Grafting is a common practice used with trees and shrubs to merge the most desirable traits of two different plants. For instance, when heirloom tomatoes are grafted, it results in a blend of traditional tomato taste along with enhanced resistance to diseases and improved yield.
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What does grafting mean?
Grafting is a method that combines two plants into a single organism. Typically, a cut is made on one plant, into which a part of the other plant is placed, allowing the tissues of both plants to merge. It is essential to safeguard the cut area until it has healed to prevent the intrusion of pests and diseases into the graft.
Rather than creating a hybrid seed through the cross-pollination of two plants, grafting involves utilizing the root system and lower part of one plant, known as the rootstock, and connecting it to a delicate shoot, or scion, from the upper part of a different plant. This method of grafting provides a fast and dependable way to reproduce plants that do not produce true-to-type offspring from seeds. Additionally, many grafted plants are now under patent, complicating the process of propagation.
Motivations for Plant Grafting
- Robust and dependable plants: By grafting and merging the rootstock with the scion, it is possible to enhance disease resistance and accelerate the growth of fruits and flowers.
- Create new cultivars: By grafting plants and trees, there is potential to produce new cultivars that can yield a higher fruit output per tree, or to develop specimens that are more resistant to insects and diseases.
- Develop a dwarf variety: A compact and petite tree facilitates fruit harvesting and serves as a more suitable choice for home gardening.
Which Plants Are Suitable for Grafting?
A wide variety of plants and trees are suitable for grafting, including fruit-bearing trees like apples, cherries, and citrus varieties, as well as other trees such as birch, beech, ash, spruce, and cedar. Additionally, flowering plants and vegetables can also be grafted, with roses and tomatoes being popular examples.
Not every plant is suitable for grafting. For successful grafting, the rootstock and scion must be compatible. Typically, grafting is more effective when the plants belong to the same species and genus, rather than when they are from different genera.
What exactly is a rootstock?
The part of the plant that is utilized for grafting is referred to as the rootstock. Typically, this consists of a robust root system along with a segment of the stem.
The traits of rootstocks enable the cultivation of plants at an accelerated pace and in less-than-ideal environments. One popular application of rootstocks is the development of dwarf fruit trees, which are well-suited for the typical backyard. In contrast, standard fruit trees are quite large and require many years to reach maturity and produce fruit. By grafting a preferred fruit tree onto a rootstock, it is possible to achieve dwarf trees that reach a height of around 6 feet.
In addition to their role in reducing plant size, rootstocks also enhance various characteristics such as yield, resilience to cold or drought, and resistance to diseases. For instance, certain European wine grape varieties are cultivated on a North American rootstock known for its ability to withstand phylloxera, a harmful pest that can severely damage grapevines.
What does the term Scion refer to?
The upper section of the graft is referred to as the scion. This is a young shoot or bud taken from a plant that possesses desirable traits, such as excellent flavor, vibrant color, or resistance to diseases. The entire upper growth of a grafted plant, including its leaves, flowers, and fruits, is derived from the scion. By merging the rootstock with the scion, you can be fairly confident that the resulting plant will be both resilient and fruitful.
The rootstock and scion do not need to belong to the same species, but they should be closely related. For instance, grafting a plum onto a peach rootstock would be unsuccessful due to incompatibility. Additionally, it is feasible to graft multiple scions onto a single rootstock, a technique often used with apple trees to yield various varieties on different branches.
Unique Cultivation Factors for Grafted Plants
When planting grafted plants, it is essential to exercise significant care and maintenance. If the graft union is planted below the soil surface, the rootstock may develop its own growth, or the scion may establish its own root system. This can result in the loss of the desired traits that were intended during the grafting process. For instance, a Granny Smith apple tree could begin to yield unfamiliar red apples due to growth from the rootstock.
In certain situations, the rootstock may require winter protection, particularly for grafted roses. Therefore, it is advisable for gardeners in colder regions to shield the graft in late autumn. However, it is important to remove the cover in the spring to prevent the rootstock from budding.
Budding
Budding, employed as a grafting method, generally proves to be more effective and quicker than alternative grafting techniques. It is the method of choice for the propagation of deciduous fruit and shade trees. There are two primary budding techniques—T-budding, also known as shield budding, and chip budding—each utilized in different seasons.
Mastering the technique of budding requires practice. In this process, a single mature bud is placed into a slit of the rootstock, ensuring that it makes contact with the cambium, the plant’s growth tissue. Unlike traditional grafting, which involves larger cuts, budding employs smaller incisions.
What does budding mean?
Budding is a contemporary method of grafting where a single bud is placed into a small cut, as opposed to employing a scion that contains multiple buds. This technique is commonly used for grafting nearly all types of fruit trees.
Interested in Experimenting with Grafting?
Grafting has a long history, yet the majority of grafted plants we see today stem from research conducted over the past hundred years. Ongoing experiments are consistently expanding the boundaries of plant cultivation, exemplified by the ‘Reliance’ peach, which is resilient enough to thrive in USDA Zone 4.
If you’re keen on exploring grafting, it requires skill and perseverance, yet it is definitely achievable for amateur gardeners. Numerous mail-order nurseries offer standard rootstocks, providing detailed descriptions of their characteristics, allowing you to experiment with various traditional methods.
Methods of Grafting
A variety of grafting methods and techniques are utilized, each necessitating specific tools, timing, and skill levels. The choice of grafting technique also hinges on the grower’s preferred cutting style and the compatibility and success of the cuts. Below are the most widely used grafting techniques:
- Cleft grafting involves creating a horizontal cut, into which one or two scions are placed, ensuring they are in contact with the cambium layer.
- Inlay grafting involves creating a V-shaped cut in the rootstock to secure a scion.
- Four-flap or banana grafting involves making four vertical incisions in the bark of the rootstock to accommodate the scion, which similarly has four vertical cuts in its bark. The flaps are secured in place using a rubber band.
- Whip, splice, or tongue grafting involves creating a small tongue and notch in the scion that fits into a corresponding cut on the rootstock.
- Crown grafting involves creating vertical cuts between the bark and the wood of the rootstock, allowing for the insertion of a flattened or chiseled section of the scion.
