this is my 2nd year grafting. last year i had good success with apples and pears but all except one of my cherry/plum grafts (cleft graft) failed. I think it was because I started too early as the temperature went below freezing after the grafting session for a good while.
The year in Seattle things are much warmer and the cherry blosooms are just on the verge of opening (as are the plums).
Is bark grafting the best bet to graft dormant scions for plums and peaches? I know about budding in the summer but i have scions now.
Is now the right time to do it (ie. right as the buds are breaking on the peaches and cherries) or should i be more patient? I've read you need to wait for the bark to be slipping but i'm not exactly sure how to tell that other than cutting my trees and finding out.
Thanks.
All help appreciated.
I haven't had any success with peaches but for plums and cherries I began grafting earlier in the year and using parafilm on the scion. I use whip and tongue grafts and I'm outside making them as early as January (I'm in Puyallup WA). I think the parafilm is the most important component, you need to trap/retain all the moisture in the scion that you can until the graft can heal well. In my opinion, earlier is better to allow the graft to heal before it gets warm outside and dries out scionwood quicker.
Apples and pears are much more forgiving, I usually just put a dab of wax from a toilet wax ring on the tip of the scion and tape the graft leaving the rest of the scion exposed.
Cleft grafts are invasive and have the least odds of working with stone fruit, especially cherries. European ‘plums’ (or in my neck of the woods, “prunesâ€) are easier than Asian plums. Dormant grafts are best done early on ‘stone fruit,’ that’s fruit with ‘pit seeds.’ I’ve never made a bark graft on a cherry tree, but the way their bark ‘circles’ the tree would cause me to make very distinctive cuts to keep that from happening. But I’ve never found any warning against it… I’ve also had some major failures cleft grafting cherries.
If your scions are dormant, a bark graft would be a good alternative. …slipping bark is a good question; I’ve learned to be far more patient than I’d care to be… I’m thinking April will be safe. I’m looking to do some myself but want to see some good leaf formation first. Sacrificing an end stem may be the best indicator; cut it, break it, and if the bark ‘slips’ away from the wood – it should be good. If it ‘tears,’ not yet!
I have made several successful whip and tongue grafts with Asian plums and cherries. Some have also failed. I have never been successful budding anything, so it's hard for me to compare. I gave up pretty early when I was successful with whip and tongue and cleft grafting.
I have heard that with peaches, budding is the way to go. I guess I'll have to learn how to do that now.
John S
PDX OR
Anybody out there have any scions to sell, trade or give away. Im looking for Peach Pear Apple and Cherry. Please contact me at bsiwiec@hotmail.com
Thanks
Idyllwild
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
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