Radhavall,
Rootstocks are basically just the plants that are used as the base for grafting a cutting or bud onto from another plant. Typically rootstocks are of the same species as the plant that is being grafted onto it. Sometimes a plant of the same genus can be used but when grafting outside of the same species there can be graft incompatibilities. So to answer your question a mango seedling is used as the rootstock for mangos and a sapodilla seedling is used as a rootstock for sapodilla.

Most lychees you find will not be grafted but instead air-layered so there is no rootstock. Instead a branch from a fruiting tree is girdled then wrapped with moss and covered until roots form. Then the branch is cut and planted.

With most tropical fruits in S Fl there doesnt seem to be a specific variety that is used for rootstock. With mangos I usually hear of nurseries using turpentine mango but I don't think it really matters. I have seen specific stocks for more temperate fruits such as apples, plums, peaches etc. which have many specific rootstocks that cause different growth sizes and also handle certain zones and soils better. Citrus is one subtropical common in Fl that has different rootstocks that are used. Certain roostocks do better in different soils and other rootstocks cause dwarf trees.

Not all trees at Excalibur and Pine Island are grafted. You have to ask. Sometimes they sell seedlings of trees but if it is a named variety such as 'Julie' Mango it has to be vegetatively propagated such as grafting. You do not always need to graft a seedling because some trees fruit pretty quickly and true to seed and there is no need to graft it.

I hope I was able to answer your questions. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. What types of trees do you plan on planting?

I also included a wikipedia link that might help clarify grafting a little better and more concisely than I was able to in my post.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grafting Wiki

Thanks for the detailed reply. i do appreciate it.
I sort of thought that similar rootstock needed for plants for successful grafting.
i also assumed secondary to nematodes etc in florida that there is probably a superior rootstock for these trees. couple of posts indicated that they got seedlings and will be grafting. and that got me thinking in that way.

So based on what i know now is, that if i get a decent size and healthy plant grafted or not, is good for my local planting.

right now i live in broward county. we bought a site in palm city, around 5 acres of which my husband will let me plant in 2-3 acres. i plan to start planting next year.

coconuts, mangoes (lots of them), sapodillas, custard apples, jack fruit, bananas, papayas, almond, gauvas to start with. so i am in the process of collecting info and details.

when i look at the number of trees that are in the backyards, the one thing that intrigues me is the watering schedule. timing, depth and perimeter. drip irrigation looks promising, as i rather not waste water on grass.

i come from a place in india, from south and is hot and humid. i saw these fruits all the in fresh markets and miss them so much.weather wise very similar to south florida, only exception is we had a hot hot summer and then it pours in monsoon.so mangoes are done and in comes sapodillas and custard apples.

so far i have been into fragrants and so on. but i have gathered so much info from all of you that is invaluable. i have taken notes on the relevant issues.
thank you again for the info.

regards,
Radha

5 acres? Wonderful! Tell your husband that all of us here are in favor of you planting 4 to 4 1/2 acres instead! Also, nothing like the present to begin planting! Good luck and happy planting.

I agree with Jay. Why stop at 3 acres? If youre worried about the time of year to plant you dont have to worry about that really in Fl as long as the trees get water during the dry season.

My advice to you is to not spend money on larger trees. Do not believe the nurseries if they tell you to get big trees. Three gallons are probably the best tree for the value. They will usually establish a stronger root system quicker than a 15 or 25 gallon tree.

Depending on the type of tree determines if you should buy a seedling or a grafted tree. Sometimes its fun to experiment and grow a seedling but dont expect it to be the same or even similar to the fruit you got the seeds from. Some do come true though.

When youre buying coconuts make sure that they are dwarf. The talls take too long to bear fruit and are usually too tall before they bear to reach without a ladder or something. Many places will say a coconut tree is dwarf without really knowning and then claim that because its from seed they cant guarantee it. That shouldnt be the case because generally the dwarfs are self pollinating because both the male and female flowers open at the same time compared to the tall which usually gets pollinated by other coconut trees because the male and the female flowers open at different times. Try to buy only from a reputable nursery and not somewhere like the swap shop. If you know someone with a dwarf tree that would be the best way to get the seeds and have them very likely to be dwarf.

There are many good varieties of sapodilla available. Make sure to buy it grafted because the seedlings are highly variable.

Custard apple doesnt have to be grafted.

Papaya grows very quickly and easily from seed. A great source for papaya seed is www.alohaseed.com . No need to buy it from a nursery if you just buy the seed yourself. The problem with growing seed from your own fruit is that you might get males and the fruit might not taste the same. When you buy the seeds from a company like aloha seed some of the varieties are guaranteed to be female or hermaphrodite.

Jackfruit can either be grafted or seedling and will usually produce around the same time. Bangkok Lemon is probably one of the best varieties i've ever had and its something you should definitely check out.

Guavas get a lot of fruit fly. I don't have much experience growing them so I do not know how to keep the bugs away.

I am not sure if almonds will grow in FL. I think our humidity might be too high. But you should still try. You might not get a very productive tree but it might produce a few fruit or you might get lucky and it will produce well. Macadamia nuts do very well here though.

A really good book for growing fruit trees in Florida is: Florida's Best Fruiting Plants, http://www.amazon.com/Floridas-Fruiting-Plants-Charles-Boning/dp/1561643726
It has lots on how to grow many fruit trees specifically in Fl.

Thanks again. i just bought the book.

your message was informative and that was as detailed as it gets.
i will get smaller plants since that is the joy of growing. and ofcourse pricing wise it will get astronomical otherwise. indian grocery stores in broward carry large apple green gauvas, and they are the best. may be i can get to talk to them. i have been researching and will get dwarf varieties of coconut. going on turnpike on the west side of turnpike i see large nurseries with acres of coconut plantings. ACME wholesale it states. does'nt look like it has a website. on of these days i will just take a detour to that place and see.

the plan is to start slow. i may have a few falls before i get up and walk again with what i plan to embark on.

Since this place i have is in a community, i am reading up on the so called architectural committee regulations etc. i will give them a call soon. having bahia grass in the private back yard is okay by the rules and that is where i intend to plant my trees. if i run into too many issues,( the tree has to be native, has to have a diameter of so many inches and a canopy of this much, and so on and so forth), then i will have to make the tough decision. to let go of the place and get one outside the community, since i am not in the mood to have acreage and leave it barren. and it has been a long road to get to where i am now, and have been thinking and planning for so long.

regards,
Radha.

The native requirement shouldnt be a problem. They usually just want a few larger native trees planted in the beginning and then you can plant whatever you want. Hopefully thats all thats required. Those regulations can be a hassle. Good luck.