Persimmon tree grafting time and methods, and which tree species can be grafted

Everyone likes to eat persimmons in daily life, right? Persimmon is a sweet and juicy fruit, very common in our lives, and this fruit has very high nutritional value and is loved by many people. The propagation method of this fruit is usually mainly grafting. Now let's follow the editor to learn more about it in detail.

Persimmon tree grafting time and methods

1. Grafting period

Because China has a vast territory and the climate varies greatly between north and south, the grafting period is earlier or later depending on the region. Generally, grafting is carried out from March to April in spring, when the sap of the rootstock begins to flow until the leaves unfold. Never graft when the rootstock has not yet started growing while the scion has already sprouted; from mid-August to late September in autumn, graft when the rootstock still slips bark and the epidermis of the scion branch has turned brownish red with plump, full buds.

2. Grafting methods

Grafting methods differ only slightly from place to place. In nursery grafting, single-bud side grafting is the fastest and saves the most scion. Cut grafting, side grafting, and cleft grafting are all acceptable. Grafters can use the method they are most familiar with and most skilled at, which gives the highest survival rate, and there is no need to insist on uniformity. If the rootstock is relatively thick and the bark is slipping, the bark grafting method is the most ideal.

Single-bud side grafting can also be used. Make a cut 1 cm above the grafting bud, cut the bud into a shield shape, and cut a bevel at a 60° angle 1 cm below the bud. At a point 10 cm from the ground on the rootstock, cut off a bud piece the same size as the grafting bud, immediately insert the grafting bud, wrap it tightly with agricultural film strips, and expose the grafting bud. For spring grafting, cut off the stock 20 cm above the graft union to promote sprouting; the remaining stub can serve as a support to prevent wind breakage. For autumn grafting, do not cut the rootstock, so as to avoid sprouting and freezing to death.

What trees can persimmon trees be grafted onto

Black jujube, scientific name Diospyros lotus, also called wild persimmon. It is widely distributed in northern China and is mainly divided into two types, seeded and seedless. The main varieties include large-seeded black jujube, milk jujube, and grape black jujube. Persimmon trees can be grafted onto black jujube. Generally, they begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after grafting, reach full fruit-bearing age after 15 years, and have an economic life of up to a hundred years, hence the saying "plant once, benefit for a hundred years."

Persimmon trees are not strict about soil selection. Whether mountainous land, hills, plains, or river beaches; fertile land or barren land; clay or sandy soil, they can all achieve considerable yields. Therefore, developing persimmon production plays an important role in fully utilizing land, increasing ground cover, improving the climate, and improving people's living environment. The persimmon tree has an open crown, large glossy leaves, and dense green shade, providing shade and coolness in summer; in early autumn, its green leaves and red fruits are bright and pleasing to the eye, and in late autumn its red leaves can rival maple leaves, making it also an excellent ornamental tree.

Grafting methods for persimmon trees

1. Branch grafting: Branch grafting includes two methods, cleft grafting and bark grafting.

(1) Cleft grafting can be used before the sap flows. Cut off the rootstock, make a vertical split perpendicular to the cut surface, cut both sides of the scion into a wedge shape, insert the scion, and ensure that at least one side's cambium layers align. If the rootstock is thick, another scion can be inserted at the other end of the cut so that the cambium on one side aligns.

(2) Bark grafting is mostly used after the sap flows (when the bark slips). Cut the scion into a horseshoe shape, with the cut surface more than 2 cm long, flat and smooth. Cut the opposite side into a small horseshoe shape 0.3-0.5 cm long, so that the lower end forms a wedge shape for easy insertion. At the grafting site, cut off the rootstock, make a vertical cut 1-2 cm long on the smooth side, then immediately insert the prepared scion, exposing a little white. Then bind it tightly and completely with plastic strips.

2. Bud grafting: Bud grafting is carried out in June-July, mostly using "T"-shaped budding and square budding. Persimmon branches contain tannins, and wounds oxidize and discolor easily, affecting survival, so grafting must be completed as quickly as possible.

What precautions are there for grafting persimmon trees

1. The scion must be highly fresh and alive

If the scion loses water during long-distance transport, or is stored improperly and its vitality decreases, the cambium cells cannot restore their division capacity, and it will not survive, or the survival rate will be very low. Therefore, use plump and robust scions and control the sand moisture well during sand storage to maintain the vitality of the scion.

2. The rootstock must have strong growth vigor

Weak rootstocks have low division capacity in cambium cells, are not easy to survive after grafting, and even if they survive, the seedlings do not grow vigorously. Therefore, do a good job in the management of the rootstock before grafting to ensure that the rootstock seedlings grow robustly.

3. The cut surfaces of the scion and rootstock should be flat, and the cambium layers should align

Flat cut surfaces on the scion and rootstock reduce the gap at the joint, shorten the distance between scion and rootstock, and allow callus tissue to quickly fill the joint and connect the passage between scion and rootstock as soon as possible.

4. Keep the graft union moist

Wrap the graft union and bud tightly with plastic film so that the humidity is close to saturation, which helps the scion avoid water loss and maintain vitality.

The grafting method for persimmon trees is not difficult, and the survival rate of this propagation method is also very high. During grafting, the most important things to pay attention to are ensuring the freshness of the scion, the flatness of the grafting surfaces, and the growth condition of the rootstock, among others.