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Location

Message

Date Posted

Tasmania Australia

Hi, I am going to have a go at grafting this coming season to see what results i can get.
I see that most graft onto Bushell Gourd root stock.
I was just interested to know if anyone has tried to graft onto the giant pumpkin root stock?
I was just thinking that the pumpkin root stock might be a bit more aggressive growing that the Bushell gourd root stock.
Interested to here what anyone has to say on this, as i am sure it had been tried before

7/18/2018 11:35:45 PM

Princeton Kentucky

I've done it very successfully with 'Hole Insertion' method. I've tried all other> cleft, side approach, single cot etc. and the center hole insertion seemed to work best for long term growth with zero splits at the graft. You want your AG rootstock about 1/3 larger in diameter than your melon scion. I'm going to do these type grafts with AG's next season since I've got better with my soil and mostly better with weed & insect control. Here's a vid on this type of graft. Good Luck! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0GwgMb0M3Q

7/19/2018 5:40:41 AM

Bethlehem CT

They are way more aggressive, the problem is you have to keep them from collapsing in mid season. Joseph have you had luck bringing an AG from start to finish?

7/19/2018 6:29:46 AM

The North Coast

Many different rootstocks were tried. There is a commercial rootstock that is super vigorous like an AG and it pushed just way too hard and caused a lot of failures. Most use a lagenaria gourd.

7/19/2018 7:49:12 AM

central Nc

I'm going to piggyback a grafting question. My first year growing CC and other than spider mites they are so much easier to keep healthy, so I'm assuming you are going for increased weight. Are all the latest weigh off winners grafted? I'm just wondering if it's worth it if you have no chance of reaching 250, 300 lbs anyway. Maybe in a couple years I'll try it, but I need one more year to learn I think.

7/19/2018 8:02:23 AM

NE Arkansas

wolfpack I would start practicing grafting now and graft next year, all of the winners in the south are grafted. I started last year because I felt I was falling farther behind.

7/19/2018 9:34:40 AM

Princeton Kentucky

John yes I have had great success growing an AG grafted melon plant through a full season. Keep the trunk dry dry dry dry dry!!!Main problem I had was inexperience in dealing with the rapid growth> vine pruning etc, insects & weeds. will be doing winter grafting & posting in diary. All of my plants in 2019 will be ag & pepo grafted

7/19/2018 12:42:45 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Nate is correct on the Lagenaria gourds for root stock for disease control. I'm also going to experiment with bushel gourd rootstock over the winter. Wolfpack83, I wish I had your sense when I started a few yrs back, I went full steam ahead on grafting and waisted my time in not really understanding melon plant growth.

7/19/2018 12:55:52 PM

Home of happy lil plants

i heard some gL1 gourds pushing reallll hard this year

7/19/2018 4:08:01 PM

Tasmania Australia

Thanks for the video link, looks fairly easy to do, just not sure on the healing chamber that everyone talks about though.
Might be worth while experimenting with.

7/20/2018 2:14:05 AM

sevierville, Tn

its all in the healing. after a couple of times practing, you will have it down no problem.

7/21/2018 1:07:40 PM

simpson,KS

My biggest melon so far has a Blue Queensland squash rootstock.

8/5/2018 7:47:51 AM