Hi all, I got some persimmon rootstock from the scion exchange last year, and got some persimmon cuttings to try grafting this year. I also have some suckers from a current persimmon tree I might try to graft onto, as well as my established tree.
It's my first time grafting persimmons, but I've had experience with apples using a cleft graft. Any tips for me? My persimmon trees are just starting to bud out leaves, so maybe in two weeks I should try grafting?
Much depends on the diameter of your stock, the ‘trunk’ you’re grafting to. If it’s one year growth, the same diameter as your scion (or cutting), a cleft graft would be traumatic.
The whip & tongue graft is what I’ve used on persimmons, with around a 75% success rate. They’ve a dense, brittle wood; some twists. Not an easy ‘benchwork,’ or dormant season graft.
If the ‘root stock’ (base tree you’re grafting to) is larger, I’d suggest waiting until the sap’s flowing and leaves are sprouting, and do a bark graft. Percentage of ‘take’ is much higher, but it requires a different skill than either a cleft or whip & tongue.
If you’ve access to a persimmon variety you’d like a tree of, and your rootstock is small (one to three years old), Budding (bud grafting) later this summer is another high percentage graft, and skill.
Welcome to the forum mcfarnell.
Like Viron said, it depends greatly on the method you are going to use to graft. It also depends on where you live.
I would wait until the weather is generally warm. I don't know where you are, but 70's F is good.
One way is to wait until a full leaf is unfurled completely. Persimmons in the ground for a year or more also take grafts more readily.
If you're in the West, I would make sure that you water it if there are any dry spells after grafting. I've had grafts take and then die, when I forgot to water them.
Make sure to wipe out any buds beneath the graft.
John S
PDX OR
I had good luck grafting Chocolate to Saijo a few years ago. I stored the scion in the fridge in ziplocks until May. I used whip and tongue grafts, onto same size understock on existing Saijo tree. I convered them well with aluminum foil until the were growing, to protect from sunlight. The leaves of the Saijo were the size of squirrel ears when I grafted.