Over the last few weeks I've been steadily grafting apple trees in any spare time I have. I tend to do ten or a dozen at a time so I don't get too bored with the job, either in the greenhouse or in the workshop for an hour at night.
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| Long trench dug to heel in the apple trees |
I haven't got huge numbers left now and I can see the end in sight, I hope to get a good percentage take this year. I've tried to be careful at every stage, I've store the scion wood correctly, I've been careful and accurate with my cuts and I've sealed all my grafts with tape and wax.
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| Apple tree heeled in ready for planting |
There's still along way to go with these trees. I've got to now plant them in a nursery bed and grow them on for a year or two (depending on how much growth they put on), during this time I need to look after them, keep them weeded, prune them to get them growing straight and regraft any trees that don't take. Hopefully I'll eb able to sell some of the trees out of this lot and I'll give blog readers first chance to purchase them when the time is right!
Anyone else have a small cottage industry in the making?
I have got 56 perennials I made growing in plant pots. Might sell some on a car boot sale in a few weeks. You sound like you could have the starting of a plant/tree nursery Kev.
ReplyDeleteThat's good going Dave, Every little helps to fund the gardening "habit" I think!
Deletei hope they do well, that's a lot of work!
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a bit of work and a lot of waiting!
DeleteI am sure you will do well with the trees! I hope you sell everyone of them! I am working toward something here. As you say its slow in the making. But with luck I will get there too!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do - we can then swap tips on what works!
DeleteFingers crossed for you Kev that they all take, I would be very interested in buying some Alviti apple trees :-)
ReplyDeleteI'll give you first dibs next winter! Should be lots of interesting varieties next year.
DeleteGosh you have been busy Kev, well done. I tried this myself recently after seeing how you did it but I don't hold out much hope for success, the trees are starting to break bud but I can't see the grafted bits doing much right now...maybe they're a bit slower are they, the grafted bits? ...or maybe I've just made a hash-up of the whole thing! Anyway, at least the basket willows are starting to show signs of life.
ReplyDeleteSue! I wondered where you'd gone! I'm sure yours are fine, the grafted bits will be a bit behind the rest of the trees, give them plenty of time. If they don;t take let the rootstock grow and then we can try budding them in August, so there is a second chance!
DeleteMy father-in-law was half Cherokee and used only red clay as his "wax." My wife said that most of his grafts took!
ReplyDeleteI've read about using clay and there's plenty here if I needed it. Who knows, one day I might have to use that method!
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ReplyDeleteHi Kev, What is the plan with all the grafts if they all take?
ReplyDeleteI tried grafting for the first time this winter too- tried with peach, plum apricot and nectarine- didnt realise these were alot trickier than apples. So far only 1 plum appears to have taken. Fingers crossed for the others otherwise that Burbanks tangerine plum is gonna end up being an expensive plant! :)
Have you seen those tools/scissors you can buy that cuts the shape for you- what do you think of them?