(continued)
The choice of the rootstock depends largely upon being resistant to nematodes and gummosis disease, which is a serious problem in the Caribbean.
Rootstock plants are raised from seeds and it takes approximately one to two years before they can be used, while the shoot is taken from a plant which is referred to as the scion. Generally, for citrus, lemon is the choice of rootstock. Lime, orange and tangerine’ shoots from mature trees would then be used to do the grafting. The grafted shoot is then held firmly in place with budding tape where the union is formed.
In Guyana, mostly citrus trees, avocados and some mangoes are grafted and can bear within three years.
Please remember to remove all leaves from the rootstock just below the bud union as it is only the top of the bud union that is required to grow on the plant. Now that you know what a grafted plant is let us all use the correct term when we speak.
There is a lady on the East Coast Demerara who has several grafted mango trees. These were believed to have been grafted by Agriculture Officers from Israel, who were stationed in Guyana years ago. At the time I visited, the trees were so short—approximately 4 ft to 5 ft tall—that I just had to reach out to pick the mangoes. The mangoes were larger than normal, rich in colour and best eaten when ripe. I called it the ‘bellyful mango’ because when I finished eating it, I could not have any lunch or dinner as I was filled. Wish we had some more of those trees here!
Similar mangoes are grown in Mexico and Puerto Rico and are exported to the USA and Canada.
Until next week, Happy Gardening.
