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Citrus Source in TX

10 years ago

I am interested in growing a dwarf sunbust tangerine in Texas and so far I am having trouble finding a source, does anyone know of a good citrus resource in TX or that can ship to TX ? I would consider grafting it myself if I knew where to buy root stock and budwood but would really prefer to buy the whole plant. Thanks for any recommendations.

Comments (14)

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    sgree13, you'd have to look for online sources in the state of Texas, as outside sources will not be able to ship into Texas due to the citrus quarantines in place. I just did a simple Google search and found this source. You don't say where you are in Texas (which is a big state), so hopefully this company has an outlet near you:

    http://www.bigtextrees.com/citrus--fruit-trees.html

    http://www.saxonbecnelandsons.com/index.php/our-trees

    http://www.rcwnurseries.com/data/stories_rcw/other/13_Citrus_list_2012-2013.pdf

    Patty S.

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks! Im in Austin (about 2 hrs from Houston and Big Tex) Ill make a journey there this summer. Hopefully they will have something or maybe I can special order and pick it up there.

  • 10 years ago

    Sgreer13, just be sure to contact these sources to see if you're allowed to transport from their nursery back to your home. There are counties in Texas that are quarantined, and they will not allow you to move citrus from one county to another due to the discovery of HLB in your state. This is serious stuff - Florida as I am sure you're aware, has been decimated by HLB. So, be sure to exercise good judgement, and follow the laws in your state about moving citrus across county lines. You can check our your area by going to this web site:

    www.saveourcitrus.org

    I cannot transport citrus in or out of my county here in California. Orange County is less than an hour from me. Los Angeles & Riverside counties within 2 hours. In fact, being part of the CRFG, we do not even share budwood amongst ourselves, even if we're just blocks away from each other, it is our chapter's rule. We are extraordinarily careful, here, trying to do everything we can to prevent the transmission of any possible infected citrus. You and I especially need to be careful, as we border Mexico, and I am extra vigilant here being so close to the border. Their ag laws and inspections are not as stringent as ours are here in the USA, and I want to make sure I don't accidentally spread something from one area to the other. Our commercial citrus industries in our state provides billions of dollars and many thousands of jobs. So, take care, and make sure you know where you can legally purchase citrus in your state :-)

    Patty S.


  • 10 years ago

    sgreer13: I live in the Houston area and grow roughly 170 varieties of citrus. Sunburst is a little seedy, but is a very productive one for me (I have a photo of my 3-year-old Sunburst tree with 200+ fruits on it!). I know of only 2 southeast Texas commercial (wholesale only) growers who propagate Sunburst and sell to local retail nurseries: Saxon Becnel & Sons (located of the Beaumont area, sells to many Big Box retailers), and Brazos Citrus Nursery (located in the West Columbia, sells mostly to retail plant nurseries and Master Gardener groups). Both of them T-bud onto Carrizo citrange (not the most hardy rootstock for central Texas and not a "dwarfing" rootstock, but better adapted than some others sold around here). You may have luck looking at your local big box store (our nearby Home Depot has Saxon-grown Sunburst in 5 and 15 gallon sizes). You might also check with E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore at Hill County Natives (www.hillcountrynatives.net) in Austin to see if he has any for sale. Unfortunately the greater Houston area is all under a citrus quarantine right now so you can't come here to buy a tree to take home. Let me know if you need more help.

    Scott

    User thanked Scott (Texas zone 8b) Johnsgard
  • 10 years ago

    Yes, Houston/Harris County is under a quarantine for citrus HLB. So is Fort Bend County (Sugerland Area) to the the SW. I am to the south but we are not quarantined.

    Scott is correct. You probably need to hold out for a hardy tree on Flying dragon. I may have seeds this fall. I have a small Becnel Sunburst in a pot.

    I have several trifoliates I need to get rid of that are getting too big.

    User thanked tantanman
  • 10 years ago

    I have 2 page "mandarins" from HD which are from becnel & sons. I wonder what rootstock they are on... Anyhow thanks for the advice guys. Im pretty new to citrus.


  • 10 years ago

    sgreer13: Yes, your Page mandarin trees from Becnel are also budded on Carrizo (they bud all their citrus, except kumquats, on Carrizo). A couple years ago Clayton Bell, another local citrus hobbyist (i.e. citrus fanatic), contacted all the wholesale suppliers of citrus trees in southeast Texas and obtained information about the rootstock(s) they use. He assembled a 2-page "Citrus Buying Guide" for the greater Houston area. I have a PDF copy of it that I can email you, or you can contact him directly though his OUTSTANDING website/blog that has tons of useful information about growing fruit in the northwest Houston area (http://thebellhouse.weebly.com/). Be sure to check out Clayton's website if you never have!

    BTW, I am not a real fan of Flying Dragon (it's too dwarfing). Instead, I grow my own trifoliate "orange" citrus rootstock for grafting/budding using seeds collected from feral trees growing "wild" in this area. I have hundreds of spare washed, heated-treated and fungicide-coated seeds I collected last Fall in my fridge. I'd mail you as many as you want for free, but I live in Montgomery County (inside the quarantine area). :-(

    User thanked Scott (Texas zone 8b) Johnsgard
  • 10 years ago

    Clayton's blog/site is perfect! Just what I was looking for including books on citrus, TX citrus resources, growing guides and local forums for citrus enthusiasts! Awesome


    Thanks A Bunch


    ~Mick

  • 10 years ago

    Mick: you will also want to check out the Texas Rare Fruit Growers group (with a large number of Austin area members). We share tips and knowledge on both a "Yahoo Groups" forum (https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/txrarefruitgrowers/info) and a Facebook page (https://m.facebook.com/groups/TXRFG). We also meet periodically to share plants, cuttings, fruit, varmint "war stories," grafting techniques, etc. We are meeting in Houston this coming weekend (April 4) for a plant swap. Look forward to meeting you.

    Scott

    User thanked Scott (Texas zone 8b) Johnsgard
  • 10 years ago

    But Scott, you're not sharing citrus cuttings, correct?? Our CRFG chapter has a no citrus cuttings/scions policy. And, no citrus plants brought in for display or raffles. Our citrus "stay home".

    Patty S.


  • 10 years ago

    Scott,


    Thanks for the invite. I will try to make it to one especially if they are closer to Austin.


    Best,

    ~Mick

  • 10 years ago

    You are very lucky to have Page since most of the growers have stopped

    propagating them since they grow slowly.

    User thanked tantanman
  • 10 years ago

    Gosh, my Page is big. One of the faster growing of my trees. And, it is so, so, so excellent. Top 5 citrus in my yard for flavor. The juice is unbeatable. Glad I have a vigorous tree. It's on C35, so I'm sure that helps.

    Patty S.