i have a new gold nugget i bought from four winds thats had a relatively bad winter. ill post pictures as soon as the rain stops, but thought i would get a head start.

the first problem is that the only new growth is one thorny branch thats shooting straight up from about a half inch on top the graft. has anybody with this tree ever seen it have thorns? also what is the rootstock thats typically used? the leaves look a lot like the rest but im no expert.

the second has more to do with my bad transplant technique and over wintering. the tree still looks alive and fairly healthy but i have many random places that have turned brown and seem to be dead. but then theres growth or leaves still beyond them. i know pics will help, will post asap.

the thorny branch is clearly above the graft, i have brown leaves and black sections of branch everywhere, can see the black thorns best in these pics

My Gold nugget is huge, but does have some branches with thorns & some without. I got my budwood from Benny years ago. Your tree looks to be suffering pretty bad, What rootstock is it on?

As the tree was purchased from Four Winds it must be on the dwarfing rootstock Cuban Shaddock. - Millet

well its good to hear thorns are normal. i cant answer about the rust mites, is that what the red brown stains could be?

The leaves look just like my GN. Some of the branches on my tree are very thorny. I get that brown stuff on some of my trees too, I don't know what it is but it may be from spraying. It will survive!

It simply look like sunburn.

I really dont believe it is sunburn, could be wrong. as long as it survives I really dont care. is it something that can spread to my other trees if im not careful?

> is it something that can spread to my other trees if im not careful?
If it is sunburn, no.

Was it already in the ground or did you put it this spring?

I did it in january, but that pretty much was spring this year.

My Gold nugget this morning.

nice trees but I dont see many fruit laaz, have you eaten them all already?

Yes, there is one last fruit hanging on, but it is way past ripe. If you look close, it is full of blooms right now.

you say way past ripe like it lost its flavor or something,I thought they held into the summer?

I find them best Feb into early Mar.