If you have a garden, know how to graft fruit trees It is one of the essential pieces of knowledge that you cannot miss so that you can enjoy delicious fruits grown by yourself.
This is a delicate process that you must carry out as precisely as possible to avoid the unpleasant surprise of finding that the graft does not take hold and that you have damaged the tree for nothing. Therefore, we are going to explain to you step by step how to do it.
What does grafting a fruit tree involve?
Grafting is common in fruit species such as fig tree. This is a horticultural technique with thousands of years of history, which consists of to join parts of two different plants so that they grow as a single organism.
A part of the plant, usually a branch or bud (called a scion or graft), is attached to another part that acts as a base and provides its root system (the rootstock). The connection between the two occurs through the fusion of vascular tissues, which allows nutrients and water to flow from the rootstock to the graft.
This technique pursues several purposes:
Propagate specific varieties
Is a form of to reproduce a specific variety of fruit tree more accurately, maintaining its genetic characteristics.
This is important because many fruit trees do not produce identical offspring from their seeds. So if you have a fruit tree that has outstanding characteristics in terms of the size or flavor of its fruit, here is a way to obtain new specimens of it.
Improve production
If we unite a high quality stem to a rootstock that offers specific advantages, such as greater resistance to diseases, what we achieve is improved fruit production.
Adapting trees to specific conditions
By combining a resistant rootstock with a graft of the desired variety, the fruit tree adapts well to difficult environmental conditions for him such as soils that are too saline or poor in nutrients, or extreme climates.
Correct fruit trees
The graft is also used to correct Established trees that are not producing good quality fruitIf we manage to make a good graft, we can improve the quality of the fruit without having to plant a new tree.
Shorten production time
Fruit trees grown from seed usually take several years to start producing fruit. However, if we use grafting, such as stem comes from a mature plant, we managed to accelerate the productive capacity of the tree.
Creating multivarietal trees
If space in your orchard is limited, grafting fruit trees allows you to produce different varieties of fruits, or even different types of fruits from the same family, with a single tree.
How to graft fruit trees successfully?
To achieve any of the goals we have seen, it is important that the work is well done. Therefore, in order to ensure success, we will follow these steps:
Choosing the parts of the graft
The rootstock is the base plant that will provide the root system and structural support. Choose one that is resistant to diseases and pests; that is well adapted to the local soil and climate and that is compatible with the selected stem.
As for the graft, this is the branch or shoot that will produce the foliage, flowers and fruit. Select one from a healthy and productive plant, of the fruit variety you want and that is dormant (not growing at that time).
Tools and materials needed
To carry out this task you need:
- Grafting knife or a sharp pocketknife.
- Pruning shears.
- Saw (if you have to cut large branches).
- Grafting tape or vinyl plastic.
- Grafting wax or sealant, to prevent moisture loss and the entry of pathogens through cuts.
- Alcohol or disinfectant solution to sterilize tools.
Graft preparation
The first thing you need to do is select the most suitable time of year to carry out this task. When it comes to how to graft fruit trees, it is best to do it towards late winter or early spring, when plants are emerging from dormancy and sap begins to flow.
For best results, avoid carrying out this work when temperatures are extreme or on rainy days, because this can affect the settlement of the graft.
Disinfect tools and Cut a stem about 10 or 15 centimeters long, ensuring that it has between two and three healthy yolksStore the graft in a cool, humid place until it is time to continue working with it.
Types of grafts for fruit trees
There are several ways to carry out the graft. We highlight the most common ones:
Cleft graft
- Cut the rootstock horizontally, leaving one end flat.
- Make a central indentation 3 to 5 centimeters deep.
- Carve the stem into a wedge shape.
- Insert the stem wedge into the gap, ensuring that the tissues beneath the bark are in contact.
- Seal the joint with tape and apply grafting wax.
Crown graft
- Cut the rootstock horizontally.
- Make small vertical incisions in the bark.
- Carve the bottom end of the stem into a wedge shape.
- Insert the scion wedge under the bark of the rootstock.
- Secure with grafting tape and seal with wax.
Shield or bud grafting
It is a good choice when the rootstock is young or thin.
- Make a "T" shaped cut in the bark of the rootstock.
- Remove a bud from the stem along with some of the bark.
- Insert the bud under the raised bark of the rootstock.
- Set and seal, leaving the yolk exposed.
Post-graft care
Once this operation is done, follow these instructions:
- Protect the graft with a plastic cover or a clear bag to retain moisture (if you are in an area with a dry climate).
- Water the rootstock regularly.
- Tras six or eight weeks Check to see if the graft has healed. If so, remove the tape and allow it to grow naturally.
Now that you know how to graft fruit trees and you have seen that it is not at all complicated, do you dare to try this technique?