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Organic Fruit Trees

Posted by nate6172 (My Page) on
Sun, Jan 18, 09 at 21:58

My husband and I want to add some citrus and fruit trees to our yard. We don't want to start them as seeds, we would rather purchase the actual small tree, but I want to make sure it was organically grown. I haven't found much online in my searching. What I have found has not specified whether they used organic seeds to plant the tree and if the method used to raise it was done organically. Any help or advice?! Thanks!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

First of all, where do you live?

Citrus trees are not commercially grown from seed. They are grafted onto rootstock that is known to be hardy. That root stock needs to be about 10 years old before you can get any fruit from the tree. That's why you see very small trees producing fruit in the nurseries. You could easily have oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruit all growing on the same tree.

I think finding organic root stock and organic grafts will be a challenge. I also think you're asking too much. Most people are happy to grow any plant using organic methods and materials. How much of an organic pedigree do you want? Is one generation good enough? Would two generations be better?


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

Very few, if any, of the on line nurseries will have organic fruit trees, but you may find a nursery locally that does. There was one nursery in Washington I found about 5 years ago but I've not been able to make contact since.


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

I've ordered trees from Trees of Antiquity and they grow certified organic trees. Not all of their trees are organic, but they do list many that are. Try them.

Elaine

Here is a link that might be useful: organic trees


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

Does 'certified organic' mean that the parent seeds were organic? Or just that the current plant has been organic for the past 3 years?


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

I don't know, that is why I said to check them out. I'm sure their website indicates such or if you email them, they will respond.

Elaine


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

Pretty much all temperate fruit trees (and bushes) are vegetatively propagated and I believe that citrus are as well. So the more proper question to ask is whether or not the scion and rootstock that were grafted together to create the tree were grown organically, if you're concerned about it.

Given how old some fruit cultivars are, though, (think along the lines of Red Delicious), I'm sure the seed was organic!


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

Organic or not makes zero difference in purchasing a seed or young tree.

What possible difference could it make to the end result?

I can take a seed formed by a plant nuked by every manner of *icide known by human kind and grow a plant from it and encounter none of what the parent was exposed to.


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

@ justaguy that is not true. Are you sure that a genetically engineered seed will produce a seed without the same GMO's????? I wouldn't take my chances.


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

Well said justaguy2. That is VERY true!

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I would rather starve then eat anyhting GMO, o wait, that is just what would happen if it was not for GMO products.


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RE: Organic Fruit Trees

What?!?!? This is THREE YEARS old!!!!!!!?!?


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