My potted Anatoki managed to survive the winter and is slowly coming back; the top portion hasn’t shown any budding growth yet and I know I’ll have to prune it. At what point would be best to prune? Just below where the branching starts (about 4 inches above the string)? I want to make sure I’m doing it right. Thanks for any input anyone can provide!
I’ve assumed they are using seedlings as rootstock.
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The Takaka tree I got from OGW (they buy from Northland, I think?) had pink paint about four inches up and a mark on the bark from what looked to be a cleft graft. So when I’ve had growth from below that point I’ve removed it as I want the grafted variety.
@Midazolam06 I’d wait to prune off the dead top part until its clear how far down the damage goes, and then prune slightly below that just above the highest live bit. If you know/remember where the graft union was after its been growing for a few weeks remove all the rootstock growth. I can’t tell from the picture, but I assume the lower third of the clearly alive area is rootstock foliage and any suckers obviously are.
I would make the pruning point, if cold damage persists on the upper portion, 2 or 3 inches above the highest new sprout. The main trunk or branch near major pruning points can tend to dry out and not support (nourish) the highest sprouts long-term.
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I thought maybe a special variety that had good roodstock properties, since they tend to be quite hardy.
Looks like it survived. I may have to protect it better this upcoming winter to prevent severe die back.
I have had mine for about four years here in zone 7A.
The minimum temperature they have experienced is 0F (December 25, 2022). However, they were placed in the garage when the temperature droped below 20F. I remember that day because I lost all my Satsuma Mandarin Plants.
I have three cultivars: Anatoki, Kakariki, and Takaka.
Takaka is my least cold hardy because it lost some leaves that year; whereas the other two did well.
I keep them in 65 gallon cloth pots and heavily prune every year.
I would recommend in ground planting for zone 8, maybe zone 7B.
But not 7A.
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Amazing! Were you able to get them to fruit as well?
I ate about fifty October 2025. They are very delicious. I peel off about 1/2 the skin and keep the other half. The combination of some skin and interior fruit is perfect.
The tree has no fungal issues here also (which was my main concern because fungal pressure is high in Georgia). By the way, I just took the photo today 1/8/2026.
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Amazing- between the two cultivars that are more cold hardy, do you recommend either over the other? I had given up hope with feijoas in 7a, but you give me hope they can be right along side my figs (maybe!)
Figs have been more challenging here for me. But, I still grow them also.
Anatoki produced more this past season, but Kakariki is larger fruit. Both are excellent choices.
One Green World is selling two gallon size ($59.95). I would recommend saving yourself one year of waiting and get the bigger sized pots.
Kakariki
Keep in mind that they are not self-fertile, so you will need at least two with the same bloom period for cross-pollination. (Takaka is considered partially self-fertile, and Unique is self fertile but not recommended compared to the others).
I have 2 seedlings planted in the ground in SoMD (7b) for more than 2 years now. I try to shield them somewhat from the the harsh winter wind and they survived our cold with only some minor top damage. If they survive this 3rd winter I’m looking to graft some named varieties to them. I would love to trade for some of your cuttings when you prune your trees. You can see the list of what I may have for trade on my profile or I can send you a list.
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I would gladly give away plant cuttings for free; however, these particular ones are currently patented.
Such being the case, I can’t share these just yet.
Sorry.
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No problem, thanks for clarifying. I’ll try to see if I can purchase some scions online. Though the fruits from these Raintree Nursery seedlings may turn out to be excellent when it actually start producing. How long did you have your trees before they fruited?
I bought mine in the one gallon size about 4-5 years ago (late 2021).
In 2024 season, I got just a few fruits.
In 2025, I got about seventy fruits but around twenty fell off before achieving size.
I highly recommend spending a bit more to get the 2 gallon size instead of the one gallon size. It is worth saving a year in growth time. I also recommend putting them in 50-65 gallon Vivosun cloth pots for two years before putting in ground. Also, I used Happy Frog potting mix, and mini pine bark.
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