Citrus Growers Forum

Citruseverywhere · Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 15 Location: Riverside, CA

I bought a Midknight Valencia from OSH several months ago. It had one large sprout coming from low on the trunk. I examined it and it looked to me that it was coming just above the graft line. Plus, I assumed that Four Winds would have removed it if it was a sucker.

Fast forward several months and this branch has grown a couple feet. It also has some huge thorns. I haven't had growth like this on any of the other citrus I planted at the same time.

So, now I am thinking it might be a sucker after all. Two questions: 1) Can you see from the pictures if it actually is a sucker? and 2) Should I just cut if off and leave it as is or should I take the tree back to OSH and get a new one?

Ned · Posted: Sun 13 Mar, 2011 7:20 pm

It looks to me like it is coming off the rootstock, but it is difficult to tell for sure. My guess would be that it is a lemon rootstock. Pick a leaf from the sprout, crush it in your hand and smell it. If it is some sort of lemon, it will smell like one, as opposed to smelling like orange. I imagine it was simply overlooked at the nursery.

Ned

Citruseverywhere · Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 15 Location: Riverside, CA

Thanks. At the same time I posted this, I emailed Four Winds with pictures. They responded within 20 minutes (on a Sunday no less) and identified it as a sucker.

Next question, should I just prune if off as they say or should I start over with a new tree? The branch is fairly large in diameter relative to the trunk...that is my only real concern.

David. · Posted: Sun 13 Mar, 2011 7:37 pm

Youll be fine just trim if off at where the trunk is. It is draining alot of energy from the tree so trim it off so the rest of your tree can start growing. In my opinion it is nothing to worry about.

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BobsCitrus · Posted: Mon 14 Mar, 2011 2:26 am

Agree with above. The tree is so young and just coming into its prime growth years, shouldn't be a problem.

I did not know a sucker could originate above the graft, so I learned something new - thanks.

Eric

gdbanks · Posted: Mon 14 Mar, 2011 3:01 am

Uncle_Dirt wrote:

Agree with above. The tree is so young and just coming into its prime growth years, shouldn't be a problem.

I did not know a sucker could originate above the graft, so I learned something new - thanks.

Eric

the sucker is below the graft.

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David. · Posted: Mon 14 Mar, 2011 4:50 am

It's cleft grafted and it's right below it.
You can also graft it , in my opinion they are the best to graft onto.

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jrb · Posted: Mon 14 Mar, 2011 6:26 pm

I've had suckers on some of my trees from Four Winds Growers that look exactly like yours. I believe the sucker is a Cuban Shaddock. It's no problem to just cut if off.

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Jim

Citruseverywhere · Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 15 Location: Riverside, CA

Thanks everyone, I cut it off.

BobsCitrus · Posted: Tue 15 Mar, 2011 2:02 am

Sorry - I mistook a healed over pruning for the graft.

My turn: I have a vigorous side shoot about an inch above the graft on my Meyer lemon, in the ground since October. The main scion stem is about as big as my pinky finger. This shoot is quite vigorous and has bigger thorns than the other branches. The rootstock is Volk. What do you all think? See linked images:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G3KIlpcuxRIUMgg8wvqX1DXodqimZNJA-6Wy7q1jZlA?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Iov6TnC_XvLE9tplkLTmEjXodqimZNJA-6Wy7q1jZlA?feat=directlink