How to improve the survival rate of fruit tree grafting? Master the best time and method

Fruit tree grafting is one of the methods of asexual propagation of fruit trees, that is, taking a branch or bud from a plant of a superior variety and joining it to a suitable part of another plant, so that the two combine to form a new plant. So how do you improve the survival rate of fruit tree grafting? When is grafting most suitable? How do you graft?

How do you improve the survival rate of fruit tree grafting?

Fruit tree grafting is generally divided into spring grafting and summer grafting. In spring, branch grafting (scion grafting) is mostly used, and the grafting methods mostly used are cleft grafting, cut grafting, insert grafting, etc.; in summer, bud grafting is mostly used. Right now is a great period for spring grafting of fruit trees. To improve the survival rate of grafting, you need to pay attention to the following 5 points:

1. Master the grafting time well. If you graft too early, the sap of the tree has not yet begun to flow and the leaf buds of the scion have not sprouted, so it is not easy to survive after grafting. If you graft too late, the branches have already grown leaves and water evaporation is high, so grafting is also not easy to survive. In central and southern Hebei, spring grafting is generally around “Spring Equinox”, and summer grafting is generally best from late July to late August.

2. Choose robust branches. Robust branches with plump leaf buds have strong vitality and are easy to survive.

3. Avoid rainy and windy weather. Listen to the weather forecast in time and choose higher temperatures and clear weather for grafting. Generally, it is best if there is no heavy rain for 3 to 5 days after grafting.

4. Wax the scion. To reduce water evaporation from the scion, the scion should be waxed. The method is to melt industrial paraffin, and when the wax temperature reaches 95°C to 102°C, quickly dip one end of the cut scion branch into the wax liquid, then switch to the other end and dip it quickly as well.

5. Graft quickly, and tie the binding strip tightly. It is best to cut and use the branches right away. Scion branches that cannot be used up on the same day are best put into plastic bags and kept in a cool, damp place. The tools used for grafting must be sharp, the cut surface must be flat, and grafting must be done in time; if too much time passes, it is easy for dehydration and oxidation to occur, affecting the grafting survival rate.

When is the most suitable time to graft fruit trees?

1. Generally, branch grafting should be done in early spring before fruit trees sprout, because at this time the rootstock and scion tissues are full, and the temperature and humidity are also favorable for vigorous division of the cambium, speeding up wound healing. Bud grafting, however, should be chosen during the slow growth period, so that it survives grafting this year and sprouts into a seedling next spring.

2. Treat the scion with plant hormones before grafting, such as soaking it in 200-300 PPM naphthalene acetic acid for 6-8 hours, which can promote cambium activity, thereby promoting wound healing and improving the grafting survival rate.

How do you graft fruit trees?

1. Same genus and family:

Grafting fruit trees must be done between fruit trees of the same genus and family. For example, Pyrus betulifolia can be grafted into a pear tree, so you should choose the same variety of the same genus and family with excellent characteristics for grafting.

2. Choose the right time:

Grafting fruit trees generally has a fixed time; it is not that grafting can succeed at any time of the year. Generally, grafting in early spring is mostly before the fruit trees sprout, in summer it is mostly after the buds of the fruit branches have fully matured, and in autumn it is also during the period from late summer to early autumn.

3. Choose the rootstock well:

In fruit tree grafting, the fruit branch being grafted onto is called the rootstock, so the rootstock must be chosen well. Choose healthy, thick fruit branches, preferably the main trunk fruit branches that have grown for two or three years. When choosing the rootstock, the fruit tree must be pruned, removing most of the fruit branches that are not the rootstock.

4. Choose the scion well:

The scion is the fruit branch or bud to be grafted onto another fruit tree. The choice of scion is very important. Choose one-year-old fruit branches that are disease-free, have relatively plump buds, and are relatively upright. Generally, summer grafting is more common; when choosing buds as scions, pay attention to the maturity of the buds. The color should be deep and green, and they should be large and plump; only such buds are healthy.

5. Graft carefully:

The main methods of grafting fruit trees are cleft grafting and bark insertion. Cleft grafting means that the lower part of the fruit branch to be grafted, that is, the scion, is inserted into one end of the rootstock after being gently cut with a small knife into two slanted surfaces, or into a “wedge head”, generally 2 to 3 cm. When inserting, the important point is to align the cortex on one side of the scion with the cortex of the rootstock at the same height, and then it can be wrapped. The difference between bark insertion and cleft grafting is that the slanted surfaces cut on the scion are different. The two slanted surfaces for bark insertion must be unequal in length, generally 2 cm on one side and 1 cm on the other; otherwise there is not much difference.

6. Care of the grafting site:

After grafting, the next step is to wrap the grafting site. Be sure to wrap it tightly with plastic bags, leaving no gaps, then tie it well and firmly with fine string. The main purpose is to keep the grafting site from being blown by wind. You can also apply paraffin, and some directly wrap it again with soft mud; the point is to protect the tree's moisture.

7. Management after grafting:

After grafting, be sure to manage and care for it well. Fertilize adequately, and mix farmyard manure into the fertilizer. Water thoroughly. Also pay attention to whether the grafted fruit branch is loose or has been broken by wind. When the young branch grows to more than 10 cm, use a thin wooden stick to fix the young branch and the main trunk branch together, and at the same time loosen the plastic bag wrapping.