Hey guys just wanted some feedback on choosing either "Semi Dwarf" or "Standard" citrus from Durling Nursery in Fallbrook California.

Some of the recent post it looks like you guys like "Standard" (C-35?) rootstock. Just trying to choose so I can plant some trees in the next week or two. I'm located in Corona, California.

Thanks for the help,

Morgan

Well, for me, rootstock choice is mostly due to having to deal with phytophthora root rot, so for me, C35 or C32 (if I can find it) are better choices. C35 doe create a smaller tree than some of the other "standard" rootstocks. I would consider this a semi-dwarfing rootstock, along with Swingle and trifoliates. On average, C35 should give you a tree between 10 and 15 feet, depending upon the scion. C35 has been a consistent performer for me, and gives me a semi-dwarf tree that is the right size for my yard, and can be contained even smaller quite easily by some rather minimal pruning.

Thanks Patty. That helps a ton. I was getting confused thinking standard rootstock was C-35.

Oh by the way, last winter I tasted a dekopan sample at the UCR tour and later some from Whole Foods. Fresh picked are 100 times better than store bought dekopans.

Swingle will produce quite a large tree. My trees budded to swingle are about 15' maybe taller.

Yup, traditionally, in order of size for semi-dwarf are Swingle, C35/C32, Trifoliate.

Me, too, morgman. No comparison between picked off the tree and store-bought Dekopons. Reminds me of store bought Minneolas, which I really don't like so much. But off the tree, and entirely different experience. I was actually not expecting to have such a good experience with the Dekopon, based on some of the ho-hum comments from folks on forums about store-bought Dekopons. So, I was actually quite surprised when I got to taste one at the Collection. It really is quite good. I'm wondering if they don't stand up well to cold storage and shipping. They tasted much blander, and even off to going bad from the store. I bought some at Whole Foods as well as at an Asian specialty market. Both were about the same - so so to almost over ripe.

Well it depends if you have the space for a larger tree and the commitment to prune regularly if you go with a standard rootstock and want to keep the tree relatively small.

If you go with simi-dwarf, then you just need more patience in terms of growth and can't expect a large tree and the production that goes along with it (which is too much for most families anyhow).

Also, it depends on the kind of tree (scion) you want. Lemons and oranges will be larger, mandarins ususally smaller (someone chime in here with better details). For example, most of my mandarins are on c-35 but my Meyer lemon is on trifoliate.

Thinking back, I remember Durling's Nursery saying that they were budding "standard" mandarins on c-35 and oranges on Carrizo. Give them a call and they can answer specific questions about rootstock.

Thanks for the help Chris. That is what I was wondering about standard rootstock and pruning to a desired size. I plan on going with the semi dwarf trees.

The main thing you want to look at is your soil. You want a rootstock that will do best in your soil conditions.

Thanks Laaz

I lived in corona, even though the soils are more clay than sand and water doesn't perc great most commercial rootstocks grew fine. The state citrus park in riverside was filled with c35 and carrizo on the semi and full sized trees. Very little troyer, citrange, cleopatra mandarin, rough lemon, and rangpur limes used as rootstock. Everybody here is high on flying dragon, st park ranger said it was great too. It will produce the same amount of fruit as the carrizo with about half the size, and not sure if this is true, but because the fruit grows slower and takes longer to mature on fd, the weather in Cali will make it sweeter according to the ranger.

Thanks Josh. That is interesting about the Flying Dragon comment by the Ranger.