When Is the Best Time to Graft Apple Trees? Mastering the Methods and Techniques Matters
The fruit of the apple tree is rich in minerals and vitamins, making it one of the most commonly eaten fruits. Its propagation technique generally starts with growing rootstock from seed, then grafting the selected “scion” onto the rootstock. So when is it usually better to graft apple trees? What methods and techniques are there?
Grafting Time for Apple Trees
When grafting apple trees, timing is very important. It is mostly done between June and August, or between March and April in spring. Moreover, apple tree grafting can be divided into two types: bud grafting and branch grafting. The scion used in bud grafting is usually a single bud. This kind of grafting needs to be carried out between June and August, because only during this time can its scion grow well, and the success rate of grafting will be relatively higher.
Grafting Methods and Techniques for Apple Trees
Sleeve grafting method: Twist the scion branch into a hollow tube with only the bark remaining. After cutting it open as required, sleeve it onto the branch of the rootstock to be grafted.
Side-veneer grafting method: Remove the crown of the rootstock to be grafted. On its trunk, use a knife to cut a “T”-shaped opening. Then, prepare the hollow-tube scion according to the shape and size of the “T”-shaped opening, insert the scion into the opening of the rootstock tree, and wrap it securely.
When grafting apple trees, the selection of the scion is also very important. You should choose those fruit trees that are robust, high-yielding, good in quality, and free of pests and diseases. From the outer periphery of their crowns, select new branches with plump buds as scions. In addition, after selecting good scions, they need to be cut off and placed in a bucket or basin of water to cultivate for about two days, which will increase their grafting survival rate.
Grafting Inspection and Management
About 10 days after bud grafting, you can check whether the graft has taken. For buds that have survived, the color is fresh, and the petiole falls off at a touch; the binding material should be removed. Buds that have not taken turn brown, the bark shrivels, and the petiole withers without falling off; they should be re-grafted immediately.
The Story of the Apple Tree
Legend has it that in the autumn of 1665, Newton sat under an apple tree in his own yard, pondering the reason why the planets move around the sun. At that moment, an apple happened to fall, landing right by Newton's feet. This was a moment of discovery. This falling apple was different from the countless apples that had fallen before, because it caught Newton's attention. From the taken-for-granted phenomenon of the apple falling, Newton found the reason why the apple falls —— the action of gravity. This invisible force from the Earth pulls the apple down, just as the Earth pulls the Moon, causing the Moon to move around the Earth.
This story is said to have spread after Newton's niece, Mrs. Barton, told it to the French philosopher and writer Voltaire. Voltaire wrote it into his book Elements of the Philosophy of Newton. This apple tree in Newton's hometown was later transplanted to the University of Cambridge. After Newton's death, he was regarded as a heroic figure who discovered the laws of the universe and was subsequently given legendary status, and the story of Newton and the apple became widely known.