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.