I use Miracle Gro 24-8-16 along with 29-0-4 grass feed in 1.5 gallons of water for the summer. Winter I was using 24-8-16 with 2-0-8 to give me 26-8-24 per 1 gallon of water. I feed once a month in winter. I just found some 20-0-10 with Iron that I am using instead of the 29-0-4 that I ran out of.

I use foliage pro, osmocote and vinegar and besides due to bad watering habits none of my leaves have ever turned yellow. Although I ran out of the stuff for about two months and started using miracle gro all purpose on the suggestion of Brian and the trees didn't seem to mind it's still green!

This forum gets funnier by the day, one says citrus do well with higher P/H, others says don't need to go 6 or 6 1/2.

I will say this for what it is worth, it is a known fact that humans can live a long time on bread and water. I am talking about maximum growth, not just going so-so. one substitute fish, while Kelp is much better.

I need a vacation from all of this. I think i am going to change my username, it is just not fitting with this group or just plain disappear.

Bob I enjoy reading your inputs to these citrus threads. I would hate to see you leave. While this is a hobby for me I do get a lot of food from my garden and its organic. My area is known for lead. The best treatment for soil lead is to lock it up by raising PH. Sour orange grows very well in high PH soil. There are many other root stocks that grow well in high PH soil. It is better for me to have a citrus tree grow at a foot per year in high PH soil than grow 1.5 feet per year in lower PH soil. I am comparing PH of 8 vs. PH 6. Citrus rootstock vary what they do well in.

Fertilizers, I really would like to know what each rootstock needs in feed. I can mix and match up individual feed needs with my cheap fertilizers.

My Poncirus Trifoliata is growing like a weed in my high PH 7.8 clay soil. There was no topsoil. It had been all scraped off down to yellow, orange and blue clay. I had to dig the hole a month in advance to dry out the removed material so I could powder it to dust with a hammer. I planted and watered 4 PT's that way. All are doing very well.

Steve

pH tolerance varies widely with rootstock but also depends on scion. Fertiliser requirements not so much. They mostly depend on scion and soil conditions.

Seville Orange is best for high pH. We have a big problem replacing this rootstock over here since the Spaniards gifted CTV to us in 2004.

Maximum growth is good to establish the shape of the tree first, a fast growing tree is much easier to shape, than worry about fruit making.

Steve i know what you are talking about the clay situation, been through that, had to dig deeper to get through that blue layer. You had to do that, improve drainage.

Listen to people without not experimenting is only half of your goal. I know you do. Some people buy a tree than put the sucker in automatic. Bingo.

Citrus in the ground can handle a lot, because the roots are somewhat similar to figs, they go wide.

Nik, did you ever watch the movie: Mama Maya, it is hilarious, all done in your neighborhood.

Bob,

I promise you, fig roots in their natural habitat go much further. I mean MUCH further like 100ft or more..

Maybe you mean Mama Mia?

Bob, please don't go anywhere and if you are kidding, then I'll laugh along side you)

MIke

Nik, I know all about figs, I have container figs, these are my more valuable figs that need to be potted, my inground ones are large with super long roots.

Yes, Mama MIA, correct.

Bob, I have a few large to huge fig trees in my plot, but since a few years ago I cannot consume them due to health reasons, I am slowly getting rid of most. Which is easier said than done.

This is fig country over here. Many large commercial fig orchards just around the corner. Have you heard of the Royal Black Markopoulo figs? Otherwise called Mavra (black) Markopoulou or Vasilika (royal) Markopoulou.

http://www.royalfigs.gr/en/

That film was a very funny light musical comedy. Streep's performance was enchanting.

Nick, vasilaka is available here in the US. Start eating Mango,s. Well hope you feeling better, don,t want you get sick. I can’t believe you can get sick eating your kind of food.

Bob it's good to see you have not left!

I'm a chronic diverticulitis sufferer (amongst other ailments). I almost died once and have been hospitalised twice. Any unprocessed whole grain or seed is a no-no. That includes figs, strawberries and most all kinds of berries.

Nik, Geez, I hope you don't have to go through that again. Hopefully you will be ok. That's sad but I am glad you are still around.

Those FIGS sound delicious,, Wish I could grow them here since I have plenty of figs trees and love them more than you know. You are blessed to live there.

MIke

Thx Mike

Quiet Mike i got that stinking feeling.

Nik that's tough I have an uncle who's 80 with the same diverticulitis as you had to go through surgery twice as well. It's a tough ailment to have I'm sorry you have to go through it. I wish I lived in Greece though beautiful place! :)