GRAFTING AND PROPAGATING FRUIT TREES - GRAFTINGANDPROPAGATINGFRUITTREES ...

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Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 1

                                                                       Grafting and
                                                                       Propagating
                                                                       Fruit Trees
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 2

                                                                                                                                              Contents
                                                                                                                                              Introduction. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 3

                                                                                                                                              Wrapping and Waxing . .  .  .  .  .  .  . 4

                                                                                                                                              Collecting Scion Wood . .  .  .  .  .  .  . 5

                                                                                                                                              Types of Grafting or
                                                                                                                                              Budding . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 5

                                                                                                                                              Dormant or Winter. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 5

                                                                                                                                              Bench Grafting . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 6

                                                                                                                                              Cleft Graft. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 7

                                                                                                                                              Bridge and Inarch Grafts . .  .  .  .  . 8

                                                                                                                                              Bark and Inlay Grafts . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 9

                                                                                                                                              Budding . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 9

                                                                                                                                              Shield or T-Budding . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 10

                                                                                                                                              Chip Budding. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 10

                                                                                                                                              Growing Fruit Plants
                                                                                                                                              from Seed. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 11

                                                                                                                                              Grafting Supply
                                                                                                                                              Resources. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 12
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 3

                                                                       Introduction
                                                                       Many people mistakenly believe                                          whip, and bridge grafting of apple
                                                                       that fruit trees grow true to name                                      and pear is possible, but such
                                                                       from seeds. In reality, if you                                          grafts are not often successful on
                                                                       collect seed from a fruit grown                                         stone fruits. Sweet cherry and,
                                                                       on a plant, the seeds will produce                                      occasionally, peach may be suc-
                                                                       plants that will be a hybrid of                                         cessfully grafted using the side
                                                                       two plants. The new plant will                                          graft onto a 2- to 3-year-old limb.
                                                                       be the same kind of plant, but its                                          Materials needed for any type
                                                                       fruit and vegetative portions may                                       of grafting are scions, rootstocks,
                                                                       not look the same as the parent                                         a sharp knife, a cleft grafting
                                                                       because the plant is “heterozy-                                         tool, and a lightweight hammer.
                                                                       gous.” Therefore, all fruit trees                                       Depending on the type of graft
                                                                       must be vegetatively propagated                                         to be prepared, you will need
                                                                       by either grafting or budding                                           grafting “wax,” rubber bud strips,
                                                                       methods.                                                                waxcoated cotton twine, grafting
                                                                           Fruit growers frequently use                                        tape, and wire nails (number 16
                                                                       grafting techniques to topwork                                          or 18). Having a sharp knife is of
                                                                       new varieties or strains of fruit                                       paramount importance—using
                                                                       onto established trees bearing                                          a dull knife can lead to serious
                                                                       misnamed or obsolete varieties                                          injury.
                                                                       and to repair injury or damage                                              In this publication we will
                                                                       caused by mice, rabbits, deer, or                                       describe some successful propa-
                                                                       mechanical means. Commercial                                            gation methods that can be used
                                                                       nursery workers propagate new                                           on tree fruit. The techniques
                                                                       fruit trees, and producing a tree                                       described may be used in all
                                                                       ready for planting takes several                                        instances where grafting is re-
                                                                       years.                                                                  quired. The choice of methods
                                                                           All of the temperate-zone                                           depends on the time of year, the
                                                                       deciduous fruit plants may be                                           type of material available, and
                                                                       propagated by budding. Cleft,                                           the type of propagation desired.
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 4

Wrapping and Waxing                                                          Several wax-based and                                            assumes a yellowish or tan color.
                                                                       water-soluble waxing materi-                                           Divide into 1/4- or 1/2-pound balls
As a general rule, all grafts made
                                                                       als are available. When using                                          and store in plastic bags until
by budding or whipping should
                                                                       the more liquid water-soluble                                          ready for use.
be wrapped. Grafts made by
                                                                       materials, be sure to recoat the                                           The fluid hot waxes and
clefting, side limb insertion
                                                                       graft several times to make sure                                       water-soluble materials flow
(often called “hip graft”), inarch-
                                                                       that any cracks (which often                                           freely around all cut surfaces of
ing, and bridging need to be
                                                                       occur with these materials) are                                        the graft and are less trouble-
waxed, and in some instances
                                                                       closed. Water-soluble asphaltic                                        some to apply than the hand wax;
nailed tight.
                                                                       compounds, commonly sold as                                            however, a special wax melter is
     Many cloth-backed and
                                                                       wound dressings, are simpler to                                        needed for the hot waxes.
plastic tapes are available for use
                                                                       use than the wax-based materi-                                             Sealing all cut surfaces is
in wrapping the graft, although
                                                                       als. Containers of water-soluble                                       important for the graft to suc-
plastic tapes appear to be easier
                                                                       materials must be protected from                                       ceed. This includes all exposed
to use. Rubber composition bud
                                                                       freezing to prevent breakdown of                                       surfaces where the stock and
strips are used to wrap the dor-
                                                                       the product. Grafting wax, also                                        scion are joined and the free end
mant buds. The plastic materials
                                                                       called “hand wax,” does not re-                                        of the scion.
come in rolls of 3/8- and 1/2-inch
                                                                       quire a heating device to liquify
widths and are well suited for
                                                                       it. It is soft, pliable, and simply
grafting purposes. When care-
                                                                       pressed around the graft. Hand
fully wrapped, they will form a
                                                                       wax is suitable when only a few
very tight seal. The plastic tape
                                                                       grafts are to be prepared since it
is secured by pulling the free
                                                                       is very sticky and unpleasant to
end under the last turn around
                                                                       use. Commercial formulations
the stem. Whether the tape is
                                                                       of hand wax can be purchased
wrapped from the bottom up or
                                                                       from the companies listed in the
vice versa makes little difference.
                                                                       “Grafting Supply Resources” sec-
However, making the wrapping as
                                                                       tion of this publication.
airtight as possible is important.
                                                                             You can also make your own
     When rubber bud strips are
                                                                       hand wax using the following
used to wrap the bud or graft,
                                                                       recipe:
no further attention is usually
needed. When nursery workers’                                          • 4 parts (by volume) of rosin
adhesive tape is used, care must                                       • 2 parts (by volume) of
be taken to slit the tape vertically                                     beeswax
about 4 to 6 weeks after growth                                        • 1 part (by volume) of tallow or
starts to prevent girdling.                                              raw linseed oil
     Cotton twine or cloth strips
                                                                           Melt the tallow or heat the
impregnated with wax may
                                                                       linseed oil (to about 125ºF), and
be used to wrap the graft. The
                                                                       then add the beeswax. When
waxed string is useful, but great
                                                                       these two parts have melted
care is necessary to ensure an
                                                                       together, then add the powdered
airtight wrapping. The strips of
                                                                       rosin. Stir until thoroughly mixed,
impregnated cloth (1/2 inch wide)
                                                                       pour into a bucket of water, and
are useful in wrapping bark
                                                                       allow to cool. Form the wax into a
grafts or T-buds.
                                                                       ball and pull (or knead) it until it
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 5

Collecting Scion Wood                                                       Using water sprouts (or
                                                                                                                                               Types of Grafting or
                                                                       suckers) from the interior
The success of any form of prop-
                                                                       branches of the tree—especially                                         Budding
agation depends on the quality
                                                                       older fruit trees—is not recom-                                         Time of season will largely
of the scion wood to be grafted.
                                                                       mended for propagating a variety                                        determine what type of propaga-
Collect scion or budwood early
                                                                       but is excellent for bridge graft-                                      tion techniques you will need
in the day while temperatures
                                                                       ing purposes.                                                           to use to create new plants. All
are cool and the plants are still
                                                                            The scions for all forms of                                        forms of topworking and repair
fully turgid. The best vegetative
                                                                       graftage (except dormant bud-                                           grafting are done only when the
buds usually come from the cur-
                                                                       ding) must be collected in late                                         plants are dormant in late winter
rent season’s growth or dormant
                                                                       March while still completely dor-                                       to early spring. Budding can be
wood that grew the previous
                                                                       mant. Although not universally                                          done in the dormant season with
year. Mature buds are most
                                                                       held, it is a good idea not to take                                     a dormant chip bud but is most
desirable; discard terminal and
                                                                       scion wood while it is frozen.                                          often done during the growing
younger buds. To keep buds from
                                                                       You should wait 2 to 3 days after                                       season using either T-budding or
drying out, getting hot, or freez-
                                                                       the initial thawing to collect the                                      chip budding.
ing (depending on the season),
                                                                       scions.
place the budwood into plastic
                                                                            The scions should be
bags or wrap it in moist towels
                                                                       wrapped in nonperforated plastic
                                                                                                                                               Dormant or Winter
or burlap as you collect it. Place                                                                                                             Propagation to be done during
                                                                       (a plastic bread wrapper is excel-
budwood of only one variety in a                                                                                                               the dormant or winter period is
                                                                       lent) and placed in cold storage
labeled bag.                                                                                                                                   usually carried out in late March
                                                                       (30 to 40ºF) or buried in moist
     Budsticks that will not be                                                                                                                to early April. Both the receiving
                                                                       sand or sawdust until ready for
used immediately should be                                                                                                                     and inserted plant material must
                                                                       use. When making the graft,
bundled, labeled, and stored in                                                                                                                be fully dormant. If either piece
                                                                       remove an inch or two of the tip
moisture-retaining containers                                                                                                                  of plant material is not dormant,
                                                                       and basal portions of the scions
such as plastic bags or waxed                                                                                                                  the grafts may fail. Propagation
                                                                       to eliminate wood that may have
cardboard boxes, which should                                                                                                                  techniques used when trees are
                                                                       dried out. Another reason for dis-
be kept cool (32 to 45ºF). The                                                                                                                 dormant include bench graft-
                                                                       carding the tip and basal portions
longer budwood is stored, the                                                                                                                  ing, dormant chip budding, cleft
                                                                       is that the tip portion is too small
less likely it is to “take.” General-                                                                                                          grafting, bridge grafting, bark
                                                                       and the base too large for proper
ly, budwood stored for more than                                                                                                               grafting, and inlay grafting. The
                                                                       handling. Furthermore, neither
a few days should be discarded.                                                                                                                first two methods are primarily
                                                                       portion will have properly
     In budding, the situation is                                                                                                              used to create new trees; bridge
                                                                       matured buds.
somewhat different in that the                                                                                                                 grafting and inarch grafting are
“June bud” technique involves                                                                                                                  used to repair damage to the
the use of previous season’s                                                                                                                   tree trunk; and cleft grafting,
terminal growth, whereas the                                                                                                                   bark grafting, and inlay grafting
dormant budding is made from                                                                                                                   are used to topwork a tree to a
nongrowing buds on the current                                                                                                                 new variety or to add multiple
season’s growth. In either case,                                                                                                               varieties to a single tree.
only one-year-old material is
suitable for any form of graftage
discussed here.
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 6

Bench Grafting                                                              The scions should be collect-                                     The two pieces are then fitted
                                                                       ed only from dormant terminal                                          together with the tongues inter-
Bench grafting, also known as
                                                                       twigs. Scion wood comes from                                           locking (Figure 1c), and the graft
whip and tongue grafting, is per-
                                                                       the previous season’s growth.                                          is wrapped (Figures 1d and 1e)
formed indoors, preferably in a
                                                                       If you need to store the scion                                         and waxed immediately. When
cool area. An unheated garage or
                                                                       wood for a brief period, keep it in                                    the scion is of a smaller diameter
barn is an ideal location.
                                                                       moist sphagnum moss, sand, or a                                        than the stock, be sure to match
     This method is most success-
                                                                       plastic bag in a cool place. Scion                                     the cambium layer of both pieces
ful for grafting material pencil
                                                                       wood must be kept moist and                                            on one side. Examine the graft
sized (1/4 to 3/8 inch) to about
                                                                       cool until used. After the cuts are                                    after the wax hardens and rewax
1 inch in diameter. Because of
                                                                       made, scions must be inserted                                          any holes or cracks that may
the large amount of cambial
                                                                       immediately. Do not store scion                                        have developed.
contact, it heals quickly and
                                                                       wood in a refrigerator or storage                                          Alternatively, you can pur-
makes a strong union. Ideally,
                                                                       room that has held or currently                                        chase a grafting tool (Figure 2a,
the stock and scion should be the
                                                                       holds apples. Apples give off                                          next page). The tool makes an
same diameter. This type of graft
                                                                       ethylene gas, which can damage                                         omega cut in one stock (Figure
is made when both the stock and
                                                                       the scion wood.                                                        2b) and a corresponding cut in
scion are dormant (late March to
                                                                            The stock is prepared by                                          the other stock (Figure 2c). The
early April).
                                                                       making a 1- to 2-inch sloping cut                                      two pieces are then fitted togeth-
                                                                       at the top of the stock, as shown                                      er (Figure 2d) and wrapped.
                                                                       in Figure 1a. A second downward                                            Store the completed trees in
                                                                       cut (Figure 1b) is made into the                                       a cool, moist area for 7 to 10 days
                                                                       stock, starting a third of the way                                     to make sure the cambiums heal
                                                                       down from the top end. The                                             together. Be sure to plant them
                                                                       second cut is made about half                                          out before the buds begin to
                                                                       as long as the first. The scion is                                     expand.
                                                                       prepared in the same manner.

 1a

 1b                                                                     1c                                              1d                                             1e
Figure 1. Preparing and performing bench grafting.
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 7

     Figure 2.
     Using an
   omega cut
 grafting tool.             2a                                             2b                                             2c                                             2d

Cleft Graft                                                            pared by making a tapering cut                                          with a knife or cleft grafting tool
                                                                       1 to 2 inches long on each side                                         to a depth of about 2 to 3 inches
Cleft drafting is the most com-
                                                                       (Figures 3a and 3b). The scion                                          (Figures 4b and 4c). Keep the
monly used method for topwork-
                                                                       should be 3 to 4 inches long and                                        knife in position or insert a chisel
ing a relatively mature tree over
                                                                       about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter.                                      to keep the split open and insert
to another variety. This system is
                                                                           The stock is cut off squarely                                       the scions (Figure 4d). The scion
used on stocks from 1 to 3 inches
                                                                       (Figure 4a) and split vertically                                        is placed so that its cambium
in diameter. The scion is pre-
                                                                                                                                               layer and the cambium layer
                                                                                                                                               of the stock are in contact. All
                                                                                                                                               exposed surfaces are waxed or
                                                                                                                                               coated immediately. Usually, no
                                                                                                                                               wrapping is needed because the
                                                                                                                                               stock exerts sufficient pressure
                                                                                                                                               to hold the scions; however,
                                                                                                                                               wrapping the stock will en-
                                                                                                                                               sure a tighter connection and
     Figure 3. Tapering cut                                                                                                                    less chance for the scion to be
       used to prepare the                                                                                                                     bumped out of the stock.
     scion for a cleft graft.                    3a                                             3b
                  left graft .

 4a                                              4b                                             4c                                              4d
Figure 4. Splitting stock for a cleft graft.
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 8

    After wrapping the scion and                                                                                                                   Insert the scion as indicated
stock, paint the stock surface                                                                                                                at B and B' and then secure with
and the ends of the scions with                                                                                                               two number 16 or 18 wire nails
a wound dressing or cover them                                                                                                                at each end as shown.
with wax (Figures 5a and 5b).                                                                                                                      Inarch or approach grafts are
    Once growth starts in the                                                                                                                 used when there is an insufficient
spring, the bark loosens, or slips.                                                                                                           area of trunk below the dam-
When this occurs, the bark and                                                                                                                aged portion because the trunk
wood portions may not split                                                                                                                   is too close to the soil line. If a
evenly and clefting may not be                                                                                                                rootsucker is present, it can then
satisfactory. You should then                                                                                                                 be grafted above the damage
switch to either the bark or inlay                                                                                                            as shown in 7C. The loose end
type of graft.                                                         Figure 6. Nurse limb on recently                                       should be handled as explained
    After the scion starts to grow                                     grafted tree.                                                          for the top portion of the bridge
in the spring, a good idea is to                                                                                                              graft. Alternatively, if no root-
cut off all of the wood from the                                                                                                              suckers are present, planting a
old variety except one limb as a                                       Bridge and Inarch Grafts                                               rootstock liner and grafting it into
“nurse” limb (Figure 6). Later in                                      Rodents, machinery, and cold                                           the healthy portion of the tree
the summer revisit the grafts to                                       weather often cause the bark to                                        is necessary. You may also wish
see how much growth is occur-                                          be removed or separated from a                                         to grow your own seedlings (see
                          ring. If                                     part (or all) of the trunk. When                                       the section on propagating fruit
                          excessive                                    a minor injury is noticed early,                                       plants from seed).
                          growth                                       bridge grafting may be used to                                              Wax all exposed surfaces of
                          occurs or                                    save the tree. Trim the edges of                                       the inserted scions. The beveled
                          you are in                                   the girdled section back to sound                                      cuts on the scion (7D) should be
                          a windy                                      bark as shown along lines in                                           from 1 to 11/2 inches long and
                          area, you                                    Figure 7X to Y and 7X' to Y', and                                      tapered across the stem. Insert
                          may want                                     cut the scion as illustrated in 7D.                                    one bridge for each 2 inches of
                          to support                                   Place the scion along the trunk                                        the injury’s width.
                          the new                                      so that the beveled edges rest
                          scions.                                      on sound bark at 7A and A'.
 5a                       Tack a                                       Mark and remove the bark rec-
                          1-inch                                       tangles as indicated. The stem
                          piece of                                     piece to be inserted should
                          wood                                         be slightly longer than
                          board                                        needed to ensure a                                                                                                               D
                                                                                                                                                     X                           Y
                          below the                                    snug fit.                                                                                   B A
                          union and
                          fasten the
                          new scion                                                                                                                 X'                          Y'
                                                                                                                                                                  B' A'
                          to the                                                                                                         C
                                                                                               Figure 7. Bridge
                          wood with
                                                                                           graft and inarching
 5b                       ties.                                                            of a rootsucker (C).
Figure 5. Covering
scion and graft with
wound dressing.
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    Figures 8a and 8b show a suc-                                                                                                              and set on the stock as in 11C.
cessful inarch graft 3 years (8a)                                                                                                              The area of the stock covered by
and 6 years (8b) after grafting.                                                                                                               the scion is then marked with a
                                                                                                                                               knife and the bark is removed
                                                                                                                                      C        (11B). After removing the bark,
                                                                                                                                               insert the scion and secure it with
                                                                                                   B                                           number 16 or 18 flat-head wire
                                                                                                                                               nails (11D). Several scions (up to
                                                                                                                                               four or five) can be inserted, and
                                                                                                                      A
                                                                                                                                               grafting should be done when
                                                                                Figure 9.                                                      the bark slips for the bark graft.
                                                                              Bark graft.                                                      Wax all exposed parts. The fol-
                                                                                                                                               lowing year, return to the tree
 8a                                                                                                                                            and remove all but the strongest-
                                                                                                                                               growing graft.

                                                                                                                                               Budding
                                                                                                                                               Budding is another form of graft-
                                                                                                                                               ing where only the bud is used
                                                                                                                                               rather than a piece of scion with
                                                                                                                                               several buds. There are two types
                                                                                                                                               of budding: shield or T-budding
 8b                                                                                                                                            and chip budding. Budding is
Figure 8. Successful inarch graft                                       Figure 10. Finished bark graft.                                        commonly done in late summer,
using rootstock liners when young.                                                                                                             but dormant chip budding can be
                                                                                                                                               done in late winter before growth
                                                                                                 A                         C                   starts. Budding is the primary
Bark and Inlay Grafts                                                                                                                          method used by nursery workers
The bark graft is used frequently                                                                                                              propagating fruit trees.
to obtain a larger amount of                                                                                                                       A third variation in which
surface contact when topworking                                                                                  B                             buds are forced to grow the same
a tree to a new variety (Figure                                                                                                                season they are grafted is called
9). The scion, however, is not as                                                                                                              June budding. As the name im-
secure as when the inlay graft                                                                                                                 plies, it is done during the grow-
                                                                                                                                 D
is used. The stock is cut off and                                                                                                              ing season in late May or early
                                                                               Figure 11.
a vertical slit is made as at 9A.                                             Inlay graft.                                                     June. June budding can either be
The bark is loosened, the scion is                                                                                                             a chip or T-bud technique. The
set, and then the bark is pressed                                                                                                              top of the rootstock is broken
in place and the trunk is tightly                                                                                                              over (but not off) several inches
wrapped. Alternatively, nails can                                       grow. Be careful that birds do not                                     above the bud 3 to 4 weeks after
be inserted as indicated at 9B.                                         land on the scion and dislodge it                                      the bud has been inserted. As
The properly cut scion can be                                           before it is completely callused.                                      soon as bud growth starts, the
seen at 9C. All exposed surfaces                                            Inlay grafting is suitable for                                     top of the rootstock is cut. June
should be waxed.                                                        topworking stocks that are more                                        budding will only work in areas
     Figure 10 shows a finished                                         than 1/2 inch in diameter (Fig-                                        where there is a long, warm
bark graft after it has started to                                      ure 11). Scions are cut as in 11A,                                     growing season.
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 10

Shield or T-Budding                                                        In dormant budding, the bud                                           There has been considerable
                                                                      remains in place on the trunk of                                       success budding sweet cherries
T-budding operation is limited to
                                                                      the rootstock until the following                                      using an inverted “T.” The only
the period of the summer when
                                                                      spring, when the rootstock is cut                                      difference in the procedure is the
the bark is said to slip (Figure
                                                                      off just above the scion bud. A                                        placement of the cross-cut at the
12)—when it separates easily from
                                                                      tree may be produced in one year                                       bottom of the vertical cut on the
the wood. This usually occurs
                                                                      by June budding, but produc-                                           stock.
from late May to early June and
                                                                      ing a finished tree by dormant
from mid-July to early September,
                                                                      budding requires at least two
but most budding is done during                                                                                                              Chip Budding
                                                                      growing seasons. In either case,
the latter period. Budsticks of the                                                                                                          Chip budding is a technique that
                                                                      the scion buds (13B) are cut from
scion variety (Figure 13A) are                                                                                                               can be used whenever mature
                                                                      the budstick and placed in the
prepared from the mid-portion of                                                                                                             buds are present and the bark
                                                                      “T” as indicated at 13C and 13D.
the current season’s growth. The                                                                                                             is not slipping. It can be done in
                                                                      The bud is then wrapped in place
rootstock is either a one-year-old                                                                                                           the spring before growth starts
                                                                      with a rubber bud strip as shown
seedling or rooted layer. This is                                                                                                            and when the stock and the scion
                                                                      at 13E. The rubber bud strip will
also referred to as fall (or dor-                                                                                                            are still totally dormant. Chip
                                                                      disintegrate in several weeks. If
mant) budding and is the common                                                                                                              budding is generally used when
                                                                      it does not, or you use a nonbio-
budding system used.                                                                                                                         the stock and scion are relatively
                                                                      degradable tie, you will need to
                                                                      cut the rubber band.                                                   small (1/2 to 1 inch in diameter).
                                                                                                                                             In recent years, most commercial
                                                                                                                                             tree fruit nurseries have changed
                                                                                                                                             from T-budding to chip budding
                                                                                                                                             because the buds tend to grow
                                                                                A                                                            out better.
                                                                                                                                                 In chip budding, the first cut
                                                                                                                                             is made below the bud and down
                                                                                                       C                                     into the wood at an angle of 30
                                                                                                                                             to 45 degrees (Figure 14). The
Figure 12. Slipping bud.                                                                                                                     second cut is started about 1 inch
                                                                                                                                             above the bud and goes inward
                                                                                                                                             and downward behind the bud
                                                                                                                                             until it intersects the first cut.
                                                                                         B

                                                                                                       D                 E

       Figure 13. Budstick (A), bud to be
                                                                                                                                                         Front                             Back
    inserted (B), T-cut (C), bud insertion
          (D), and finished wrapping (E).                                                                                                    Figure 14. Chip budding cuts.
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 11

The same procedure is then fol-                                       after-ripening, occurs after the                                       new plants (see “Handling in the
lowed on the stock, making sure                                       fruit portion is ripe. During this                                     Nursery” below).
to match the size of the “chip”                                       period the embryo develops until
cut from the budstick.                                                it is mature. The necessary after-                                     Method 2—Refrigerator
     Unlike the T-bud, there are                                      ripening could be accomplished                                         Extract seeds and/or pits from
no protective flaps to keep the                                       by the following two systems.                                          the fruit you want to reproduce.
chip bud from drying out. There-                                                                                                             Remove all adhering fruit por-
fore, securely wrapping the bud                                       Method 1—Outdoors                                                      tions and allow seeds to air-dry.
is necessary to seal the cut edges,                                   Prepare a garden-soil plot in the                                      Then, place them in a glass jar or
as well as to hold the bud piece                                      fall as you would for planting                                         other suitable container to which
in place. Nursery workers’ adhe-                                      any other type of seeds. Make                                          a loosely fitted lid or cover may
sive tape works well, although                                        a furrow no deeper than one or                                         be added. Set the seeds aside in a
white or transparent plastic tape                                     two times the longest dimen-                                           cool place until mid-January.
is more often used. Once the                                          sion of the seed. Cover the seeds                                          Seeds require after-ripening.
buds start to grow, the tape must                                     with a light cover of soil and add                                     The length of this period varies
be cut.                                                               an inch or two of sand over the                                        by type of fruit (Table 1). The
     In chip budding the stock is                                     row. The sand will prevent the                                         temperature at which the seeds
not cut back above the bud until                                      soil from crusting, which inhibits                                     are stored will also impact the
the union is complete. If the bud                                     germination.                                                           success of germination. Seeds
is inserted in the fall, the stock is                                      Next, place wire screen, or                                       should be stored dry in a sealed
cut back just before growth starts                                    hardware cloth, over the row—be                                        container at the appropriate
the next spring. If the budding is                                    sure that all of the edges are                                         temperature. Most seeds can be
done in early spring, the stock is                                    pushed several inches into the                                         stored in airtight containers for
cut back about 10 days after the                                      soil and that the ends are closed.                                     up to 1 year if temperature is
bud has been inserted.                                                This prevents chipmunks and                                            controlled.
                                                                      squirrels from digging up the                                              If seeds have not previously
Growing Fruit Plants                                                  seeds. The following April watch                                       received a cold treatment, mix
                                                                      the seeded area closely for newly                                      the seeds with either moist
from Seed                                                             germinated seedlings. As the                                           (not wet) peat moss, sand, or
Grafting and budding require                                          seedlings grow, remove the wire                                        shredded paper towels in mid-
a compatible rootstock or stock                                       screen to prevent restricting the                                      January. Return the mixture to
plant onto which you attach your
desired variety of fruit plant.
An inexpensive way to obtain
a seedling rootstock is to col-                                                           Table 1. After-ripening requirements for certain fruit tree seeds.
lect seeds from the type of plant                                                             tree                             effective                       best                           days
                                                                                                                             temperature                    temperature                     required
you are propagating. This sec-
                                                                                                                                    (ºF)                          (ºF)
tion gives a simple method to
help germinate seeds to produce                                                               Apple                              40–50                         40–41                         70–80
grafting rootstocks.
                                                                                              Apricot                            40–50                            45                         60–70
    The seeds of all common tree
fruits (apple, pear, peach, and                                                               Cherry                             33–50                            41                        90–140
cherry) require a chilling period
before they will germinate and                                                                Peach                              33–50                            45                       120–130
form new plants. The chilling
                                                                                              Pear                               33–41                            40                         60–90
period, known as dormancy or
Grafting and Propagating Fruit Trees. .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 12

the container and replace the lid.                                    the seedlings. Water thoroughly
                                                                                                                                             Grafting Supply Resources
Place container and seeds in the                                      every 10 to 12 days.
                                                                                                                                             Orchard Valley Supply
refrigerator until after the last                                         The new seedling has a
                                                                                                                                             Phone: 888-755-0098
severe spring frosts. The seeds                                       taproot. To facilitate transplant-
                                                                                                                                             Web site: orchardvalleysupply
should remain in the refrigerator                                     ing, cut the taproot by pushing                                        .com
for at least 60 days. In early April                                  a spade under each plant. Push
prepare a garden-soil seedbed                                         the blade into the soil to cut the                                     A.M. Leonard Inc.
with furrows as described above                                       taproot about 5 to 6 inches below                                      241 Fox Drive
and plant the seeds. Keep the                                         the surface.                                                           Piqua, OH 45356
soil moist but not wet. Do not                                            Peach, nectarine, almond,                                          Phone: 800-543-8955
add fertilizer.                                                       and apricot seedlings may be                                           Web site: www.amleo.com
                                                                      budded the first summer, usu-
Handling in the Nursery                                               ally in late July or early August.                                     OESCO, Inc.
                                                                      Apples, cherries, pears, and                                           PO Box 540, Route 116
When the plants are 6 to 8 inches
                                                                                                                                             Conway, MA 01341
tall, apply 1 to 2 tablespoons of                                     plums should be allowed to grow
                                                                                                                                             Phone: 800-634-5557
urea along every 12 inches of                                         through to the July-August
                                                                                                                                             Web site: www.oescoinc.com
row in a band on one side of                                          period of the second year before
the seedlings. Keep the fertil-                                       budding is done.                                                       Ben Meadows Company
izer about 3 inches away from                                                                                                                PO Box 5277
                                                                                                                                             Janesville, WI 53547
                                                                                                                                             Phone: 800-241-6401
                                                                                                                                             Web site: www.benmeadows.com

                                                                                                                                             Forestry Suppliers
                                                                                                                                             205 West Rankin St.
                                                                                                                                             PO Box 8397
                                                                                                                                             Jackson, MS 39284
                                                                                                                                             Phone: 800-647-5368
                                                                                                                                             Web site: www.forestry-
                                                                                                                                             suppliers.com

Prepared by R. M. Crasweller, professor of tree fruit.
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and cooperative extension programs are funded in part by
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Produced by Ag Communications and Marketing
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