[Arid_gardener] Re: Kumquat

[Dick Gross]

Charles, if this present growth is from the Kumquat wood and not the root 
stock, there is no need for further grafting unless you want a cocktail 
tree, more than one variety bearing on the same rootstock. You can bud or 
graft any citrus to any other citrus but beware of the grotesque 
consequences of putting a grapefruit or pommelo on a Kumquat.

The citrus specialists at the University of Arizona Maricopa County 
Cooperative Extension have said that 21-0-0, Ammonium Sulfate, is the only 
fertilizer needed in our soils for citrus and I have five quite healthy 
varieties 25 years and over that have been fertilized only with 21-0-0 
affirming that the advice was pretty correct. Your area soil may be 
different but your area University of California Cooperative Extension 
personell get paid for helping citizens like you with advise. Contact them. 
You will find their people quite accommodating and eager to help. You can 
purchase "Citrus Fertilizer" at any plant nursery, I believe, whose sales 
reps should also be qualified to answer your questions, but I have never 
used it and never read the label because, if there is an advantage to its 
use, I would not be able to detect it in my yard because 10% of the produce 
falls to the ground and rots anyway.

I use Ammonium Sulfate on nearly everything growing in my yard because I 
presume the sulfur has some benefit in out alkaline desert soil and salty 
water and desert soils are notorious for nitrogen deficiency (organic 
compounds). Some one correct me if you believe I am wrong.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charles Turner" <chuckturner8 at earthlink.net>
To: "Dick Gross" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 5:10 PM
Subject: Re: Kumquat


> Thank you for your reply. As stated below, it is five or so years old. It 
> is a grafted tree, in fact, we pruned off the sucker with the long thorns 
> recently. Is there a particular plant food we ought to be using? The tree 
> has been in a pot on our deck in much sun for its whole life. Maybe we 
> will attempt the graft. Judy
> On Jun 26, 2007, at 1:12 PM, Dick Gross wrote:
>
>> If this is a grafted tree replanted in your landscape, you should get a 
>> few fruit off the graft by the first year, always some the second. I once 
>> responded to a similar request from a Master Gardener. As it happened in 
>> that case, a sucker below the graft had overcome the grafted bud and the 
>> homeowner had unwittingly pruned off the graft. The first clue I had, the 
>> later growth had humongus thorns typical of some root stocks  The sucker 
>> may never set fruit but the odds that it will be fit for human 
>> consumption, it it ever does, are nil to zero.
>>
>> If a scenario like that above doesn't apply, you can bud or graft any one 
>> or multiple citrus varieties to your seedling which is probably its 
>> source. Or, you can wait it out considering it an ornamental in the 
>> meantime.
>>
>> A grafted tree will bloom but not necessecarily set fruit the first year 
>> but a seedling may require five to seven years to bloom--if ever.
>>
>> Citrus requires full sun from day one but might need partiall shade until 
>> established with a root system that can sustain and imbibe the foliage.
>>
>> Any of you have a different take on this matter?
>>
>> Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
>> U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Turner" 
>> <chuckturner8 at earthlink.net>
>> To: <info at crfg.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:14 AM
>> Subject: Kumquat
>>
>>
>>> We have a five year old kumquat which is in a warm protected spot in San 
>>> Francisco--Noe Valley. It is about 3-4 feet high and has beautiful 
>>> leaves. However, it has never bloomed. Please advise. Thank You. Judy 
>>> and Chuck Turner
>>>
>>
>>
>
>