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For those of you who have actually done it ,how difficult is it to graft apple scionwood to rootstock? What method do you use? I know you have to have proper size of both.

1/8/2023 2:08:54 PM

Minnesota

I have done grafting for two years now. 1st year was just apples and last year I did apple, pear, plum, and apricot. I use the whip and tongue technique on all. First year a lot of my scionwood was a different size then my rootstock and I felt like I was very sloppy, but it didn’t seem to matter because most grafts took. Make sure your rootstock is not dormant and your scions are dormant. Also recommend growing your own rootstock to save some money if you plan on doing a lot of trees.

1/8/2023 9:56:20 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have done it a couple of times. Last year I didn't have matching sized rootstock and scionwood. So I went with the cleft graft and also the bark graft. I used the high quality electric tape and really tightened the heck out of it. The tighter the better. Good cambial contact is key. I got everyone to take. Some of the scion wood was two to three years old too. The tree I collected the scion wood from was not very vigorous so all I had to work with was old wood. It still worked fine.

1/9/2023 12:14:11 AM

Bethlehem CT

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=330302

Here is a picture

1/9/2023 12:16:54 AM

Bethlehem CT

Chad what do you use for a rootstock for apple? I bought mine from cummins nursery in new york state. It was a fully dwarf Geneva rootstock I cant remember the number.

1/9/2023 12:19:40 AM

Grittyville, WA

Not super easy, but easier than grafting tomatoes, or melons onto gourds imho. I like bud grafts as it doesnt require exact sizes and its almost impossible to run out of scion material or places to graft to.

1/9/2023 2:35:13 AM

Minnesota

Apple rootstock I use M111
Pear I used OHx87
Plum I used St. Julian
Apricot used Manchurian

1/9/2023 7:01:06 PM

Bethlehem CT

Thanks Chad, How do you grow your own rootstock, Are you doing softwood cuttings?

1/10/2023 9:14:16 AM

Minnesota

I have planted extra rootstock, let it get established and then cut it off at the ground, this encourages the growth of suckers. I let the suckers grow and mound dirt around them, this causes roots to grow from the suckers, then I dig away the soil and cut the new rootstock (suckers) away from the rootball. Also have done this with suckers on established tree.

1/10/2023 1:53:38 PM

Bethlehem CT

Awesome. Thanks. How long do you let the suckers remain in the ground before they have enough roots to cut.

1/10/2023 7:13:36 PM

Minnesota

When the rootstock is about the width of my scionwood, so about a pencil. I eyeball In fall how many Rootstock I will have ready for spring. That original rootstock will just keep producing rootstock year after year. Just keep burying them and they will have plenty of roots. 1 one trick for grafting, don’t line your graft up perfect, angle your scionwood very slightly. That helps to ensure the cambium layer makes contact at some point.

1/10/2023 8:00:32 PM

Bethlehem CT

Thanks Chad

1/11/2023 8:30:30 AM

Thanks. this is sure an interesting discussion

1/11/2023 3:22:44 PM