Grafting is a horticultural
art that gardening enthusiasts have mastered to produce different varieties of a particular fruit species onto one tree. Fruit
trees need to be compatible and of the same genus. Stock and Scion must be genetically close (taxonomic) in order for the grafting union to form. If one parent is involved in the grafting process and the graft is successful, the tree will produce fruit identical to its fruit tree- this is called asexual reproduction. Plums and
peaches can be grafted onto the same tree. Nectarine can also be added to the same tree because they closely related, but you can't graft an apple on it because it's a different specie.
Bud and Scion are the two main types of grafting.Grafting is combining the best characteristics of of two, three or more plants onto the stock root of an existing healthy,
non-diseased tree. You can graft four different apple varieties onto a pear root stock. With the
right technique and the correct temperature, a successful graft union will form and produce a fruit
salad tree. An old tree that 's been unproductive can be
top worked to change it's old variety to a new variety. The scion twig that's used for grafting is the young
shoot or
bud that's been collected from the previous growth and stored in an airtight freezer bag in a cool
dry place. During storage, the scion should be stored away from apples. Apples tend to produce ethylene gas which is strong enough to
kill the scion.
Steps for Grafting:
1. Attach the scion to the root stock by making a vertical incision in the stock and matching the scion using the Whip and Tongue method.
2. Wrap the scion and stock with grafting tape or electrical
rubber tape. This
natural pressure created by the stock is not enough to keep the scion and stock tightly connected together. By wrapping them with tape, you'
re binding them together and eliminating any chance for the scion to slip out thus allowing the wound to heal properly.
3. A wound dressing is painted on the tip of the scion and the surface of the stock, then covered with
wax.