I grafted more fruit trees this year than the year before and I had a fair few more failures.
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| This years tree nursery - a little weedy maybe... |
The apples did relatively well although I only had a success rate of around 75%, I think this is down to a number of factors: I used some "grafting pliers" for some for the grafts and the majority of these ones failed compared to the ones I did traditionally with a knife. I also stored the scion wood differently, some in the fridge (this all took well) and some in the shed, as it was much more mild than the year before, I don't think the shed was cold enough and so some of the wood wasn't alive enough to be grafted.
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| One of the many failed cherry grafts |
Some for the other fruit didn't do so well. Only two cherry grafts took and much the same with the plums and pears, although the two apricots I did as an experiment are both doing well.
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| A successful graft with apricot wood |
In total I've still got over a hundred fruit trees growing in the nursery with successful grafts and the root stocks that had failed grafts on can be used this next spring so no money lost. Next year I will trying budding some trees in the summer (although there never seems time in August) as I think stone fruit like the cherries and plums do better that way.
Has anyone else been propagating fruit trees or tried their hand at grafting?
My wife and I planted fruit trees in our meadow a few years back. The goats ate every one of them, even though we tried to protect them with chicken wire fences.
ReplyDeleteI've not got any big animals yet due to all my trees! I want to make sure they're all fenced off before I let them anywhere on my land. Having lots of fruit trees is really important to what I'm trying to do here.
DeleteHi Kev. I made some Cotoneaster cuttings the other day and planted them outside in the veg plot. Flat cardboard boxes make great mulches around trees and you can cover them with lawn cuttings, compost and other organic materials. The worms drag it all down and feed the soil and the tree.
ReplyDeleteI used some cardboard in a and around the garden. I think I need to go and get another van full. My willow trees haven't done very well and I know it's due to the fact that they're competing with the grass.
DeleteI haven't tried it yet, but I am waiting until you've figured it out and tell me the best way to do it :)
ReplyDeleteI think I've got it figured out really - practice! the more I do the more I learn about it and the different problems I come up against. Hopefully I should be able to have enough trees ready next year to make this a hobby that at least breaks even as I can start to sell some of them.
DeleteI wanted to reply to your posting about faces on trees, but it doesn't exist anymore. Have you seen faces on mountains. and, s'funny, they always face the sundown :)
ReplyDeleteIt's Wednesdays post. Blogger was playing me up! It'll be back!
DeleteLearning to graft fruit trees is certainly on my list as a necessary skill to have. Glad I can read about your successes and failures :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my pollination customers has a modest orchard and I thought he would know all about grafting but to my surprise he says he never messes with it and grows all of his (mostly Peach) trees from pits and has very good luck without grafting. Of course he doesn't have many Apple or Cherry and I imagine that is why.
Looking forward to more posts from you on the topic.
It's not just for having the right type of fruit you can also save a tree using the skills check out this post from last year http://www.englishhomestead.com/2013/04/saving-rabbit-damaged-tree.html
DeleteIt saved the tree and now it's growing fine. Being able to graft is a simple skill but it opens up lots of possibilities and can save you loads of money. I'm grafting a lot of apple trees for cider at the moment, normally this little orchard would be at least £10 a tree, by doing it like this it will be more like £3 a tree, good saving on 30 or so trees!