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View Full Version : Seedling Tangerine Advice Needed


amantedelenguaje
03-23-2013, 08:43 PM
I started some tangerine seeds in February of 2010. They are the same age although one is significantly taller--5.5' tall excluding the container. I don't know how much longer I will be able to bring it indoors to protect it from zone 7 winters. If I prune down the height, I reduce thenode count and the tree will never fruit. I want to know if they are likely to fruit in the next year or two. I'm thinking of air layering a top branch on the tall plant so that I can begin a new tree yet conserve the greatest node count possible.

whttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I0WRDop38GA/UU5O23AwP5I/AAAAAAAADCc/OCHkuqAprvo/s1600/2013-03-23%2B20.43.15-791076.jpg

the plants looked like this a year ago.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kj8tfBrn1M0/TytcXWUZXrI/AAAAAAAAAvo/2-6tMtKeVVI/s1600/2012-02-02%2B22.31.37-757350.jpg

raygrogan
03-24-2013, 09:47 PM
Nice trees. I don't know much about your nodes question, but I've been in plenty of tricky tree pruning situations. I would consider just going for a well shaped tree. The longer the tree stays in the gangly mode, the more it will bother you as going in the wrong direction. If instead you whack it this next growing season, and train about 4 of the branches into a good open citrus tree, you should pretty quickly regain your nodes, and be ready for fruit when the flowers come. Keep us posted.

waggoner41
03-25-2013, 03:32 PM
Trim the top at a 4' and the tree will begin to send out side branches.
I don't see why you are concerned about your node count. The new branches will produce more nodes.

You are working with a tree, not a vine.