Well.........I have turned this place into a citrus farm. I have been budding and raising rootstock. See the bench with the budded stock that I am forcing now. See the ready rootstock that I will bud as soon as the temp drops enough to make it take. See the compost pile that the "boss" says smells bad and smokes in the morning. See the PonTrif that I have planted in the row to graft this spring. Not pictured is 250 PonTrif potted up in 1 gallon pots that are about 20 inches tall right now that I am putting the nitrogen and trace minerals to have in real good shape and the right size come the spring flush. "Boss" says that it is gonna be a hard thing to do.................when I have to sleep with a PonTrif......and I agree....The only root stock that I use is PonTrif and FlyinDrag. My native PonTrif made over 100 fruits last year..I planted sprouted over 700 and kept 350 for myself. This year the native does not have one fruit on it.......gonna have to hustle up some seed...will take donations of PonTrif and FlynDrag.............Had to pay 28 dollars a sack for Amonium Sulfate....you can not get Nitrate without a big deal.

http://www.members.cox.net/tbeau211/readyrootstock001.jpg
http://www.members.cox.net/tbeau211/ptinground001.jpg
http://www.members.cox.net/tbeau211/buddedforcing001.jpg
http://www.members.cox.net/tbeau211/compostpile001.jpg

We lucked into some Ammonium Nitrate, I was looking for a small bag at our local farm co-op and they didn't have any- one of the guys suggested to go to the back warehouse and ask if they had any open bags- they did and dumped some into an extra bag for me, I'd say it was 5-10 pounds and free!

Sometimes it's advantageous to live in a small town...
To buy large quantities here I think you have to show your driver's license and sign a form, not too big a deal.

Around here they just check DL and write the name down on a list. I usually buy a couple 40# bags a yr--price has been going way up though---it used to be $6/bag--last ones I got were over 10.

Going to the farm supply today. They have 50 lb sacks and see if I can sigh the papers and get a couple of sacks. They want 28.00 for a 50 lb sack at the local hardware..........that is a lot. Same price for sulfate..................might as well do the paper signing and get some nitrate before they make us give a pint of blood and some dna to get on the list to get some..................I might look into finding a high urea content sub that will work. Bat Guano....? Im Looking though for someting that is cheaper than the nitrate..............cause Im thrifty not cheap....

Man--it has gone up! I know it takes energy to make it and the cost of energy has gone up--but that is way up!

If Ammonium Nitrate is the same price as the sulfate then for sure it is the better buy--it is 34 % N, the Sulfate is 21% N.

The folks at the Co Op have found a way around all the bull............50 lbs of Amonium Nitrate for $19.00. It is 33 percent Nitrate and 1 % urea. This keeps the dopers from using it to make Meth and keeps them legal when they sell it. I bought the 3 sack deal for $50.00 and tax.....total for three 50lb sacks......$54.30. Do not go to your local hardware to buy any. Go to your Co Op or farm supply. They wont rip you like the local hardware....and they sell real Amonium nitrate and you get a little urea in the mix..................Lowes and Home Depot do not handle it because of the complications.....