A detailed guide to peach tree grafting techniques, master the methods and steps completely
Peaches are a traditional fruit tree crop in China, but today there are many varieties of peach trees, and the most popular ones on the market right now are honey peaches and yellow peaches. The main methods of growing peach trees are seed propagation and grafting propagation, and since seed propagation has too long a growth cycle, grafting techniques have become more and more popular in our lives. So today, what I want to teach you is the grafting methods for peach trees. Let's take a look together.
1. Grafting time
Peach trees can actually be grafted all year round, but generally speaking, the survival rate is still higher for grafting in spring and summer. The best time for spring grafting is from mid-February to late April, when the survival rate can reach over 95 percent. Summer grafting is from mid-May to early August, when its healing ability is also still quite good; if the grafting is not successful, a second grafting can be done. Autumn grafting is generally carried out from late July to late September, while winter grafting is generally carried out from early November to late January of the following year. We should choose the best grafting time, because only in this way can we improve the success rate of peach tree grafting.
2. Grafting preparation
Before grafting peach trees, we need to prepare the things needed for grafting. First is the choice of rootstock. Not all saplings can be used to graft peach trees, and at the same time, not all rootstocks that can be grafted with peach trees have such a high survival rate. So we need to choose the best rootstock, and generally the best choice is peach saplings of different varieties. Next is the choice of scion. It is best to use one-year-old, robust, pest- and disease-free, strongly resistant branches from excellent peach varieties. After preparing them, continue to treat the cut surfaces of the rootstock and scion, and keep them moist. Finally, prepare the tools needed for grafting, and the most commonly used one is plastic film.
3. Grafting methods
The grafting methods for peach trees are not a single one, because for rootstocks and scions of different sizes, the grafting methods we use need to differ, otherwise the survival rate will be greatly affected. Among them, the most commonly used grafting methods are bud grafting and branch grafting. Bud grafting includes the T-shaped bud grafting method and the chip budding method, and branch grafting includes the cleft grafting method and the side grafting method. During the grafting process, we need to control the grafting depth well, and at the same time make the rootstock and scion match well, because only in this way can the healing ability of the graft be strengthened, thereby improving the survival rate of grafting. After grafting the rootstock and scion well, they need to be tied with plastic film, because this can prevent the rootstock and scion from being affected by air and moisture, which would reduce the healing ability and cause grafting failure.
4. Post-grafting management
After grafting, if the graft survives, new buds will generally grow in about 15 days, so during this growth process, it is a relatively long waiting process. This does not mean that no management is needed during this period. We need to carefully observe the growth of the seedlings and remove the buds and shoots that have not been completely cleared. After about 90 days, at this point it basically indicates that the grafting has succeeded, and the tied plastic film needs to be uncovered. After a period of growth, with proper pest and disease control and topdressing, it can enter a new growth stage.
The above is a brief introduction to the peach tree grafting methods that I want to share with you today. Actually, here I have not described the peach tree grafting process in detail, but if you need it, you can leave me a message, and I will continue to update it later.