It concerns our HUGE grapefruit tree, which we just weren't enjoying. The tree was HUGE, the grapefruits were growing way too high to pick easily, and we don't even like grapefruit all that much.
Our gardener said that he would try to turn it into a lemon tree. In July, he cut down the tree, leaving only a stump of about 60 cm, and gave the poor thing time to get over the shock. (Actually, he chopped at it a number of times, first reducing the crown by half, then taking off most of the crown, and then the final chop.)
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| From 2008-09-Grapefruit tree grafting |
Click here to see all the photos. (opens in new window!)
On September 5th, the big operation was performed. He inserted 8 twigs (4 lemon, and 4 pomelit) into the trunk, just inside the outer layer of bark. Then he fashioned a mini nursery over them, with plastic bags and paper. This was to be left untouched for 3 weeks exactly. He said that 2 living branches would be a successful grafting!
At the end of September he took away the nursery, and they were left to develop, shaded and protected. Every day I would go over and look at the little twigs. I could see that two of the twigs were definately no-go's. They were simply turning dark and shriveling. One of the twigs looked like it was taking, and sure enough, it started to send out little leaves. The other 5 twigs were still green, but I wasn't sure where they were headed.
On the morning of October 30, I went out and took the next batch of photos. By this time, the first twig was REALLY growing, so much so that I had had to move the plastic "roof." Of the remaining 5 (the two that I thought were dead, were) 3 had definite leaves growing, and 2 more looked like they may still be viable. WOW!!! I am ecstatic.
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Fast forward a couple of hours. Friday afternoon, after my nap. I come downstairs and dh is in the kitchen. He says to me: You don't know what happened, I backed in too far with the car and broke that big branch that Benni made."
I run out in a panic. Sure enough, that tall, many-leaved branch is only half its size. I am in shock. I look at him: "I can't believe you did that!"
"No, it wasn't actully me. Pepper chewed it."
I look at Pepper. I will kill the dog!
"Well, actually, it wasn't Pepper either. Beni was here before, pruned the twig and removed the two dead ones."
I ran back into the kitchen and cried. Dirty trick...but he didn't realize I would take it so hard. Anyways, I am over it already, and just REALLY pleased and looking forward to a lemon meringue pie in about three years!!!
