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Home Fruit Production-T-Budding Citrus
Julian W. Sauls, Ph.D.
Professor and Extension Horticulturist
Texas Cooperative Extension
August 1, 2001
Within a week or so, the bud will begin to grow (Image 25), as will previously dormant buds on the stock--note the just-broken rootstock bud to the left of the new budling. Because you want to direct all of the rootstock's energy into the new budling (Image 26), all other sprouts should be broken off as soon as they appear. Be very careful that you don't accidentally break off the budling, as it is very brittle and easily snapped off at this stage. Disbudding will cease to be necessary in a month or so, as the growth of the budling will suppress other buds on the stock.
Now that you have a live bud, there are several ways to "force" it to grow. For the limber stocks suggested herein, just bend the top of the rootstock completely over and tie it to itself (Bending--Image 22). If the stock is a little too large to bend readily, cut partway through it at a point several inches above the bud and break it over at that cut (Lopping--Image 23). For really large stocks, cut out a notch of bark on the stock above the bud (Notching-Image 24). Notching does not force buds as readily as bending or lopping.
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| 22. Bud forcing by bending. | 23. Bud forcing by lopping. |
Within a week or so, the bud will begin to grow (Image 25), as will previously dormant buds on the stock--note the just-broken rootstock bud to the left of the new budling. Because you want to direct all of the rootstock's energy into the new budling (Image 26), all other sprouts should be broken off as soon as they appear. Be very careful that you don't accidentally break off the budling, as it is very brittle and easily snapped off at this stage. Disbudding will cease to be necessary in a month or so, as the growth of the budling will suppress other buds on the stock.
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| 24. Bud forcing by notching. | 25. New bud starting to grow. |
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| 26. Disbud rootstock sprouts. | 27. Removal of the top of the rootstock. |
When the budling reaches several inches in length and its stem hardens, it should be loosely tied to the rootstock top. When it grows above the bend (or break) of the rootstock, a bamboo, PVC pipe, wooden or other type of stake should be inserted alongside the plant. The stake should extend at least six inches into the soil and about two feet above the soil. As the budling grows, continue to tie it loosely to the stake.
When the budling surpasses the top of the stake, cut off the rootstock top at a slight downward angle opposite the base of the budling and as close to it as possible (Image 27). Because the budling must be "headed", cut it off just above the top of the stake (Image 28) to force several buds at the top to grow to form the primary scaffold limbs of the new tree.
The headed, finished tree (Image 29) is ready to plant. The entire process from budding to finished tree requires about nine months, give or take a couple of months depending on season, climate and care of the growing budling.
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| 28. Budling staked, tied and headed. | 29. Finished tree ready to plant. |
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