Steve, volk does very well for me as well as C-35. However, I read in this attached report that there seems to be an apparent incompatibility between the C-35 and the Moro blood orange because some of the trial trees died on that rootstock. Plus the volk will give me a larger tree to fill a gap I had between my Rio Red grapefruit tree and my desert willow to keep the neighbors and people walking by on the canal behind my house from looking into my yard.

Here is the rootstock trial report for your reference. http://plantbiology.ucr.edu/faculty/Baker-Moro-06-Summ1.pdf

Evan

Wow! wish I knew what rootstock my Moro is on. It came from Durling two years ago. Always thought that it was on C35. The tree is doing well here in my coastal microclimate.

I thought I would give it a try. I took your link and replaced the word moro with meiwa and New Zealand lemonade to see if it pulled up a similar chart to the new variety.

Pkg, you should write them an email and ask what they use. If there was any paint on the trunk when you planted your tree the nurseries use different colors to ID the plants when they propogate them. Maybe you have an old photo showing the trunk colors if it had any. I have received rootstock/ scion color charts and tons of good info from wholesale growers just by asking. Most of them are very excited when they find out that a home orchard grower knows about rootstocks and the effects they can have on their trees.

Steve, did the search turn anything up on your 2 varieties?

Evan

Thanks for the advice, Evan. Here is a pic of the tree and the tag right from the nursery. Didn't see any paint.

My Citrus Garden · More Info

Pkg do you have a pic of the bar code on the pot?

My searches were futile. I was hoping to get back to the parent article that the Moro came from in hopes that many types were tested.

6b Steve

Bummer Steve.

Pkg, my trees have this label that shows the rootstock when they come from colorama.

Pixie mandarin planted 5/22/16 · More Info

Did you get the Moro from Willits and Newcomb? They use Volk on some of their citrus. I just checked my Moro (in a 15 gal container) and it's from Willits and Newcomb but on Carizzo. All my Willits trees have come from Costco and have the same type of paint stripes as yours. I have page 1 of a 4 page Willits and Newcomb color code set. It's probably available on their website or in a back issue of their newsletter, I forget exactly where I found it.

My tree came from Gless Ranch, formerly known as Young's Nursery. Mr. Young is known for development of the Daisy mandarin. I have Willits and Newcomb's color charts and Gless ranch's color charts too. Here is the thread where I obtained the W&N color charts, courtesy of Molewacker.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2826713/costco-citrus?n=65

Evan

Evan, unfortunately the pot was cut up and discarded at planting back in early 2015. Only that barcode in the pic above is all I can remember about it. Really like how your nursery lets you know the rootstock.

Purchased a bag of Washington navel oranges from Gless' fruitstand at the entrance to the Citrus State Park in Riverside last month and they were spectacular!

From what I understand Gless also maintains the grove and manages the citrus and avocado sales for the State Park.

PKG, Durling uses Rubidoux trifoliate for their semi-dwarf trees, which your's appears to be. I did not ask what they use for their standard trees.

Excellent!

I, in turn, am really looking forward to seeing the progress of your tree! I think you'll have great luck with it....and the fruit are so delicious.

Josh

Josh, I hope that my tree, like yours, will produce delicious fruit that's "hella" good. Sorry couldn't help the NorCal v. SoCal euphemism. I have some great friends from the Napa area and I give them a tough time when I see them due to the slight differences between our lingos. I will post updates here from time to time.

Evan

Update

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Evan

It never ceases to amaze me how much better a citrus tree looks in ground than in a pot. Looks great Evan.

6 Steve

Yeah, and being in zone 9B doesn't hurt, either.

Evan, great start to a hopefully highly productive Moro!

I must ask

- what are those 2 white discs... is that drainage or a vent of some sort?

- looks like you have 1/4" line drip encircling the tree - how long & how often do you run - and at what pressure?

- George

Thanks Steve.

Vladimir, very true, it makes it much easier to grow things here. I just have to watch the watering schedule when it gets hot.

Hello George, those 1/4" Drip Lines go into those white discs, which are actually PVC caps on top of 4" perforated pvc that go 18" into the ground to help with deep root watering. I've used this system on my citrus even though it's not really necessary, it seems to help the trees really take off when I first plant them by watering the entire root zone to 18" in depth.

Evan

Evan, do your drip lines keep the 4" perforated PVC pipes full all the time so that the upper perforations are also providing water. Or do you have to fill the pipes from time to time, depending on the weather.

John

John, I have adjustable bubblers at the end of the Drip Lines that fill the pipes and then when the piles get full spill over into the large basins I have built around my trees (see photo #1 above). The basin fills up and then when the irrigation shuts off the water percolates down into the ground and pipes as well. My irrigation runs every couple days at this time of year.

Evan

Putting the perforated pipes into the ground is a great idea. I've read recently that citrus needs to be watered 24 inches deep. Which is hard to do, and harder know if the water has reached that far. I've been using a metal probe to try to get a feeling for how deep I'm watering because even though I have a moisture meter with a 16" long probe, the ground is too hard to push it in very far without damaging the tip. With a 18" pipe in the ground I might also be able to get moisture readings at deeper levels.

I wonder how the pipes would work with an established citrus tree, and how many you'd want to use.

Little bored so I thought I’d update a couple threads I started. Here is my Moro after 10 months in ground.

Evan

It is amazing how fast these trees can grow. your tree look real healthy

Steve

Very nice! Congrats! My inground Moro (standard size) has not grown at all in 6 months and its leaves are not as dark green either even though it was fertilized with Citrus tone twice.

I'm been trying the perforated pipes on a small citrus tree...I've put three in place, spaced equally around the tree. The next time I might try four pipes to get complete coverage. I really like it as a way to get water deep enough for the citrus roots. I just drop a hose into one of the pipes and let the water flow until it's filled the basin and also the other two pipes.

evdesert, do you have caps on the underground end(s) of the pipes? I used some plastic lids loosely on the ends to try to make most of the water inside the perforated pipes flow out through the perforations. I may try to glue some lids on the ends next time.

I'm been trying the perforated pipes on a small citrus tree...I've
put three in place, spaced equally around the tree. The next time I
might try four pipes to get complete coverage. I really like it as a way
to get water deep enough for the citrus roots. I just drop a hose into
one of the pipes and let the water flow until it's filled the basin and
also the other two pipes.

evdesert, do you have caps on the underground end(s) of the pipes? I used some plastic lids loosely on the ends to try to make most of the water inside the perforated pipes flow out through the perforations. I may try to glue some lids on the ends next time.

Jbclem, yes I have caps on my pipes, although I did not glue mine down because I like to drop granulated fertilizer down the pipes as well as on the surface. It helps deliver an instant boost of food to my trees when they need it.

Are those the caps that fit tight? I was going to buy some at Home Depot, but at $4 each I thought I'd first try all the free lids I had at home.

btw, I was referring to the caps on the underground side, 18 inches down, not the caps on the top of each pipe.

food tins are free and fit over with a side wall to boot.

Steve

You can also pick up and inner cap that is more on the order of $0.99.

Steve

I do not cap the underside of the pipes. The water runs freely out of the bottom, I do however wrap the pipe in drain sock to keep dirt out of the pipe. $4 seems expensive to me for the caps, I buy the caps that are outside at Home Depot in the garden center that are used for that thin drain pipe you find near the pavers, they cost around a $1.50 each.

Evan

6 month update on my Moro blood orange. It’s putting on a growth flush, the major branches have grown about 12” in the last couple weeks. Photos are from 5/16/2018.

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Evan

Wow gorgeous Evan! Did you ever taste some fruits from your tree? The reason I ask is because I have a mandarin also on volkameriana. I read somewhere that is not the best rootstock for orange and mandarin so I am a bit worry.

thanks

Beautiful Evan! All your trees are gorgeous. You’ll be enjoying those oranges in no time!

Nice progress Evan! I think that Volk will push your Moro into outstanding performance! My Moro on "trifoliate" rootstock from W&N planted 2012 - (and in 1/2 day sun) - - - produced its first real crop this past season. It went from 3 fruit harvested Jan 2017 to dozens and dozens in 2018. So much so that a major branch broke... so that is the message I'd like to send. Watch it carefully and thin the fruit!!!

Cheers to future "yum" - George

Evan - your bouncin' "baby" looks healthy and happy! Hope it fruits for you this year.

Thanks everyone!

Amy this tree hasn’t fruited for me yet, it usually takes 3-4 years to get fruit from my trees when they’re planted.

Thanks Laura, I’m looking forward to it!

George I can’t wait to have that same problem. It sounds like I may have a few more years to go though. That’s ok I’m patient.

Thanks jenny!

Evan

It's a healthy looking tree. I'm curious about the fertilizer you use, you mentioned dropping granules into the pipes...what kind are you using and how often do you make the drop?

I use Arizona’s Best citrus food and lately I’ve been dropping turf supreme around it. I fertilize about every 6-8 weeks during the growing season. My trees are hungry this time of year. Links to both products are below.

https://www.gro-well.com/lawn-garden-21/arizonas-best/citrus-food/

http://techsheets.simplot.com/Best/74025_turfsup1668.pdf

Evan

Evan my buddy! Wow, what a great job and so full and just awesome. Hopefully you are doing well these days too))

Hey Mike! Thank you, I am doing well and I hope you are doing well too. I’ve been busy prepping the yard for the onslaught that is summer time. I hope everything in your garden and your life is good. It’s good to hear from you buddy.

Evan

2 year update. The Moro has blooms this year, not sure it will hold fruit but this is the first time it’s bloomed.

Your tree is looking good Evan! My tree was planted around 6/28/17 and is starting to get some flowers. They haven’t opened up yet but I am hoping for some blood oranges this year!

This tree has been in ground for 2 and a half years now. It has grown almost 2’ in a matter of 3 months.

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

It’s even holding a few fruit. We will see what happens after this week, it was 111 degrees today and we’re headed to 116 by Wednesday.

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Evan

Two year update, this tree is about 7’ tall and has held about a dozen fruit this year. I’ve been pulling 1 fruit every couple weeks since late December when the fruits started coloring up. Every time I pull a fruit its been getting sweeter and darker. I’ll pull another fruit tomorrow and snap some pics, in the meantime here is what the tree is looking like.

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Moro blood orange on volkameriana planted 1/8/2017 · More Info

Evan

A sight to behold.

Evan,

That 9B is probably the best zone, warm for citrus, but can get enough cool hours to get some color in the bloods (9a probably the perfect match for bloods). How close is the nearest quarantine zone to you? I have to find your latest YT tour, I forgot to look at it.