Saddle graft follow up

Here, in the third week of May, is a recently grafted baby apple tree shopwing the necessary follow up work. This basicaly consists of weeding (everything grows so fast at this time of year) and cutting away any shoots which come away from below the graft union. This as I show is best done with an upward stroke of a very sharp knife, this gives a cleaner cut that secateu4s, the soft new growwth will slice off easily. Work slowly and be careful not to slice the bark. The polythene grafting ties will be carefully removed later, in a month or 2, once the union is sound.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• fruitwise
• apple
• tree
• grafting
• saddle
• graft
• fruit
• orchaad

[smellycatpoop]

Very interesting (grafting) video.

I have a ?, I have a seed magazine that has a single tree that they say will grow apples, pears, lemons. all on the same tree, I always thought they were crazy (seed company).

Can a guy graft an apple, pear, lemon tree all into a single tree & still get fruit?

Now that I've watched your videos, it doesn't seem all that crazy, or does it? :)

[stephenhayesuk]

Hi smellycatpoop (?!?)

this information is not correct-any of those plants can be grafted, but NOT on to the same stock. You can graft different citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit) on to the same stock, but not apples or pears. Likiewise, you cannot graft oranges n to an apple. Apple needs an apple stock, pears a pear stock.

[melea39]

My father grew a lemon tree from a pip. I have never had lemons on it. It is quite old . I expect 15b to 20 years. How can I get some lemons. If the only way is grafting . What time of year and how do I choose a graft.?

[stephenhayesuk]

Where are you located? You will never grow lemons or any citrus fruit outdoors in a cooler country like England, where I live (some people grow them in heated glasshouses).

I advise people against growing apples from a pip as it rarely succeeds. I don't know if its the same for lemons. If so, you should graft over to a productive variety, best bet is scrounging some scion wood from a friend with a productive lemon tree.

sorry don't know much about lemons, I'm an apple grower.

[stephenhayesuk]

Hi muppet.

2 reasons. First, when creating a tree, the scion (the top growth) is a particular genetic variety of fruit, grown for its eating qualities. However, on its own roots, the trees are maybe too big, too small, too weak, or whatever. The rootstock is a selected clone propagated by cuttings, which allows you to choose the size of your tree. this has many benefits, and the practice of grafting fruit trees is universal.

the other reason is to convert a tree to a variety you prefer

[stephenhayesuk]

I have posted a video response to show how these little trees have grown.

[FLORINOID]

great vid. thanks!!!!

[Teorispa]

Since you do own some very rare English varieties and wish to extend their space in existence, would you consider selling small maiden trees in farmer's markets along with the fruit?

[HTCSWEOD]

Hi Stephen, I want to thank you for this series on grafting. I have an elderly friend who has heritage apple trees (more than 60), my plan is to collect branches/twigs from his valuable stock and start them on branches of my existing apple tree stock.

Any cautionary statements or recommendations? I'm taking from mature trees and grafting to mature trees. We are afraid that his line will disappear if we don't do "something"... Thanks again

[melea39]

If I give it a try , what time of year do I do it and should the weather and tree be dry . If I try now the tree is very wet.

[melea39]

Thank you for your response. I do see lemon trees now being sold with lemons on them and thought I would have a try