test' with soil from roughly 6 inches down, and it came out roughly 2 parts sand to 1 part silt, with a small amount of clay. I then did the 'jar test' again with deeper soil, wondering if the decades of lawns had somehow amended the soil, and found that the deeper soil is even more sandy (roughly 3 parts sand to 1 part silt, negligible clay).

Going to test pH and nutrients soon.





« Last Edit: January 05, 2025, 01:32:32 PM by greg_D »

bussone

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2025, 10:14:44 PM »
An unexpected update: our soil is actually very sandy. I did the 'jar test' with soil from roughly 6 inches down, and it came out roughly 2 parts sand to 1 part silt, with a small amount of clay. I then did the 'jar test' again with deeper soil, wondering if the decades of lawns had somehow amended the soil, and found that the deeper soil is even more sandy (roughly 3 parts sand to 1 part silt, negligible clay).

Going to test pH and nutrients soon.






You live on a beach, greg!

greg_D

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2025, 10:55:09 PM »
An unexpected update: our soil is actually very sandy. I did the 'jar test' with soil from roughly 6 inches down, and it came out roughly 2 parts sand to 1 part silt, with a small amount of clay. I then did the 'jar test' again with deeper soil, wondering if the decades of lawns had somehow amended the soil, and found that the deeper soil is even more sandy (roughly 3 parts sand to 1 part silt, negligible clay).

Going to test pH and nutrients soon.






You live on a beach, greg!

Many people in the neighborhood stick plumeria and prickly pear directly into the ground. I now understand why it works. Oddly enough my friend who lives a couple miles away said his soil is heavy clay
« Last Edit: January 05, 2025, 11:05:48 PM by greg_D »

greg_D

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Re: Rootstock for multi-variety tree in Los Angeles County
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2025, 11:11:30 PM »
Some fascinating info:

Quote
Until the Corps of Engineers built the county's flood control system, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River were called "tramp" rivers because they found a new bed almost every winter. In the 1880s, the bed of the San Gabriel River would routinely shift more than a mile west after a heavy rain.The Los Angeles River once entered the Pacific Ocean near the city of Santa Monica and then at San Pedro, eighteen miles away. Once, the Los Angeles River was completely captured by the Los Angeles River

Source: https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/the-san-gabriel-river-the-562

I am west of the San Gabriel River, within a mile of it. My friend, with heavy clay soil, is west of the San Gabriel as well, but over a mile and a half away from it. Maybe at some point our property existed where the river occasionally ran when it changed course.

 

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